章 31: Borderlands [1]

Border of the Vijayanagara Empire and the Kasim Sultanate, Outskirts of Neelapalli Village.

The Neelapalli village was a small settlement with a little over fifty people residing on the border of the Kasim Sultanate and the Vijayanagara Empire. On the outskirts, four travellers sought a place to rest for the night.

"Your Highness, shall we spend the night in this village?" asked a man dressed in sturdy leather armour, with a sword hanging off his waist. He looked around, wary but also tired from the journey.

"We might have to rest here, Sachin " replied a girl dressed in a kurta with a long tunic underneath, also sporting leather armour. "There is no other village nearby, and we cannot afford to rest in the wilderness."

"But is it safe to be here?" another companion asked, concern evident in his voice. "This is under the Vijayanagara Empire's jurisdiction. If we get caught, it will be a very big problem."

Their leader, a young man with a determined look, was dressed in the simple attire of a merchant: a plain cotton tunic, loose trousers, and a turban that concealed his noble features. Despite his humble disguise, there was an air of authority about him that set him apart from the others.

The man was the only prince of the Yadava Kingdom Aniruddh Seuna.

He nodded thoughtfully. "We don't have much of a choice. We need rest and shelter. We'll just have to be cautious and avoid drawing attention to ourselves," he said.

The group approached the village cautiously. They reached the entrance to the Village and saw two men standing guard.

"Keep your weapons close and stay alert," The Prince instructed his companions quietly. "We must be ready for anything."

Sachin, the guard of the prince, approached the village guard alone and asked, "Hello, we are travellers. We are looking for a place to stay. Can we stay in the village for the night?"

The guard looked him over, then glanced over Sachin's shoulder at the other three travellers, and said, "Well, you do seem like travellers. Wait here with him." He gestured to another guard standing nearby. "I will bring the Village Chief."

"Okay," Sachin nodded and returned to the group. "Your Highness, the guard has gone to fetch the Village Chief."

"I see. It would be great if we got a place to sleep tonight," the prince said, nodding appreciatively.

The group waited patiently as the village guard made his way to fetch the chief.

A few minutes later, an elderly man with a kind face approached them, accompanied by the guard. The Village Chief looked at the travellers with curiosity.

"Welcome, travellers. I am the Village Chief, Devananda. What brings you to our village?" he asked.

Aniruddh stepped up and greeted the elderly man, bowing slightly. "Greetings, Village Chief. We are merchants travelling from the south. Our carriage broke down, so we sought a place to rest for me and my companions," he said, gesturing to the others behind him.

"Oh my, my, that's very unfortunate. Are you hurt or need something to eat?" The Village Chief asked, his face etched with concern.

"No, we are fortunately not hurt, and we have eaten as well. We only need to rest until dawn," Aniruddh replied.

The Village Chief nodded thoughtfully. "I see. And you have travelled all the way from the south? That's quite a journey for merchants. May I ask what goods you trade?"

Aniruddh hesitated for a moment. "We deal mostly in spices and silks, Items that fetch a good price in the markets."

Devananda raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Spices and silks are valuable commodities. Yet you say you have not encountered any bandits on your journey?"

"None, sir. We are fortunate in that regard," Aniruddh said, his voice steady.

The Village Chief nodded thoughtfully. "We have a guest house where you can stay. It is not much, but it will provide you with shelter and safety for the night."

"Thank you," Aniruddh said. "Your hospitality is greatly appreciated."

The chief's eyes lingered on the prince for a moment, sensing something different about him but choosing not to comment. "Follow me, then," he said, leading the way to a small, modest guest house on the edge of the village.

As they walked, the guard accompanying the chief struck up a conversation. "So, where are you from, brothers and sister?" he asked curiously.

"Oh! We are from down south, close to the capital city," Aniruddh replied with a smile.

"The capital? I have always wanted to visit the capital once," the guard said wistfully.

"It's a grand place," Aniruddh said, maintaining the facade of a humble merchant. "Perhaps one day you will have the chance."

