Outskirts of Capital City Hampi.
A grand carriage rolled steadily along the forest path, its wheels crunching softly over the newly built roads. The morning sun bathed the scene in a warm light, making the dense greenery shimmer. Every now and then, a gentle breeze lifted the flag on the carriage, revealing the royal crest.
Surrounding the carriage was a sizable escort of cavalry and infantry, their polished armour catching the sunlight and reflecting it in dazzling flashes. This was the retinue of the Second Prince Bhairava, who was returning to the capital after spending time in Cochin to strengthen his position.
Riding beside the carriage was Arjun, Bhairava's trusted aide. He was clad in leather riding gear, with a sword hanging from his side and two daggers strapped to his thighs. His eyes were focused, constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble.
A cavalryman approached Arjun, his face serious as he leaned in to share a quick, urgent message. After delivering the information, he nodded respectfully and returned to his place in the formation.
Arjun steered his horse closer to the carriage and knocked on the door . Bhairava, sitting inside the carriage, looked up from his thoughts as Arjun spoke.
"Your Highness, the weapons purchases are nearly complete," Arjun said, his hand resting on the side of the carriage as he leaned in slightly. "We have enough supplies to last us for a while."
Bhairava, with a slightly furrowed brow, glanced out the window. He seemed lost in thought, his gaze drifting over the trees as if searching for answers in the landscape.
"Hmm," Bhairava finally said, "Now I need to make sure that Father doesn't meddle in our plans. If he does, things could get very messy."
Bhairava tapped his fingers impatiently against the side of the carriage. "Any news about the deal that's been going on?" he asked.
Arjun, maintaining his steady posture, shook his head. "No updates, Your Highness. The Emperor's personal squad is on high alert, and the First Prince remains tight-lipped."
Bhairava let out a frustrated growl and spat. "Ugh. This is getting tedious."
He shifted his focus. "And what about Alfonso? What's he up to in the Palace?"
Arjun cleared his throat before replying, "I heard he took the young prince out shopping yesterday. Other than that, we keep a close watch on his movements. He sticks to his routine—going to Goa and spending his money on alcohol, courtesy of his uncle in Daman."
Bhairava scowled, his lips curling into a sneer. "Tsk. That half-blooded fool. This is why mlecchas should never be allowed to marry into our family. It only brings trouble,"
"Anyway, arrange a meeting with that bastard," Bhairava ordered. "I need him to take care of a few things for me."
"Understood, Your Highness," Arjun replied with a nod.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "When should I arrange it?"
"Right when I reach the Palace," Bhairava said, his tone brooking no argument. "Drag the bastard to my chambers as soon as we arrive."
Meanwhile, in the Mudialiar Household, the First Prince Chandra was deep in discussion with Balaji Mudaliar and Govinda Rao about the economic war and the looming civil conflict stirred by Bhairava.
"What have you gathered, Govinda?" Chandra asked, leaning forward.
Govinda nodded, pulling out a stack of papers. "Our spies report that Cochin is quietly stockpiling weapons. They've secured a significant amount of arms and supplies, hinting at preparations for a prolonged conflict."
Chandra frowned, his brow furrowing. "This is troubling news. We need to counter this. Start procuring some weapons for ourselves."
Balaji chimed in. "The Second Prince is on his way to the Palace. With the Third Prince back there as well, it's likely that a significant meeting is about to take place, possibly involving some sort of deal."
Chandra's expression hardened. "It's not the first time Alfonso has aligned himself with Bhairava. We need to be prepared for whatever they're planning."
"What do you suggest we do, Your Highness?" Balaji asked.
"Prepare for the worst," Chandra replied firmly. "Buy all available weapons on the market for the troops. I will ask Mother to help me with some more information."
He continued, "Keep gathering information on their military movements using our spies. We need to know everything."
Chandra then added, "Monitor Alfonso extensively. He might be a key figure on the battlefield since he may have decided to side with Bhairava in the race for the throne."
Chandra knew Alfonso's character very well. Alfonso always put up a timid facade but only acted when the deal was favourable for him. Publicly, Alfonso appeared carefree, but he was a very shrewd man who knew how to align himself with the best opportunity.
Balaji nodded, taking note. "Do you think the Portuguese will become involved if Alfonso and Bhairava form an alliance?"
Chandra shook his head. "I doubt it. Alfonso might be connected to the Portuguese, but he's loyal to his own land. He wouldn't easily sell out his kingdom for European gains or the throne."
Balaji raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so certain?"
Chandra's gaze was steady. "I know him very well. He isn't the type to betray his homeland for some measly gains or for the throne. He values his own country too much for that."
"I guess we can trust Your Highness's intuition on that," Balaji conceded.
"Lastly, what about Harsha's movements? Anything unusual?" Chandra asked.
Balaji shrugged. "As for Harsha, we've done a thorough investigation on his aide. Nothing of note came up. He's an average man—barely able to beat one of the palace guards," Balaji scoffed.
Govinda quickly retorted. "He did beat Varun, not just any palace guard. You seem to be underestimating him."
Balaji dismissed it with a wave. "Still, he's an average man compared to veteran soldiers. Lower caste individuals lack the talent of a Kshatriya."
Chandra pressed, "What about Harsha himself?"
