The Mayor of Satvikshila, Brahmadatta, lived in the grandest mansion in the eastern suburb. 

The road outside his estate led to the eastern national highway that connected various parts of the region to Vijayanagar, the capital city. A grand welcome had been prepared on the same road to welcome the great general of Satayu. Lanterns and strings of flowers lined the entire stretch leading up to the gates of the mayor’s palace. Excited residents swarmed both sides of the road in anticipation.

Veerata and his party arrived late in the evening. It was not his first visit to the university town. Yet, it was the first time he was visiting on imperial orders. 

Padmapani had received reports from his spies that young girls were getting abducted in Satvikshila. The official report from Brahmadatta had contained a detailed outlook regarding his ongoing investigation. However, the perpetrators had remained at large. Hence, Padmapani had sent his maternal cousin and favourite warrior on a secret reconnaissance mission. 

On official basis, the visit was just a stopover. Veerata was on his way to the port city, Satana, to take care of the pirate attacks on the coastline. He intended to stay in Satvikshila for a couple of nights, while his team prepared for the rest of the journey. 

Cheering crowds greeted the young general. Veerata sat tall and proud on his favourite steed. His face appeared grave but tranquil. 

Nothing in his posture betrayed the debilitating pain he had been enduring in his left thigh for the last three years. After hours of traveling horseback, his fatigue almost overpowered him. He wanted nothing more than to lie down on his bed and rest his aching leg, even though he knew sleep would evade him in this state.

Two more hours! God help me! 

The mayor had arranged a feast in his honour. On dismounting, attendants led him straight to the banquet hall, where the mayor and other council members awaited him.

Brahmadatta’s family had served the town for generations. He was a rotund, middle-aged man with a shock of curly, grey hair, parted in the middle and oiled into a more manageable state. A perpetual grin adorned his clean-shaven, dark face, revealing two gold caps in a set of pearly-white teeth. 

His common attire was white and gold, mimicking the emperor’s preference, including the red cummerbund on his waist. His pearl jewelry also looked jarringly excessive. His wife had dressed in similar opulent fashion, though she was much leaner and taller than him. The council members wore light-blue attire, as expected of most government servants. 

All of them bowed with joined palms to the young general and his retinue. 

Once Veerata took his seat, the festivities began. Beautiful courtesans performed elaborate dances. Food fit for the emperor lay before him. For a time, he held on, pretending to enjoy the entertainment. Soon, the throbbing pain irritated his senses. His hands trembled, his brow creased, and his ears rang. 

His friend and personal physician, Vidyuta, guessed the truth. The young doctor sat apart at the other end of the hall, watching Veerata’s every movement. 

Vidyuta was six years older than Veerata, with a fair, bronze-coloured complexion and short, dark brown hair. Like most physicians, he sported a trimmed beard and moustache. He also wore a blue cummerbund with his off-white doctor’s attire. Beaded danglers in his ears and gold wrist bangles were the only jewellery on his person. 

Veerata often saw guilt in his friend’s eyes. Vidyuta had tried his best, but could provide nothing better than herbal pain relievers. Ashamed at not finding a permanent cure, the young doctor followed him everywhere to avert further crisis. It was a miracle gangrene had not set in all this time. 

Veerata neither complained nor reproached him. As long as Vidyuta kept his medical condition a secret from everyone else, it was enough.

Two hours later, the young general rose. On Brahmadatta’s orders, the servants led Veerata to the guest room. Vidyuta and the soldiers followed their leader out of the hall. Veerata dismissed them all to their own rooms as soon as they reached the quest wing. 

Vidyuta offered to brew a fresh batch of pain relievers right away. Veerata smiled and shook his head. He had enough reserves of the concoction in his luggage. 

In silence, he turned, opened the door, and walked into his bedroom.