Page 14 of The Burning Mountain
The Rajgarh judges explained about the purpose behind the amulets to their counterpart from Amaravathi. Trepidation crossed the judge’s face, as well as many in the crowd, and Shota had his first experience of how magic was viewed in this part of the world.
Magic was commonplace and part of everyday life in Rajgarh, seen as a gift among his people. Over here, it was regarded with suspicion at best and outright disgust at worst.
However, in this instance, Amaravathi was willing to concede a lot of things to Rajgarh, and the trial began with no further objections.
Everyone seemed to have made up their minds about what had happened. At one point, the judges came down to confer with Veer, in accordance with their rules.
Shota tensed slightly. According to their laws, the punishment for killing a person was death sentence. Amaravathi had a similar law with some extenuating circumstances. But Chandrasena was a princess. Amaravathi might be willing to concede to Rajgarh, but would it really agree to putting her to death? Or would this push both kingdoms into another war no one wanted?
Fortunately, Veer decided otherwise. “No death penalty,” he decreed in a low voice that brooked no argument when the judge asked him.
In the end, however, Veer didn’t get his wish. The princess didn’t so much as glance at him. Not once.
A fact that Shota knew bothered Veer to no end. He heard Veer’s angry whisper, just as her crimes were announced.
“Look at me, damn you.”
The salient part came when Chandra was given an opportunity to say something in her defense. A sudden hush fell over the hall as everyone waited.
“I hate him. I will never see someone from Rajgarh as my husband. I would rather die.” Her voice was low but rang with confidence. A hum of conversation rose after her proclamation, increasing to a fever pitch.
Shota gave a sidelong glance at Veer and for a moment, he worried for his health. Several shades had leached out ofhis skin, leaving it ashen, as he stared unblinkingly at her, thunderstruck at her statement.
“By the power and authority granted to us by the kingdom of Rajgarh, we hereby deliver our verdict.” The judges sentenced her to annual whiplashes and announced Veer’s punishment to abandon her in Amaravathi. The judicial amulets rose to the air and in a low burst of red light sealed the ruling.
The princess was dragged away in the same manacles and that was the last they saw of her.
They hadn’t stayed long in Amaravathi after that. Veer had wanted to leave immediately. Shota, in hindsight, now realized it was because he was concerned about preserving Virat’s body as much as possible. All as a part of his plan to resurrect him.
But Rajgarh’s representative visited Amaravathi yearly, to make sure they were able to uphold the punishment she was given, faithfully returning to report to Veer. Those visits never failed to make Veer’s mood worse for several days after.
And no one dared to touch those two judiciary amulets that were used in the trial, for the fear of enraging the prince, who seemed to see red at the mere mention of his wife. Instead of being set into buildings, they were left to rot in a specific room of the treasury.
Justice wasn’t served that day. And they were all guilty for that.
A shadow fell on him.
Shota’s head came up and he stood hastily, bowing deep.
“Sire?” he stammered, surprised to have any visitors this late into the evening, much less someone as high up as Prince Ketuvahana’s personal advisor.
“You are new here, aren’t you?” asked Sakaala, stepping into the modest office, immediately making it feel more confining than usual.
“Yes, sire.”
He glanced at the work in front of Shota and his mouth curled into a grimace.
“Wasting your time in copying useless documents. This is what they had you do this late in the evening?” he said.
“Er…I’m grateful for the work, sire,” said Shota cautiously. Surely Sakaala didn’t stop by his desk to comment on the kind of work he did.
“What if I were to give you something a lot more interesting to work on?” he asked, surveying the cramped space. “My regular person who does these things is on a leave and this can’t wait.”
“Of course, you’d only have to command me. I’m at your service,” said Shota, wondering what kind of request it could be. He certainly must be desperate if he was asking a perfect stranger, who had been on the job for no more than a few weeks.
“It’s for Prince Ketuvahana and it’s to be a bit of a secret. But if you get me the information I want, I’ll pay you handsomely.”
“Of course, sire, what would you like me to do?”
