Ankush walked through the corridor, wiping the tears from his eyes and anger filled in him.
He punched the wall to release the anger but it didn't. He wanted to beat Veer to death. Because of him, Viraaj is in this state. And now when Ankush won't be able to stay near Viraaj, Veer is free to do whatever he want.
Agastya came running towards Viraaj's chamber and saw Ankush walking towards him, looking down and depressed.
"What happened?" Agastya asked "What are you doing here? I told you to take care of his majesty, didn't I?"
Ankush looked at him and sighed "Veer and his father kicked me out."
"What?"
Ankush nod and looked down "He is too sly. He found a way to kick me out and his father was also there so it became more easy to do."
"But what did he say? Why he kicked you out?" Agastya asked.
Ankush sighed deeply and looked away. "Because I am dirty." He replied and walked away.
Ira was sitting on her bed, thinking how she will prepare herself to let her husband go on war. Since she heard that there is a war going to start, her heart is sinking deep in pain. She desperately want to see her husband, afraid that she might loose him. But he didn't showed up whole day. Last she saw him was when he ran after his father. He didn't came for dinner either and that made her loose her appetite.
Tears were collecting in her eyes doesn't matter how hard she was trying to control them and to not cry.
She quickly wiped the tears when she heard footsteps coming towards her chamber. She tried to calm down and Raksheet entered in chamber.
He closed the door and removed his robe with a deep sigh. He hung the robe and looked at Ira who was smiling at him with tearful eyes.
He went towards her worriedly and sat down beside her, cupping her face with his hands.
"What happened? Why are you crying?" He asked.
She shook her head and replied "Nothing." She held his hand and kissed his palm. "You must be tired. Let's sleep." She was about to lay down but Raksheet held her hand and asked again.
"Princess, what happened? Tell me. Someone said something? Are you hurt somewhere?"
She tried to control her emotions but failed. Her husband's care made her feel weak and cry.
She quickly hugged him and started crying.
"I am sorry. I....I know I s-should not cry. But I can't control myself." She said in between her sobs.
Raksheet hugged her and started to rub her back to calm her down. "What? Why? What are you sorry for?"
He broke the hug forcefully to understand the reason of his wife's breakdown. "First, tell me why are you crying. What happened?"
She tried to calm down and said "I....I know you are going on a war."
Raksheet suddenly became silent and looked away, thinking what to say.
Ira wiped the tears and tried to say "I am sorry.....I should support you. Help you prepare for war but instead, I am crying and making you weak."
She bited her lower lip to control her emotions and not cry.
"But...I don't want to let you go on war."
Raksheet looked at her and smiled slightly. He moved towards her and hugged her. "It's alright. it's normal to feel that way. Even I don't want to go on war and want to spend my time with you."
He broke the hug and cupped her face with his hands "But I have to go. If not now, Abel will rage the war in future. And at that time, not only me and our kingdom, but our kids will also have to face the war. It's better to end it now. Once we win this war, Bayar will be ours. And there won't be any enmity."
Ira nod slowly and looked down. "I know. It's better to face the war instead of running away or trying to avoid it. But...." She looked at him and said "You have to promise me, you will win the war. And come back alive. All of you." She held his hand that was cupping her face and said while crying "I don't want to lose anyone."
Raksheet nod and kissed her forehead "I promise, we will come back. All of us."
The next day.
"Ahil, ask your spy to send all the information about Bayar's army and find out whether Bayar is recruiting new soldiers or not. If yes, then how many. I want every information. From the number of soldiers to weapons and who is ready to support Bayar in this war. I want everything."
Raksheet said, discussing war strategy with Ahil. A big map of Dhrattak empire spread infront of them.
"I am afraid that may be some other kingdom will participate in this war to support Bayar. We don't know who is with us and who is against us." He looked at Ahil and said "We can't trust emperor either."
Ahil nod and leaned forward on the table "How about, we ask king Dhishva to help us. He is your father-in-law. He will support us for the sake of his daughter."
Raksheet turned his gaze away, thinking whether Dhishva will support them. For the sake of Ira, of course not. He won't support them. But because of the relationship between them and the alliance contract between them, he have to support Jwalana.
Raksheet again turned his gaze towards Ahil "I think so too. First, let the war get announced. We will ask for help then. Cabail had send a letter this morning. Grandfather's health is not good. His health is deteriorating. We should not trouble them by informing them about the war which is not announced yet."
"What happened to grandfather?" Ahil asked worriedly "Did you tell sister about it?"
"No. I don't want to scare her more. She got to know about war and was crying whole night. She was hugging me so tightly as if she will lose me if she lose the hug. Mother told me that she didn't had her dinner. She don't want to lose anyone. It's better to let her calm down and understand the situation in our kingdom, about war. And after that, I will tell her about her grandfather's health. Cabail said that the healer has checked grandfather and has given the medicine. He will be fine but the problem is.."
He sighed and looked away "...Veer asked father to keep Ankush and Agastya away from grandfather. None of the servant of palace can enter in his chamber. He will appoint a care taker for grandfather and may be that care taker won't be trustworthy."
"What should we do now?" Ahil asked "If our spies can't stay close to grandfather then how will they protect him?"
"That's what I am thinking."
"But how his health suddenly deteriorated? He was looking fine when he left Jwalana. Sister has taken good care of him and he has recovered alot. Then how this happened again? Aren't they taking care of him?" Ahil asked, wondering whether Viraaj's family is taking care of him or not.
"Cabail said father is taking good care of him but maybe there is still poison in his blood and that is infecting him. The healer will again come for checkup and has given new medicines. I hope he will recover soon." He covered his face with his hands in stress "I don't want Ira to worry more. She will be heartbroken if something happens to her grandfather."