The hall outside the mayor’s office was the main administrative wing of the palace. A dozen junior scribes sat working on rows of writing desks. Painted completely white and devoid of decorations, it was a striking contrast from the inner office. The only redeeming feature was adequate ventilation from the windows lined on the parallel walls. 

Veerata emerged from the office and crossed the hall in swift strides, ignoring the gaping stares from the junior scribes at his sudden appearance. His personal guards, waiting outside the hall doors, fell in line behind him and followed him through the palace in silence. Within minutes, the young general traversed the long corridors, sprinted up the staircases, and reached his quarters at the other end of the building. 

All the while, a happy thought prevailed. For the first time, Satya was coming to meet him. Although it was an official visit, the stuffy old office now seemed most splendid. However, he didn’t want to greet Satya in his boring official attire. At the very least, he would change into something more appealing.

The guards stopped outside the door as the young general entered his bedroom. He clapped his hands to summon the bewildered servants who had not expected to see him again so soon. Relaying precise instructions, he waited for them to bring out his best silk garments, pearl ornaments and golden headgear. 

Since he came to Satvikshila three months ago, Veerata’s schedule had been monotonous and unwavering. He woke before dawn to get his most coveted four hours of swordsmanship practice. It was the only time of the day the scribes left him alone. 

After breakfast, they confined him to the mayor’s office until late evening. For the first fortnight, he had immersed himself in mundane administrative work. He listened to land disputes, reviewed development plans, oversaw trading contracts and signed mountains of parchments every day. 

Soon, his patience ran out. He knew his cousin, Emperor Padmapani, had appointed him temporary mayor of Satvikshila as punishment for executing the previous mayor without trial, despite evidence of human trafficking and other nefarious activities. 

After much negotiation, the senior scribes permitted him to leave the mayor’s palace every two days for at least two hours in the late afternoon. It gave him ample time to visit Satya at the university. 

Consultation for the lingering discomfort in his old leg wound was just a polite excuse. He ached to see her and stay beside her. She welcomed him with great respect, but seemed oblivious to his open admiration. Nothing could deviate her focus from her studies. He found her candour even more endearing. 

The first time they met, he mistook her to be about fourteen years old with her unruly copper-coloured hair, chubby cheeks and petite figure. He adored her innocent smile. He was in awe of her intelligence and medical prowess. Yet he felt guilty for having impure thoughts towards a child. 

When he learnt a few days later that she was actually past eighteen, nothing could stop him from courting her. Out of respect for her uncle’s wishes and her teacher’s outright warnings, he had held back his confession. Ravi’s words today emboldened him. 

The servants returned and helped him get dressed. Despite his elation, he noticed their silent frowns. While the old scribe was supportive of his feelings, the staff at the mayor’s palace seemed opposed. Perhaps they thought he was merely obsessed with the young maiden. 

The recent incident of human trafficking and slave trade involving innocent young maidens from the hamlet had worsened people’s faith in law and order. Veerata hated such vile individuals that treated human life like items of financial gain and carnal pleasure. Hence, he had executed the previous mayor, having found adequate evidence that the man was the mastermind.

A few drops of jasmine essence on his wrists and a smear of sandalwood paste on his arms completed his attire. As he stood surveying his new garb in the mirror, he heard a familiar bird call. At once, he dismissed the servants from the room. 

“Sanjaya, show yourself,” he commanded. 

A man jumped in through the open window, materialising as if from thin air, dressed in camouflage attire of greyish-green garments, and sporting waist-length dreadlocks. A long beard and handlebar moustache masked his youthful face. Sharp black eyes surveyed the room from under bushy eyebrows. Thin, lanky, and dark-skinned, he prostrated before the young general with joined palms. 

“Senapati, permission to report.”

“Dalpati Sanjaya.” Veerata sat down on the nearest stool. “I’ve been expecting you.”

Sanjaya pushed himself off the ground and squatted. “Forgive my tardiness. Parts of the information were difficult to attain.”

“Difficult?” Veerata asked. “You’re my top intelligence officer. Captain of my elite undercover troops. Satya is just a poor village girl and university student. How difficult could it be to conduct a background check on her family?”

“I thought so too. But I was mistaken. The three of them came to Satvikshila about three years ago and became an integral part of the village. The girl is exceptionally talented. One of the best students at the university. She even received a scholarship. But there is no information about the family before they came to live here.”

“Are they not from Satayu?”

“I can’t say for sure. No one seems to know where they came from. Her birth parents are dead. When they first arrived, Uncle Madhava introduced Aunt Sulochana as his widowed younger sister, and Satya as his deceased brother’s child. His own wife and child perished in an epidemic many years ago.”

“What about his occupation?”

“He works on daily wages at the construction sites.”

“And his military expertise?”

“He claims to have been working at all kinds of jobs throughout his life. But he never received military training.”

“Impossible!” Veerata frowned. “I can tell he’s a skilled warrior with years of experience. I know he’s a born Kshatriya.”

“Would you like me to carry on the investigation?”

“Yes!” Veerata stared out the window. “Find out why he's hiding his true status and living in poverty.”