Reconstruction Part - 1

In any age, be it pre-historic, medieval, modern or futuristic, destruction is always far easier than reconstruction. That is why it is the ultimate dharma of a ruler to try and avoid as much destruction as possible. Emperor Manoj tried his level best to ensure a peaceful resolution of disputes - internal and external. He knew not everyone agreed with him, he even expected some of them to rebel. His intel network was highly reliable, yet, it had failed miserably to avoid a disastrous rebellion. He gazed at the ruins of the palace grounds that needed to be rebuilt, wondering whether he was a worthy ruler.

"Your Majesty!" he turned his head towards the soldier who saluted him smartly.

"Yes?" he asked, returning the salute. He always made it a point to respect his soldiers, thus earning their loyalty. But, obviously, it had not been enough.

"Her Highness, the Empress, wishes to see you, sire." he looked at the tired-looking soldier.

"How long have you been on duty?" the soldier seemed surprised.

"Twenty days sire."

"Did you fight in the rebellion?"

"Yes sire."

"Which side were you fighting for?"

"On your side, Your Majesty?"

"Why?"

"Sire?"

"You could have easily joined the other side. What stopped you?"

"My family has been serving the rightful heirs of the royal family for generations. I will not change that now sire."

"Tell the Empress I am on my way."

"Yes sire." the soldier saluted smartly and left while Manoj pondered over what the soldier had said. He clapped his hands and a sentry appeared, saluting the monarch.

"Tell General Kishore to meet me in my personal chamber."

"Yes Sire." the sentry left and Manoj followed him out of the Royal Balcony to meet his wife, Empress Kavitha.

Chief War General Kishore was exhausted - mentally and physically. The rebellion had taken a heavy toll on him; the death of Prince Srinivas had only made matters worse. He had been personally supervising the reconstruction of the capital - he considered it an insult that it happened when he was away. He was quite harsh on the General he had left in-charge of the fort. As he entered the interrogation chambers of the fort, he could hear the screams of agony from the prisoners. He passed by the several prisoners being "softened" for further questioning. They were the small fry; he wanted the big fish - the masterminds behind this rebellion. The cell he entered was the most gruesome of all - it had devices that could break even the most stubborn prisoner. When he saw the prisoner, he was stunned.

"Why is she here?" he asked the captain incharge of interrogating this prisoner. "What has she done?"

"She was leading the rebel forces towards the Empress' chambers, General. She was captured with great difficulty." Chief War General Kishore walked towards the table where the female rebel warrior was lying, stripped of all dignity. The woman was already looking ghastly, bathed in blood; yet, there was a serene calmness in her that irritated him.

"Clean her face." he watched like a robot while his men cleaned her face with water - not too gently. There was look of immense sadness on his face as the face of the woman was revealed. It was a face he would never forget even in his death. It was Princess Amuktha - a human female so tiny that one needed a microscope to see her. A female who had actually enticed the Emperor for more than a year.

"Why Princess Amuktha, why?" there was a pain in his voice. "Why did you do this?" the prisoner smiled with great effort - her face was already bashed up though they had taken care not to damage it too much. She looked at him, the mockery in her eyes quite evident.

"What did you expect me to do? Grovel at your feet while your emperor broke his word?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know very well what I am talking about General." she smiled painfully again. "I am sure your emperor would not want some things to be revealed to the public." she chuckled despite the pain. "Lest his image go down in the public's eyes."

"Close her mouth and let no one near her till the emperor decides her fate. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir."

"And no more interrogation. I have got what I need from her."

"Yes sir."

"Any lapse and you and your men face the emperor's wrath." he warned making them pale in terror.

The sentry in front of the Emperor's personal chamber saluted as Chief War General approached him.

"Is the Emperor in?"

"He's Visiting the Empress, sir. He asked you to wait in his chamber."

"Alright, then." Kishore walked into the large chamber that the Emperor used for special and confidential meetings. He looked around the chamber while he waited. It was a large room, thirty feet by fifty feet, lavishly decorated, indicating the aesthetic sense of the monarch. The King sized bed appeared innocent and simple, but Kishore knew it would turn into a deadly trap if anyone other than the Monarch slept in it. There were hidden passages in the walls that only the monarch and the Palace AI knew.

"How long has it been since you slept properly, Kishore?" Kishore forced his eyes open, it had indeed been too long since he had slept. "I want you at your efficient best Kishore. That is the only way you can protect me."

"Sorry your Majesty. It won't happen again." he took a deep breath. "With almost 70 percent of the ground forces lost, I cannot sleep sire till the gaps have been filled." Manoj sighed. It was a sad reality of life - his security chief couldn't afford to be off duty till the numbers were restored and it was a painstakingly slow process.

"What is the progress?"

"What is left of the palace forces has been reorganised into a single unit. We are recruiting the remaining units from the regional military forces. We have also recruited the most loyal units from the Paramilitary forces. We should be back at full force within a week or so."

"That's great Kishore! Any information about the cause of the revolt?"

"We caught the woman leading the attack on her highness, Empress Kavitha, sire."

"Who was it?"

"Princess Amuktha - the human princess you promised to marry."

"She knew the union was impossible - I told her so!" Manoj was furious. "She would never be able to carry my heir even if we got married."

"But, she doesn't look at it that way sire."

"Dispose her. I am not willing to hand over my empire to scheming women."

"And your word sir?"

"Does it really stand if she broke her word of accepting her fate of never marrying me? Can you say I broke my word when I told her specifically that a marriage was out of the question?" he tried to calm himself. "A word given to a cheater is nullified when that cheater breaks the agreement. She broke the pact of secrecy when she attacked my capital."

"Yes sir."

"Anything else?"

"No sir."

"Go and sleep Kishore. and it's an order."

"Yes sir." Chief War General Kishore walked out tiredly back to his own residence, finally relieved of the burden he was carrying for more than forty days.