Chapter 4.  The Meeting

The Hanna armies had arrived at the outcast village. Hundreds of mounted soldiers were guarding the king from all directions and an extra few hundred were at the forefront and behind for additional protection.

But they were stopped in their tracks by a shower of arrows that was aimed at the ground to block the pathway. The Maythene army had been already waiting for them, dressed up in their armor and wielding their swords, ready with their horses to attack any moment the Hanna soldiers would cross the bed of arrows.

"The king comes alone from here," Mitra announced as she came forward on her horse. "No Harm will be done." She sized up the enemy by their sitting stance, the weapons they were carrying as well as the way they were carrying them, the breed and hooves of their horses, their armor… everything.

Hanna soldiers were highly against this request. The absurdity of the request made them furious. They stretched their bodies in front of their king to show disapproval of the request.

"Bring your commander here." The royal commander came forward from behind a line of soldiers and said.

"No. Unless your king is mute, is he?" Mitra said making the Hanna soldier even more furious.

'How dare they mock the king!' the royal commander's fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword.

Surrounded by the soldiers of the royal army as well as the national army Maan Ji Rei scoffed with amusement. "Mute? Perhaps…" he murmured to himself as he looked around. He knew someone there was assigned to watch everything and report it to Queen-mother. Anything that he does will be reported to her and he wouldn't be able to talk freely.

"What if your army captures me?" The king said while coming forward from behind his soldiers.

"Your Highness, it isn't safe for…" The royal commander was talking when the king raised his hand, indicating him to keep quiet.

"Our people don't go back on their word. The king's safety is guaranteed as long as there is no scheming from your side." Mitra added. "The commander can accompany the king."

The king expressed his willingness to follow by gesturing with his hand which was only meant for the royal commander. They both nodded in agreement.

"Both the armies stay right here." The royal commander demanded.

Mitra took the king and the royal commander to the village where the meeting was supposed to take place.

The king and royal commander were puzzled to find villagers going about their day peacefully and were staring with suspicion at them instead of the Maythene soldiers who had captured them.

"They don't look scared at all." the royal commander thought.

"Nothing seems out of place either." The king said seeing that the small huts and shops closer to the streets were unharmed since any intruder's first thought would be to make the streets wider for better movement of the armies.

"Thank you, kind sir, for finding my lost cattle yesterday." A villager said to one of the soldiers guarding the entrance of the army base. The man had also brought some fruits as a thank-you gift, he handed it over as he bowed deeply to express gratitude.

"Open up," Mitra said to the guarding soldiers.

"The commander stays here." Mitra stopped Kinn as he was about to follow the king. He wanted to protest but it didn't seem like the wise choice.

Mitra asked the king to wait in front of a big tent and went to call Jwala.

The king was curious and his eyes followed Mitra. That's when his eyes fell on Jwala. He could only see her back; she was sitting on the ground with a group of young girls aged around 5-12, little ones were singing to her while the older girls were braiding her long dark wavy hair and decorating it with wildflowers.

He was surprised to find the commander of the army he had just witnessed to be sitting on the ground and playing with girls of his nation. No one from the royal line or even nobility had done something like that in the entire Hanna.

The low-class citizens were seen as mere laborers, someone to do the dirty jobs and discard, that's what the majority of Hanna's population thought.

The king knew that this Maythene commander cared for people and respected lives irrespective of their status. He smiled seeing the colorful decorations of Jwala's hair, it wasn't perfect but the girls had tried their best.

His smile widened when he saw Jwala bowing to them before excusing herself. He was curious to know what she looked like.

His curiosity was soon satisfied. He saw her. The woman was taller than average with long black hair going beyond her waist, her light tan skin shone like honey under the sunlight, big, sharp eyes, high nose, and the way she walked with half body armor… hair decorated with wildflowers, dressed in armor and had the walk of full of confidence...

"Powerful," That's what she looked like to Maan.

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Jwala didn't have any specific image in mind but she surely wasn't expecting someone like this. Probably someone old or middle-aged had gone well with the image she had.

