The ancient kingdom of Amritambu was no bigger than a large city. A vast ocean lay to the east of the kingdom, a formidable mountain range guarded the north, and a treacherous forest covered the southern region, sharing an unmarked border with the farmlands of Satayu. 

Veerata’s soldiers lay siege on the plains of the western border. It took the young general and his men less than seven days to obliterate Nandini’s forces. When they strode into Amritam palace, it looked deserted. A few stragglers, upon threat of death, revealed that Nandini was hiding in the topmost tower. 

Veerata discarded his mantle and sprinted up the stone steps of the tower. His men followed close at his heels. Together, they searched through every room on every landing until they reached the very top. It took them hardly any time to find the secret chamber under the wooden floorboards, where the queen had taken refuge along with two of her maids. 

The three women showed neither fear nor surprise upon being discovered. As Nandini rose and climbed out of the chamber, her dignity remained intact. Her maids mirrored her actions. 

At twenty-six years old, Nandini was the most beautiful woman on the entire continent. Fiery copper-brown hair that blazed in the sunlight from the single window in the room. Ivory-white skin that made her look like a celestial nymph. Brilliant brown eyes that fixed every warrior with a fierce stare. 

Veerata heard his soldiers take in a sharp breath on seeing her. Her brilliance had pierced the hearts of her captors. 

But the young general remained unaffected. Her submissive demeanour seemed suspicious. She had no weapons, yet she appeared dressed in full armour from head to toe. Signs of battle fatigue were visible all over her person. Possibly, she had not been hiding for long. 

“Maharani Nandini!” An archer in Veerata’s team, smirked in triumph. “Were you planning to ambush us with your maids?” 

Nandini ignored the disdainful remark. She stared back, proud and unyielding. The two maids glared at the archer, unable to hide their fury. 

The young general intervened. “Pranam, Maharani Nandini.” He lowered his sword and bowed to her with joined palms. “It’s fortunate I’ve found you safe.”

Nandini’s brow knit in a frown. “Senapati Veerata, explain yourself!”

“Samrat Padmapani demands your surrender. I have orders to escort you back to the royal palace in Satayu.”

A strained silence followed his words. 

Nandini’s expression darkened. “Are we to understand that your orders are to bring us back alive?” she asked after a pause.

Veerata nodded. “Yes, Maharani!”

“What about our people?”

“We are warriors, not murderers. The civilians are unhurt.”

“But you have destroyed our army,” she roared.

“Maharani, this is a war. I have fought all those who raised a sword against the white stallion of Satayu. You knew the consequences when you ordered your soldiers to capture the horse.”

“And now you wish for us to surrender? What if we refuse?”

“Forgive me, but I would prefer you do not resist. I have no wish to escort you to Satayu in chains.”

Her eyes blazed red. “Why do you show us mercy now? And why did you kill Maharaj Devimitra of Matsya?”

Veerata felt taken aback for a moment. He’d not expected the question. His men watched the conversation, their irritation and restlessness mounting. The two maids grew tense as well. 

“Maharaj Devimitra did not surrender,” Veerata said at last, through gritted teeth. “He tricked my best soldiers and massacred them when they arrived for peace talks at his palace. He defiled the sacred laws of the Ashwamedha ritual. He deserved nothing less than death.”

“And you executed him without trial! You have defiled the sacred laws of the Kshatriyas.”

“Enough,” the archer cried, pointing his bow and arrow at her. “Walk! Now!”

The two maids jumped in front of their queen, shielding her from the enemy. 

Veerata ordered the man to stop. “Mayura, lower your weapon!”

“Senapati,” Mayura urged. “We don’t have time for this. We must leave now!”

Veerata bit his lower lip. He realised that the two women shielding the queen were not mere maids. Their stance was unmistakable. They were warriors guarding Nandini. Their simple clothing had almost fooled him. At the same time, he spotted the armour hidden under their tightly wrapped uttariyas and the leather sword belt holding up their knee-length antariyas. One wrong move and everyone would perish in that small, round room. 

“I said lower your weapon,” he hollered again. 

The archer complied, eyeing the three women with grave suspicion. The tension in the room dissipated. 

