Whisperers had now spread across the mandalas. Their network was alive, breathing with information. Rohak personally moved closer to the capital, staying disguised as a humble merchant among the bustling trade routes. The group sent to Jangal Mandala also reached their positions, blending into crowds and forests, running errands and menial tasks by day, passing whispers by night. Messages moved like ripples between them, exchanged at the borders where Lohitpuri touched the dense wilds of Jangal Mandala.
One evening, a whisperer carrying urgent messages about Sarthak's patrols in the city was ambushed. An arrow struck his leg, piercing through muscle and sinew. He staggered but forced himself forward, yanking the arrow free with gritted teeth. He limped ahead, blood trailing behind him. Just as he neared the border between Jangal Mandala and Lohitpuri, another arrow sliced through the air, missing him by inches. The forest around him felt unnervingly still, save for the pounding of his own heart.
A nearby whisperer stationed at the border noticed the commotion. In seconds, more gathered, melting into the shadows. As the injured whisperer crossed into Lohitpuri territory, the attacks abruptly stopped. The silence was suffocating.
One of the whisperers recognized the terrain. Without wasting a moment, he sent a coded message to the twins, requesting their urgent presence.
In minutes, Rudra and Raghav arrived, weapons ready. The injured whisperer, pale and breathing hard, was being tended by their comrades. The one who had recognized the area led the twins through a thicket, emerging into an open clearing under the twilight sky.
Raghav's eyes narrowed, and Rudra's hand instinctively went to his blade. It was the same place where smugglers had once stopped, where Raghav had been held captive during their earlier battles against Sharvas' men.
"I thought the attacks would stop after the war," Raghav muttered, scanning the shadows. "But this doesn't feel like Sharvas' doing. Someone else is behind it."
"This is Sarthak's doing," Rudra said grimly. "Remember how the soldiers would die and the weapons would vanish? Jangal Mandala hardly had any legitimate trade in weapons. Sarthak must be building his forces silently."
"But why attack a Yamsabha member's soldiers?" Raghav asked. "Had Sharvas known, he'd have retaliated."
"Sharvas didn't know," Rudra replied. "And back then, Sarthak wasn't a Yamsabha member yet. He could steal without consequence."
Turning to the injured whisperer, Raghav crouched beside him. "Did you see anyone?"
The whisperer shook his head weakly. "No… it was too dark. It was like a shadow. Very fast… I couldn't keep up and got shot. I don't know if it was my fear or something else, but the forest felt weirdly alive when I was attacked."
The twins exchanged a look.
"This part is dangerous," Raghav said, standing up. "We need more eyes here than before. Take rest. Stay in Lohitpuri for now. Your injury will draw too much attention in Jangal Mandala."
"I'll station three men around this area," Rudra said immediately. "Armed and ready."
"Good. We can't afford to lose anyone," Raghav said. His voice was cold and resolved.
"This is bigger than we thought," Rudra added. "We must confirm if this shadow attacker works under Sarthak or if there's someone else hidden in Jangal Mandala."
More whisperers were sent into the area, now carrying weapons, their movements tighter and more coordinated. The war against unseen enemies had just begun. And hidden in the thick darkness of the forest, the real hunter still watched.
They had solved one problem. But now, a deeper mystery loomed ahead:
Who was the attacker?