On the terrace the sentinel struck the gong announcing the end of the third watch of the night. Realizing how late it was, Pandit Vishnu Sharma sat up and, addressing the feudatory chief Kartavir, said, ‘The Commander-in-Chief suddenly came to his senses and summoned the Council. As you know they made a proclamation in the city. The fears aroused by his actions have become a reality.’ He looked at the Acharya who sat in anxious contemplation, with his head bowed. The Acharya only heaved a deep sigh. Others now sat up from their cushions, and began to stretch their limbs. Anxiety was writ large on every face.

The doorkeeper of the inner palace came up and announced that the ladies were arriving. The ladies entered, and each sat down by the side of the man related to her.

Stifling a yawn, Kartavir straightened his heavy back and said, ‘In the present circumstances we can do nothing but wait. The Commander-in-Chief and the Chief Justice are but the arrows of crooked diplomacy, the men shooting them being the feudatory chiefs, Okris and Indrasen and the jumped-up groom, Prestha. By replacing all our military officers and commanders through fresh appointments and by winning over the public through this proclamation, they have virtually crippled us. There is none to beat Prestha in the game of intrigue; he is as cunning as Kautilya. And it is certain that the son of this groom will soon occupy the position, not just of a senior military officer, but of the Commander-in-Chief. This proclamation is just a lead-up to his appointment.’

Vishnu Sharma interrupted to say to Rudradhir, ‘Young man, the best thing for you to do is to go straightaway to the city gate, and as soon as it is opened, get out of the city and take the road to the east. Go to Valka and stay with your maternal uncle. You should travel through other towns of the Republic and acquaint yourself with the prevailing conditions. After a few weeks or months, when these low-caste atheists have been crushed, the time will be ripe for you to come back to Sagal.’

Vishnu Sharma fell silent, seeing that the Acharya was shaking his bowed head in disapproval and clasping his hands tightly in an effort to control his feelings. His head still bowed, the Acharya said in a faint and hopeless tone, ‘I am of the view that Rudradhir should travel about in Magadh for a period of two thousand days. For some time to come, Madra will perforce suffer from the intrigues of Prestha and his band of low-caste people. Valka is an utterly unprotected town. In such circumstances, if Rudradhir falls a victim to some conspiracy, we may not even know about it. I have a stomach ailment and my health is failing. I would like Rudradhir to receive his initiation for the redemption of the caste system in Magadh, at the hands of sage Patanjali, and from the great Brahmin commander and statesman Pushya Mitra. Madra will not always remain under the heel of the low-born …’ He could not say more and fell silent.