"Nothing much, Your Highness," Balaji said. "He's been training with his guards and reading books most of the time. The only noteworthy thing recently is that Alfonso dragged him to the market once."
Chandra pondered for a moment before responding. "Hmm. Useless as I thought. Harsha has never been a real threat. I don't know what Father sees in him,"
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Royal Palace, Bhairava's Chamber
The evening sun filtered through the curtains. The gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of freshly watered flowers from the garden, adding a serene quality to the space.
Bhairava lounged on a plush sofa, his posture relaxed. Beside him, Arjun stood vigil, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. Across from Bhairava, Alfonso sat at a small table, a wry grin on his lips.
"Big brother missed me?" Alfonso said with sparkling eyes.
"Drop your act, Alfonso. I've come to discuss something important," Bhairava said, scowling.
Alfonso's playful demeanour didn't waver. "Hmm, what does my dear older brother need from me?"
Bhairava , his expression serious. "So, Alfonso, what exactly is your plan? You've been unusually quiet about your intentions."
Alfonso leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile on his lips. "You know me, Bhairava. I like to keep things interesting. Why spoil the surprise?"
Bhairava's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Interesting? We're on the brink of a significant upheaval. Your games might end up costing us more than you realize."
Alfonso's smile widened, but he remained relaxed. "Oh, I'm well aware of the stakes. That's why I've been cautious about what I reveal. There's a lot at play here, and I'd rather not tip my hand too early."
"But why are you here? You must need something from me again," Alfonso asked, a mischievous glint in his eye as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly drumming on the armrest.
Bhairava's face hardened. "Yes, more like a task for you," he said, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.
Alfonso chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Hahaha, you seem to have forgotten I'm not your subordinate like that dog over there," he said, casually pointing a finger at Arjun, who stood stoically beside him.
Bhairava's lips curled into a faint smirk. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Fine, fine, fine. I have a request."
Alfonso raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He tilted his head slightly and leaned in closer. "That's more like it. So, what do you need?"
"Cannons," Bhairava said firmly, his eyes locking onto Alfonso's.
Alfonso's eyes widened in surprise. He raised a hand to his chin, stroking it thoughtfully. "So in the end, a civil war is going to happen?"
Bhairava shrugged nonchalantly. "You jest, Alfonso. I don't plan to start one," he said, the corners of his mouth curling into a wry smile.
"Then why the cannons?" Alfonso asked, folding his arms and leaning back, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"A deterrent, just in case," Bhairava replied. He glanced at Alfonso, his gaze steady, as if daring him to question further.
Bhairava's eyes narrowed, a thoughtful frown forming. He tapped his fingers on the table and added, "My request is to use your Portuguese connections to get me cannons to the port in Cochin discreetly."
Alfonso sighed deeply. "And what's in it for me?" raising an eyebrow.
Bhairava leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "What do you want?" he said, his voice carrying a note of resignation as he awaited Alfonso's response.
"Don't you know what I like the most? Big brother is so cold," Alfonso teased, his playful grin returning as he leaned back in his chair, arms spread wide.
Bhairava's irritation was evident. He let out a deep sigh, the sound carrying his frustration. "Fine. I'll have the money sent for this endeavour once I get the shipment through different means," he said, his voice firm.
Alfonso's grin widened, and he leaned forward, opening his arms for an embrace. "I love you, Big brother," he said, but Bhairava quickly pushed him away, his face set in a stern frown.
"It would be nice if you dropped your loving act before me," Bhairava said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"The faster you finish the request, the more money I will send you," Bhairava added.
Alfonso feigned surprise, his eyes widening exaggeratedly. "Oh, so generous," he said sarcastically, raising his hands in a gesture of mock admiration. "Of course, I will do it very quickly for my kind brother," he added with a wink.
Alfonso walked through the grand hallways of the palace, the marble floor cool beneath his feet. The walls seemed to blur around him as he mulled over Bhairava's request. His mind was focused, weighed down by the implications of the new arrangement.
When he reached the entrance to his room, he found his aide waiting. She stood upright with a respectful posture. As Alfonso approached, she gave a slight bow.
"Your Highness," she said, her voice trailing off as she waited for his instructions.
Alfonso stopped and addressed her directly. "Contact Uncle and tell him I want to meet him at the usual place," he instructed.
The aide nodded promptly. "Understood, Your Highness. May I ask why?"
"We're arranging to purchase cannons. Make sure the message goes through Nakul. We can't risk any information getting out," Alfonso replied.
"Understood," the aide said, already preparing to carry out the order.
"Also," Alfonso added, "Tell Nakul to get in touch with 'that' person. Let them know that all the necessary preparations are complete."
The aide hesitated slightly, her brow furrowing. "Is it really necessary to involve 'that' person right now, Your Highness? Perhaps we should let them intervene personally later on,"
Alfonso sighed, clearly irritated. "What choice do we have? We have everything organized,"
"If "That" person is going to intervene, Isn't it good for us, We don't have to work as hard," Alfonso said with a wry smile.
"But, Your Highness, It can also potentially cause trouble later on too," the aide said with a serious expression.
"Come on, Lekha. You know I don't take risks enough to put me in danger. Trust me on this one it's wise to include that person," Alfonso said with a gentle smile patting the head of the aide.
"Alright, Your Highness," the aide said, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!