The old Archivist snorted. ‘All Karna ever really wanted was to challenge Arjun in single combat; a duel to establish his own supremacy and so topple the structure of caste. Just how he entered as a caste-revolutionary and exited as Highmaster of Anga, is something of a haze in my mind. Anga was some sort of tributary, I reckon,’ she muttered vaguely.

Masha knew of Anga from the maps she had studied before she became a Matron. It was a region far flung to the South, above Kalinga. A useful trading post for the Hastina Union, but too far from it for the exercise of direct supervision.

‘I remember he was denied permission to compete against Arjun. Prince Duryodhan… you know who that is?’

‘Heir Apparent of the Hastina Union.’

‘Yes, he is what we call a generous fool. When he saw Karna being denied an equal opportunity to compete, egalitarian notions overpowered the pragmatist in him, and he rose to crown Karna Highmaster of Anga, a territory in his gift. Naturally that made many people unhappy.’

‘Did Karna fight Arjun then?’

‘Oh, I wish he had, child! That would have been a fight for the Gods to witness. No…there was some commotion, arrows were shot, maces flung, and so on, but the good patriarchs of the Union put a stop to the petty squabble of the boys. But a little too late, I would say. The damage was done, and the lines drawn.’

Masha could imagine. She had never heard of a Resht being granted such a high position in the Hastina Union. It would have set a bad precedent. It would have given the Reshts hope. A thoroughly bad idea.

‘His troubles did not end there. While Karna and Duryodhan became the closest of friends…two cursed souls often find solace in each other… in Anga, Prakar Mardin, the now demoted Highmaster, was not about to give up his position to a Resht without a fight. Anga was too far from Hastina for a military solution, so diplomacy it was. It was mostly Lord Shakuni’s doing. He was Prince Duryodhan’s uncle on his mother’s side. So Duryodhan, Prakar Mardin and Karna were to meet at Chilika, the capital of the neutral kingdom of Kalinga, to discuss terms for a peaceful transition.’

Masha took a deep breath and exhaled. Kalinga. The Land of dashing seafarers and bold captains…

‘Karna travelled by sea with Prakar Mardin, no doubt with the intention of charming him. Duryodhan travelled overland.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, he never did admit it, but we Matrons know. Duryodhan was afraid of the high seas, so he left his recently-promoted-clueless-friend alone to deal with Prakar Mardin on a merchanter. The ripples of this single decision set loose a storm in the realm. No, no more questions. Just listen.’

ADHYAYA II: ALL THAT GLITTERS

ADHYAYA II

ALL THAT GLITTERS