The guard smiled at the thought, and the group soon reached the guest house. It was simple but clean, with enough space to accommodate them comfortably.

"Here you are," Devananda said, opening the door. "Make yourselves at home. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Chief Devananda," Aniruddh said, bowing again. "We are grateful for your kindness."

The group settled in for the night, grateful for the shelter. The prince's companions remained vigilant, knowing the dangers that still lurked in the shadows. As they prepared for the night's rest, Aniruddh addressed them.

As they settled in for the night, the prince's companions remained vigilant. The simple accommodations were a welcome respite from their arduous journey. The prince sat down, grateful for the shelter.

"We need to remain cautious," he reminded his companions. "We are still in unfamiliar territory."

"Yes, Your Highness," Sachin replied, nodding. "We will keep watch and ensure your safety."

"Naiki and I will rest first. Wake us up in a few hours for guard duty," said Aniruddh as he entered the guest house with Naiki following close behind.

Once they were inside, Hansraj, the younger brother of Sachin, leaned closer and asked, "Sachin, are Naiki and the prince lovers?"

"You fool!" Sachin struck his brother's head with a light chop. "They're childhood friends. Of course, they would be comfortable together."

Hansraj rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly. "I just thought... the way they act around each other, it's different."

Sachin shook his head, a small smile on his face. "It's different because they trust each other, Now, stop asking silly questions and keep an eye out. We can't afford to let our guard down."

Hansraj nodded, his expression turning serious as he took his position. The night was quiet, but the air was thick with the tension of their mission.

After the chief and guard left the group at the guest house, the guard spoke up. "Chief, why didn't you question them more? They do seem a bit suspicious, and you didn't even ask for their names."

The Village Chief sighed, glancing back at the guest house. "Child, they will leave at dawn. Yes, they seemed suspicious, and the merchant had a different air about him than the others. But getting involved with such people would bring us more trouble than good. That said, we don't turn away people who are suffering, regardless of our suspicions."

The guard nodded, understanding the wisdom in the chief's words. "I see. I hope they move on without causing any problems."

"They will," the chief assured the guard by patting on his shoulder. "By the looks of it, they don't mean any harm. Hopefully, nothing befalls the village. May Lord Shiva always be with us,"

With a final glance toward the guest house, the chief and guard walked away, leaving the travellers to their rest.

Midnight fell, and the moon silently glowed in the empty starless sky. The breeze made the tree's leaves rustle, and amidst this, men silently approached the guest house where the prince was staying. They were assassins sent to kill him.

Hansraj yawned at his post, stretching his limbs, while beside him, his brother stood diligently. Sachin noticed a glint in the distance, something amiss. Squinting his eyes for a better view, he realized to his horror that it was an archer.

"BROTHER, DUCK AND GET INTO THE HOUSE, IT'S AN AMBUSH!" Sachin yelled. Grabbing his brother, he broke through the door of the guest house.

The scream woke the prince and Naiki. "What happened?" Aniruddh demanded, his voice urgent.

"We are being ambushed. We have to escape to the forest, Your Highness," Sachin replied, quickly picking up a shield from his bag.

Naiki was already alert, grabbing her weapon. "How many are there?"

"I don't know," Sachin responded, his voice tense. "But we don't have time to find out. We need to move now."

Aniruddh nodded grabbing his sword, his mind racing. "Sachin, Hansraj, you lead the way. Naiki and I will follow. Keep your eyes sharp."

As they moved to leave, arrows started raining down. "Go, go!" Sachin urged, blocking a few arrows with his shield.

They dashed out of the guest house and into the cover of the trees, the assassins were on their heels. The night air was filled with the sounds of pursuit, the rustling leaves and snapping branches echoing through the forest.

"Keep moving!" Aniruddh commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos. "We can't let them corner us."

Naiki glanced back, her eyes fierce. "We'll make it, Your Highness. Just stay close."

The forest offered some cover, but the assassins were relentless. Sachin and Hansraj fought to keep them at bay, their swords clashing with the attackers. The prince and Naiki moved swiftly, relying on their training to navigate the dark terrain.