The king was tall with broad shoulders or maybe it was the shoulder plates. His complexion was fair making it evident that he had never stepped out of his palace. He wore a white and golden headband on his wide forehead below which were his small deep-set eyes that were looking right at her.

"What a fool! He wore all that armor and left his head unguarded." She gave an inward laugh as she undid her wrist guards and walked up to the king who was waiting for her with his folded hands resting on his hips like an old man.

"Took you long enough to part with the palace…" Those were the first words she said to the king and led him inside the tent.

"Have a seat. Or should I offer something to eat?"

"That wouldn't be necessary." He said and sat on the wooden stool while she sat across the table, in front of him.

"What brings you here?" Jwala said placing her leather wrist guards on the wooden table.

Maan found her question humorous so he played along, "Your letter. It said you wished to meet with the king. I happen to be the king."

"Hmm…" She rested her hands on the table and added, "There was another letter that was sent with an ambassador and gifts, what did it say? Any idea?"

'So that letter had something important in it' he thought but he couldn't say that he was clueless.

"The letter was misplaced I believe. Is it because of the letter that Hanna villages were captured?"

She gave a chuckle. "You are making me sound petty." Jwala's eyes were fixated on Maan. "But it is true. The letter is the reason. And I called you here to show this." She presented the bag of Hanna coins confiscated from the robbers.

"Hanna coins!" the coins had paw prints on them, a type of coin only affordable by the wealthy or noblemen of Hanna.

"Yes, it was confiscated from the robbers who had been robbing Maythene traders and farmers as well as abducting them. We have evidence that our people were forcefully sold into slavery in Hanna's slave market."

'And that letter was written to ask for help' he thought, it was becoming all clear now. The person involved with the kidnapping and robbery had made sure that the letter never reaches him and their illegal slave business kept on running without a hindrance.

"And I want you to find my subjects and return them in a week's time." Jwala's voice was commanding and stern.

He understood her demand but there was something that kept bothering him. "I understand the aversion but there is a code to be followed when addressing the king."

"Maythene don't have those?"

She smiled tilting her head. "In Maythene, incompetency doesn't deserve respect."

"We also believe that an incompetent king shouldn't be demanding respect," Jwala said politely but the eyes reflected her anger. "Everyone knows that respect is earned."

Maan's jaw clenched.

"I forgot to introduce myself," Jwala said, as she got out of her chair, stepped closer to Maan's chair, and rested her weight on the table. "I am Jwala Chitra Bhanu, commander of Devdurg and The 'Queen' of Maythene."

The word 'commander' answered most of the questions running through Maan's head. He stood to match her eyes and said, "I am Maan Ji Rei, the king of the great nation of Hanna."

Jwala laughed. "I suppose this greatness was achieved through forced servitude…"

"I want my people back in one week or I will be forced to tear down your city walls and search for them myself." She stepped closer to Maan, "And I can assure you it is not going to be pretty."

She left the tent leaving Maan stunned. He had never been in a pressing situation like this where his words could start a war. The most adverse effect he had ever seen was being criticized by the ministers of his court or by his subject.

He followed her out of the tent.

Jwala was waiting for him to come out. "King Maan Ji Rei, see all those kids and people. I have nothing against them but if I am given as much one more reason I wouldn't hesitate to send their heads in offering to your great palace of the great Nation." It was clear she was threatening him, her eyes were full of conviction.

"I never denied your request. You will have your people back. Soon." Maan said boldly.

Jwala nodded and called Mitra saying, "See him out."

Maan gritted his teeth at her condescending tone but he couldn't do anything about it, at least not until he had found all her people and brought them back safely.

Maan was leaving as was the royal guard when Jwala ordered the guards, "The commander stays." And the guards blocked the way and captured the royal commander.

Mann was puzzled. He protested, "What is the meaning of this? Our safety was guaranteed."

"This means he is our guest. He is safe until you keep your word or else the first head will be his." Jwala said and stepped closer to Maan. "Aversion, remember… I don't trust you."

They both stared down at each other. The open atmosphere was suddenly tense, it was clear to everyone as two leaders fought for dominance with their eyes. If staring could kill they both would have been dead by now.

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