Veerata joined his palms again. “Maharani Nandini, I cannot justify my actions in Matsya without proof. Will you allow me to escort you to Satayu? I promise to show you every proof in the presence of Samrat Padmapani.”

“You give us no other alternative, do you? Very well! We shall follow you.”

“One last request. Where is Princess Amodini?”

Nandini sighed. “Why do you seek our sister?”

“You already know why. My orders are to bring you both you to Satayu.”

“That will not be possible.”

“Samrat Padmapani promises that both of you shall be treated with utmost respect.”

Nandini shook her head. “We do not know where she is,” she replied. “And even if we did, you would get no answer from us. Princess Amodini is the future of Amritambu. Padmapani can never find her.”

“Maharani, that is an unwise decision,” Veerata warned. “Your cooperation will ensure the safety of your people and the future of your kingdom.”

Nandini threw back her head and laughed. The men frowned. Their muscular physiques trembled in anger at her taunting laughter. 

“Senapati, do you think we don’t know why your Samrat wants us captured alive?” She raised her hands in front of her, palms apart. 

Even as she smiled at the young general, a swirling ball of light materialized in the space between her palms. The air in the room grew warmer. The scent of burning camphor emanated from the queen. Only Veerata realised that there was something sacred in her power. She had never used it to harm another living being in her entire life.

“We know he wants our power,” she continued, snapping her palms together. The light vanished. Her eyes narrowed in defiance. “He wants Amodini’s power. We made certain that the princess is beyond his reach forever.”

Veerata clenched his fists in frustration. “I will find Princess Amodini even if I have to travel to the netherworld looking for her.”

“Senapati, we must leave now!” Mayura exclaimed.

An earth-shattering sound invaded the stone room, shaking the floor and the walls. The men scattered around the place, losing their footing and their weapons.

“Maharani, what are you doing?” Veerata saw Nandini raise her hands to the sky. Light balls swirled into both her palms. 

“Senapati,” Mayura shrieked. “We have to get out of here. This place could explode.”

Nandini chuckled. “No need for drama! It’s just a little firework.”

“Please, stop,” Veerata entreated. “You’ll kill us all!”

“Attack!” Nandini’s war cry echoed like the call of a hawk. 

She pointed her hands at the young general, shooting fire bullets at him. He escaped the onslaught and rolled away on the stone floor. The two women guards sprang forward brandishing swords. Each woman grabbed the nearest soldier and slit their throats in a matter of seconds. Two blood-soaked bodies fell to the ground with a dull thud. Before the young general could stop them, the other soldiers charged forward. 

A strange fight ensued. Four Satayu swordsmen fought a losing match against the two female Amritambu warriors. With the queen’s fire bullets shielding them, the women were invincible. 

Nandini showered her fire on the three archers who had retreated to the back of the room, so that they could not release their arrows. They backed further out of the room, through the only open door, dragging the young general along with them. Smoke billowed out of the open doorway behind them.

Mayura positioned himself at the threshold, focusing his arrow on the queen. The clash of swords and coughing inside the room was almost deafening. Two of the swordsmen collapsed, struck by the blades of the enemy. The remaining two swordsmen fought on, but they stood no chance as long as the queen kept shooting her fire at them. The heat, smoke, and miasma were becoming unbearable.

“Mayura, stop!” Veerata screamed in vain at the archer, who took aim and pulled his bowstring. 

The arrow shot into the room, striking the queen in the chest. She slumped to the ground. The fire died out. 

Cries of anguish escaped the two female warriors. They lost all reason. Rage and grief overtook their minds even as they charged towards Mayura, bent on revenge. But they were no longer invincible. Their opponents attacked them from behind. Within a few moments, both dropped dead on the floor, swords sticking out from the back of their necks. 

The Satayu swordsmen also dropped to the floor, exhausted in the melee. The young general and the archers outside could only hear them coughing. 

They waited until the smoke cleared through the open window before filing back into the room. 

A movement at the other end of the room caught Veerata’s eye. The queen was not dead yet. The archers skidded to a halt a few feet away from the bodies, pointing their arrows at her again.