Page 55 of The Burning Mountain
“Er…” Chouda grew instantly uncomfortable. Veer understood. It probably didn’t sit well with Chouda that he was lying to the king, but Veer had forbidden him from revealing his identity to anyone. “He’s my nephew by marriage. He and my niece are visiting,” he mumbled.
“Your niece, huh?” said Samudra, turning his eyes on Veer with interest. Veer brooded about what might have caused that spark of interest in his eyes, but he bowed, all the same, in greeting.
“Your Majesty, may I know the reason for your visit?” asked Chouda, trying to distract the king from asking probing questions.
“Oh. Right.” Samudra glanced at Veer.
Veer caught his meaning and got up. “I’ll take my leave, then, and give you some privacy.”
Samudra motioned for him to sit down. “Please don’t leave on my account. It’s not that big a secret. Chouda, I need the biggest ship you can spare. The sultan of Rus has requested a shipment of our finest silks, and I intend to send them in an impressive vessel.”
“Come now, Your Majesty,” demurred Chouda. “The royal fleet surely has better ships than I do.”
“Yes.” Samudra waved his hand as if brushing aside the matter. “Battle heavy ships that leave the aesthetics a little desiring. Sending them in such a ship would give them entirely the wrong message from what I’m trying to convey.”
“I could have one built to your specifications—” began Chouda.
“If I had time, don’t you think I could have one built as well? The shipment needs to leave soon, and I need a fast ship if it’s to outrun the seasonal bad weather and spawning grounds.”
Chouda shot a glance toward Veer, who had been watching the interaction silently.
King Samudra’s gaze shifted rapidly from Veer to Chouda. “Am I missing something here? Have I caught you at a bad time?”
“It just so happens, King Samudra, that Chouda was just promising to lend me his fastest ship,” said Veer, inserting himself into the conversation, as an idea struck him.
“Oh?” The genial smile slipped a few notches from King Samudra’s face. “Is this true, Chouda?”
Chouda’s face showed regret. “Yes, Your Majesty. And you know the customs of our families dictate that we give precedence?—”
“No need to explain, Chouda. I wouldn’t want you to go back on your word, if you’ve already given it. But”—Samudra turnedto Veer—“maybe there is something I can giveyouinstead, from the royal fleet.”
Veer felt satisfaction curl through him as the king took the bait. “Are you sure you can provide me with what I want?” he challenged.
Samudra’s brows lowered. There was no trace of a smile now, genial or otherwise. “Are you doubting my word? You do realize who you are speaking to?”
Veer’s eyes gleamed. “Very well, then. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I want theGajagamini.”
Silence fell.
Samudra appeared thunderstruck. “TheGajagamini?” he said. “TheGajagamini? Do you even know what theGajagaminiis?”
Veer drummed his fingers on the table. “The strongest and most powerful of all the ships you have. The pride of Sumedh. The ship that you built with your own hands before you were crowned the king.” Veer ignored the start of surprise on Chouda’s face as he revealed he had known about Samudra’s prior occupation all along. “That’s the ship I want, yes.”
Samudra considered Veer silently, a slight frown dipping his mouth. “Why would you need theGajagamini?” He narrowed his eyes. “I was under the impression you needed a ship for business purposes, but it’s clear that I was wrong.”
The king sat forward in his seat and continued. “Who exactly are you? Your manners are not that of some ordinary merchant. You display no hesitation in asking for what you well know is an outrageous request and you are not cowed despite knowing who I am.”
“Your Majesty—” began Chouda, in a pacifying voice.
“Quiet, Chouda. I shall deal with your lies later. You have only one niece and she is the princess of Amaravathi. I remember you lamenting about it once or twice, that she was theonly female born to your family and how you objected sending her away to Amaravathi. So who exactly is this man?”
Chouda looked at Veer helplessly.
“Chouda didn’t lie to you, Your Majesty,” said Veer, tilting his head to the side. “I am his nephew by marriage.”
“That’s not possible unless you are Prince Rudraveer of Rajgarh.”
There was another pregnant silence, and then Veer spoke again. “Let’s just say that is a good possibility.”
