Veerata’s heart pounded hard, seeing Satya in the yard, dressed in an elegant sari, and bathed in sunlight.

She’s the prettiest young maiden I’ve ever seen. 

Her unruly, copper-coloured hair had been tamed into an neat, thick braid, which fell over her right shoulder. On noticing him, her eyes grew wide and her lips parted in surprise. 

While he stood admiring her beauty in silence, she looked confused. He entered the yard and stated the purpose of his visit. When her aunt rushed between them, he took no offence at her rude behaviour.

I deserve more than just a scolding. How can I have such impure thoughts about a child? 

Her aunt had a natural gracefulness about her, common to those who practised high-class etiquette. Her uncle also fascinated him. Even at his advanced age, Uncle Madhava’s height and build were like a warrior of the Kshatriya class.

The day before, one of his spies had informed him about Satya and her family. They’d arrived in Satvikshila three years ago. Prior to that, there was no clear information about their origins. All day, Veerata had been unable to stop thinking about Satya. 

Now, seeing her uncle, he was convinced. Satya was not just a poor village girl from an unknown family. Another background check would be in order.

Veerata also noticed the luggage on the floor and wondered if the family was traveling out of town. However, he pushed the notion aside for the time being. 

“I have a request to make,” he said. “I would like all of you to come with us to Vijayanagar palace.”

The trio blinked at him in surprise.

Uncle Madhava asked, “Why?”

Veerata’s voice dropped to a lower decibel. “It’s a delicate matter. You might say it’s a national secret. There’s a patient in the palace. She’s been ill for a very long time.” 

As he’d expected, the suspicion vanished from Satya’s pretty face. 

You’re curious now, aren’t you?

He continued. “The palace physicians are treating her, but her condition has not improved. Vidyuta here… my friend and personal physician… believes Satya can help her. Of course, we don’t expect Satya to travel with us alone. So I decided that all three of you must come with us.”

“Pardon me,” Uncle Madhava said. “Satya is only a student. If Samrat’s physicians can’t help this patient that you speak of, what can Satya do?”

Veerata smiled. “I believe Satya can do things that other physicians are incapable of doing. The doctor believes it too. Both of us have seen her skills. 

“For three years now, I’ve been suffering from a wound in my leg. Yesterday morning, everything changed for me. My wound had healed in a single night… all thanks to Satya’s treatment. Your niece is my saviour.”

Uncle Madhava persisted. “Saviour is a very strong word. I believe my niece is capable of great things, but I also know that she still has much to learn.”

“Be that as it may, my opinion remains unchanged. On behalf of Samrat Padmapani, I seek her help in this matter. If this patient does not recover soon, the entire kingdom would be thrown into chaos.”

“Who is the patient?” Satya tilted her head, her brows knit. 

How lovely she looks!

Veerata couldn’t help smiling at her in spite of the seriousness of the situation.

“Tell her, doctor,” he ordered.

“Her name is Anjalika,” Vidyuta replied.

Both women gaped. Uncle Madhava frowned. 

“The dancer from Videha?” Satya asked. 

Vidyuta nodded. “Yes, I knew you would recognise the name.”

“What happened to her?”

“Before I tell you everything, you must understand that all of you might have to take a sacred oath to never speak of this again to another soul.” 

The three of them exchanged worried glances. At last, Uncle Madhava nodded in consent. The women did not oppose him. Veerata was once again struck by the old man’s warrior-like response. 

Vidyuta continued. “You may remember that Anjalika came to Satayu about a month ago.” He narrated the story and everyone listened in silence. 

A grand ceremony had been held in the capital to welcome the dancer of Videha. She’d arrived as a gift to the emperor from the king of Videha. 

On the very first evening of her arrival, she’d performed a recital at the royal palace. Her dance had captivated everyone. People had called her an apsara, a celestial nymph. 

Padmapani had rewarded her skills with the title of Royal Courtesan. She’d been given land, property, servants, gold coins and jewels. She’d accepted everything with grace and dignity. Her presence had marked a new chapter in the alliance between Satayu and Videha. 

“But that same night, tragedy struck her,” Vidyuta said. “After the ceremony, she retired to her temporary chambers in the palace. Her maids recall that she seemed completely normal when she entered the rooms. They heaped her with praises. She seemed happy to listen to them. They helped her bathe and brought her dinner. Then, she dismissed everyone saying that she was tired after the long journey and the dance performance. In the middle of the night, the guards posted outside her chambers came looking for me. They’d heard her screaming and crying for help. When I reached her room, I found her sweating and shaking in her bed with a very high fever. She also complained of abdomenal pain.”

“Poison?” Satya mumbled. 

Veerata and Vidyuta were both impressed.

“You’re right, Satya,” the young doctor replied. “It was poison. At first, I thought it was just food poisoning. I called Rajvaidya, the imperial physician and head of the palace medical team. He declared that she’d consumed something fatal the minute he saw her. Together we tried everything to relieve her symptoms. But, at that time, we both believed she wouldn’t survive the night. We informed Samrat about her condition and waited for the crisis to pass.”

“So she recovered?”

“Barely. The next morning she spoke to us. She couldn’t remember consuming any poison. Since that day she’s remained bedridden in the same chamber. The maids watch over her day and night. The guards remain posted outside. Rajvaidya and his entire team have been working hard to keep her alive.”

“One month? And you still don’t know what poison she consumed?”

Vidyuta shook his head. “We’ve tried everything. All tests have failed.”

“It’s a miracle that she’s survived this long.”

“No, Satya, she is dying. She admitted to us that in her early youth, she’d developed a narcotic addiction. She overcame all of that to become a dancer. We believe the effects of the poison were minimised due to her prior addiction. But she is dying a slow lingering death.” 

Vidyuta glanced at the young general. 

Veerata’s face had darkened. “I believe it was an assasination attempt.” 

Alarm was evident in everyone’s face. 

Satya was the first to speak. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why would anyone want to kill her?”

“There was a letter from Maharaj Yusha to Samrat Padmapani the following morning. I cannot reveal the full contents but the gist of it is that if Anjalika dies then Videha will declare war against Satayu.”