Young master Vikara is all dressed up. He is wearing his favourite red and golden robe. He looks to be in the best of moods. He is walking towards the estate's verandah.

Vikara to the maid - "Call Arkha. I need to welcome my sister."

The maid swiftly takes off to fetch her.

Rashva - "Karni has already left to pick her up."

Vikara - "I set up a carriage and everything. It was supposed to be grand. You're a real mood killer Pa."

Rashva - "No point in such petty charades. The older you get, the better you understand that."

Vikara - "Such a downer. Now I have to wait till they return. That is sooooo boring."

Rashva - "Get a hobby...or a job. Stop playing the landlord when you obviously are not."

Rashva walks away.

Arkha walks in. She is a mercenary, unlike the other goons of Vikara. She has quite the reputation too.

Arkha - "You called me?"

Vikara - "Uhh...well since you came, could you give me a head massage?"

Arkha ignores and leaves.

Vikara scratches his chin and looks towards the gate, waiting for their return.

Karni picks up the young woman on his black horse. Dhamini is a fair lady with strong black hair. She is gorgeous and has a very thin waist. She is much shorter than Karni. She carries herself in a very fragile demeanour. Hard to command the respect of someone like Karni.

They ride a fair way on a familiar route to the woods when the young woman demand they stop. Karni ignores her and continues riding when suddenly they are attacked by a group of bandits. They chase them on horseback. Karni tries to outpace them but his horse ain't all that competitive. One of the bandits closes the gap. Karni draws his sword and waits for the bandit to swing. The bandit swings. Karni counters and strikes firmly to the gut. The bandit falls. Karni recognizes that the bandits are trying to funnel them towards a trap. Karni switches direction and faces the bandits head-on. There are 4 of them in front of him. It's not easy to win a mounted battle. Karni decides to commit to his plan. He zig-zags across the men on horses. One of them gets too close and strikes him. Karni is hit on his back with a mace. He is hurt but continues.

The men pursue them for a while but decide to let them go when they realize the territory is Khasim's.

Karni rides for another hour and keeps checking if any bandits still tailing them. They reach the Khasi village. It is a huge village on the outskirts of north-eastern Urvarakshetra. 

Karni stays his horse near a tavern. They both decide to have a drink and rest.

Karni enters the tavern. The tavern is loud. Louder than usual.

They order a couple of drinks and make themselves comfortable.

Just as the drinks are poured, there is a loud noise of grunting horses.

The tavern door swings open.

The tavern goes silent. The door's creaking is the loudest.

It is a group of men dressed in military attire. One of them looks rough and wears battle scars all over his face. He is wearing a lot heavier breastplate than the rest of the militia. The breastplate has the symbol of a diamond.

The man walks towards Karni - "Karni Valmiki Jairam....in the flesh."

Karni stands up - "Zerdan Nangbah. It is an honour."

Zerdan - "Sit. You are our guests. Everyone, please continue."

Zerdan takes a seat.

He looks at the young woman and then it strikes him - "Oh, the adopted daughter of Rashva - Dhamini isn't it?"

Dhamini gulps her anger - "Yes."

Zerdan - "You have certainly been invisible. I see your elder brother all over the place, but you just vanished....hahaha."

Zerdan orders food and proposes both of them eat.

Zerdan - "You know Karni...I think we want to see you one last time."

Karni - "What do you mean?"

Zerdan sighs - "Come on now...we both know. You and Khasim. That was the fight."

Karni - "I lost. Fair and square. He beat me."

Zerdan - "Yes. But after that, he fought absolute nobodies. You were the best fighter he ever faced. Don't you wanna go back and kick his ass?"

Karni - "He broke my back. I almost lost my leg. My right eye is a dud. I cannot defeat him. And besides, the fight game is past me."

Zerdan laughs - "He is not the same either you know. Hahahaha... Well, I won't try to convince you. It is the love for mindless violence from a pit fight lover."

Karni - "I'm glad we stopped by."

Zerdan takes a swig from the tankard  - "Why exactly did you stop here?"

Karni - "Bandits attacked us. They were trying to rush us into a trap. I somehow managed to shake them off. Decided that the Khasi village has the infamy to keep any bandit at bay."

Zerdan laughs - "Yes...true. So I believe you both were returning to the estate."

Karni - "Ya."

Zerdan - "No worries. I shall arrange for a few of my men to accompany you. You two can travel in an armoured carriage. Does that sound good?"

Karni - "We appreciate your generosity."

Zerdan - "It's nothing. Before you leave, there is one last thing I wanted to get off my chest. You can ignore this advice or take it - stop wiping Vikara's buttocks. You're no longer his slave."

Zerdan stands up and walks off.