Nazan has a surprise

"How do you expect me to react." said an indignant Seol.

"But my lord, the people don't have any grievances" said Ivy "they only wanted to meet the Emperor out of gratitude.

"That is because, I have done everything in my power to make sure of their well-being" retorted Seol.

They administrators of Nazaan had gathered at the council of Administration. Nazaan had five administrators who assisted the head of state in administrating Nazaan. All of them were Brahmins, who were assigned the responsibility of administrating the different parts. Zeus was assigned south Nazaan, Jon had East Nazaan, Ivy central, Cecile West and Barrister was assigned north. Seol who was the head of state resided in the island to the north which was separated from the mainland of Nazan by a strip of the cold ocean.

Seol had without taking advice from the council registered grievances against the Emperor's delay in visiting Nazaan.

"But my lord, wouldn't that be wrong, misrepresenting the people's opinion. Said Cecile, "the emperor may not be very pleased."

"Oh my dear Cecile, HOW DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE STATE IF THE REVENUE IS NOT INCREASED" Seol stood up from his seat, his face now red with anger "The state treasury is about to exhaust, and unless the emperor directs so, the people won't pay increased duty."

"We could have requested the Emperor to send someone with revised revenue declaration." Said Jon.

"Yes, the emperor would not have objected," Zeus added "afterall we all know, the emperor would never say no to anything which is for the betterment and wellbeing of his people."

"Yes only last year after the naming ceremony of the princess he had sent each state 30 billion aurs each." Said Cecile.

"WHAT?" Jon, Ivy and Zeus said at once.

"We received such an amount from the royal treasury," said Jon "we shouldn't have needed to collect duty from our people for atleast five years."

"And you are saying it was all exhausted" said Zeus, "Will you care to explain yourself"

"How dare you speak to me like that." Shouted Seol. "I am your head, you all are below me and are meant to respect me. You are supposed to worship me you nincompoops" he bellowed "I will have you four executed. "

"We are only answerable to the emperor and our loyalty lies with him. You are nothing more than a care-taker my lord. A representative of the Great Vayuvijay" said Zeus. He stood up from his seat as well, and was quickly followed by Cecile, Ivy and Jon.

"We were appointed by the capital and we shall never betray the capital" Said Ivy her voice nothing hiding the anger "You have mismanaged the revenue sent by the Emperor for its people and we WILL report it."

"GO TO YOUR DARLING EMPEROR," Seol spat out "It is me who has for the last thirty years governed Nazaan and protected it, while he is busy making babies. And today you are raising fingers at me. You disloyal ungrateful piece of rubbish, I had exercised power since before you creatures were born. You fools.."

"ENOUGH..." snarled Zeus. "We will not tolerate a word against the Emperor. You have not exercised power, you have usurped it." He glared at Seol, he hands closed in fists.

"Your either withdraw the grievance or I shall be forced to inform his majesty about your treachery." Said Zeus as he walked upto the head of state who cowered before him. Zeus extended his hand to Cecile who placed a parchment and an inked feather.

The four administrators waited as Seol wrote the withdrawal before tying it to the claws of the kite who flew away with the scroll.

"Be careful my lord, as from now we have our eyes on you."

Seol watched as the four administrators walked out off the council room. His rage was brimming now. He could never forget how hard he had tried to become the Emperor. His father was an Emperor. He had relished the life of prince till Vishwamitra replaced him. Yes he himself admitted that Vishwamitra was better than him because of his vast knowledge and experience, but he always felt he would be the next Emperor. Shivashakti his childhood friend had assured him that he would do his best to make him the Emperor. But the snake had made a fool out of him.

Vayuvijay was not even half his age, a man with no knowledge of governance and finance, yet the people of Ethar worshipped him.

Seol picked up the goblet from the table infront of him and threw it at the wall as its contains splashed against the white wall leaving a red stain forever.

"My lord, why waste your anger on these inconsequential beings." Said Barrister. He had not left the council room. Unlike the rest, Barrister was chosen and elected by Seol. It was a consolation gift he had received from his friend Shivashakti.

"What do you mean?" Said Seol hoarsely.

"As they say Great operator appointed Vayuvijay, and," Barrister smiled slyly "if the operator is not on our side, then why should we be on his side."

"Don't talk in riddles, what do you have in mind."

"I mean, why don't we join hands with Eaval."

"How dare you!" Seol said grabbing the collar of Barrister's rob with both hands pulling him closer, so that his spits covered Barrister's face. "I am the son of Emperor Artemis, how dare you suggest that I join hands with Eaval. I may hate Vayuvijay but I shall never sell myself to Eaval."

"Yes my lord, I understand"

"Never ever even think of such thing Barrister."

************************************

"The baby's heart beat is fading, hurry up Parikshit." Inspite of repeated instructions, Vayuvijay had denied to leave his wives side. Manyata has not regained consciousness after the fall. Vayuvijay was having a meeting with the law keepers when he was informed that his wife had a a terrible fall. Without wasting a single second had rode to the palace and had picked up an unconscious Manyata on his horse and carried her to the health building.

Inspite of protest from Shivani and Parikshit he had decided to operate her himself. Her breathing was being controlled artificial by a pipe which pumped oxygen to her lungs with sedatives to ease her pain. He dragged the pointed instrument along her lower abdomen as the skin then the flesh parted.

His eyes were moist as he felt Parikshit take the skin cutter from him and a midwife make him sit on one of the steel tools. He saw his friends taking the still child out of Manyata. He knew what it meant. He felt his feet drag him outside the labour room. He stood at the same window wear he had waited when Ajeenkya was born. He so dearly wanted to hug his daughter.

"VAYU.." his mother's voice hit him. He turned around to see his mother, her eyes red with tears. He knew she could feel his pain. Her hairs were messy.

"We lost her Vayu, We lost her." She could not control her tears as Vayu walked upto her.

As Vayu was about to embrace his mother he saw what she was holding. The bloodied clothes of a toddler.

"We lost our Ajeenkya.."

All that he could now hear was the howl of the storm he had just created.

**********************************

Barrister woke up to loud thuds on his front door. Since he lived alone he wondered who would it be in the middle of the night.

He walked upto the front door and he opened it to find a cloaked figure who pushed into his house and closed the door. He was not surprised when the person removed his hood.

"So this pact with Eaval...umm...how does it happen..I mean how do we do it." Said Seol. As Barrister smirked before blowing the candle he was carrying, as darkness curtained the room.