Page 29 of The Burning Mountain
“He be not good at anything. Not worthy of our intelligent princess. Even if he be younger.”
“Political marriages are usually like that, Matangi,” said Chandra, recalling how much of a choice she had in her own marriage.
“Hmph…Matangi rather stay single. Do you know what me will do once Prince Aditya on the throne?”
“I’m sure you will tell me, even if I say I’m not interested in knowing,” Chandra said wryly, not really meaning it.
“Go back to village and see my childhood friends,” she continued, as if Chandra’s words didn’t bother her. Their journey made them grow close and Chandra enjoyed the unrestrained speech from the free-spirited girl. Even her coarse way of talking, with its lack of proper grammar, grew on her.
Chandra had even considered offering Matangi a position as a maid in Amaravathi under her, once the quest was completed. Until she remembered that she wouldn’t be going back to Amaravathi. She would live in Rajgarh with her husband. And had no idea what was allowed.
Chandra felt weird whenever that reminder crossed her thoughts. It was inevitable, though. Women were expected to live at their in-law’s place after marriage. But…would she never again see the wide green paddy fields and the swaying coconut trees, and eat the mangoes to their hearts’ content with her friends in a farmer’s orchard?
“When me left, they be still young. Wonder how they turned out,” said Matangi, in her own world. “Then me find a nice man, marry, and settle down. We be having a small house on farm and yard where me grow vegetables and play with children.”
Chandra remembered the small village they stayed at when they first set foot in Thianvelli. A lot of the villages were already suffering from disregard of the rulers. Having a rebellion in the current climate would put them under additional pressure to deliver food and supplies while dwindling any help they could expect.
Thianvelli had a hard and difficult time ahead of it, and the villages would be the first to feel the squeeze. But she hated to disillusion the determinedly optimistic girl.
“You sure this design be right?” asked Matangi suddenly. “There be twelve pillars? You miss two.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Chandra, coming over to examine the design.
“This be the design of thepanch-pashuthrone. The twelve pillars around, part of the treasury where the throne kept. Matangi knows because me be asked to clean the room the other day. Thepanch-pashuthrone no be working, but too valuable to throw, so keep stored in treasury.”
Her voice lowered as if imparting a secret. “Some think throne not be working because the present king not the rightful ruler. Like everyone else, the magical throne also be waiting for the heir.”
Chandra inspected the cloth for a long time, feeling like she were at the edge of a precipice. Hardly daring to hope, she said, “Matangi, will you take me to this throne room?”
They met Billadev outside the harem quarters. Dusk had already fallen by the time they confirmed their suspicions.
Chandra explained the plan she had concocted to retrieve the key piece, but Billadev refused to acknowledge the fantastic discovery.
“Although your guess is worth checking out, this is not the time for it,” he said, a serious expression on his normally affable face. “Veer and Shota could be in the middle of the mission as we speak. We can’t be a distraction.”
“How will this be a distraction? This is the best time to attempt my plan, precisely because Veer will attempt a rescue of Prince Aditya today. We can attack them on both sides, dividing their attention. Postponing it to a later date will only make the security that much stronger.”
“Going in without proper planning and backup is foolishness, Princess,” he argued, crossing his arms over his substantial chest. “What if you get caught? You’re the only one who can operate the Lotus Key. Not to mention what Veer will do to me if something happens to you. I like my head attached to my neck, thank you very much.”
“What Veer doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” said Chandra soothingly. “Besides, it would be impossible to get word to him this late about our plan, much less ask his permission.”
“No, Princess. I won’t go against Veer. I have my orders to get you out of here safely and I’ll follow them, come hell or high water.”
“You will still follow your orders, Billadev,” coaxed Chandra. “Get me out of here safely by all means…but after we get the key piece from thepanch-pashuthrone.”
Billadev puffed himself up, a mulish expression settling over his face. “We are going to leave now and that’s it. I won’t hear any more arguments.”
Chandra’s eyes moved over his face as if searching for weakness but then she sighed. “All right. I can see when I’m defeated.” She glanced back toward the harem quarters. “Give me a bit of time to bring out my belongings with me?”
Billadev looked at her suspiciously but had no choice but to let them go.
Chandra pulled Matangi aside when they reached their quarters, with whispered instructions.
She watched from a window, concealed from behind the drapes, as Matangi ran down a flight of stairs to reach Billadev, who stood waiting for them just outside the entrance to the building. She was close enough to hear their hushed conversation.
“She be told me to tell you, meet her in the corridor that be outside the treasury room at half past eight,” said Matangi between gasps of breath.
Billadev swore long and loud, making Chandra’s mouth curve into a satisfied smile. He had no choice but to follow her plan, unless he planned to drag her out himself. But then that would be bringing unneeded attention on themselves.
