‘What rubbish!’ Burned Matron chided. ‘Krishna did not become the new King. He created a Republic. Clever lad.’

‘True in theory. But he pulls all the strings from behind the curtain…much like our Saptarishis, no?’

‘Who knows? It’s not as if the Seven tell us what they do with what we give them. We are just cogs in a well-oiled wheel.’

‘That is true,’ Maimed Matron sighed. ‘But this is still better than divining with sheep entrails. Just imagine the stench and the mess.’

‘Why is Krishna the centrepiece?’ Masha asked.

‘We will not spoon-feed you what we know. Here.’ Burned Matron handed Masha a leather-enfolded diary, embossed with the number 307. ‘This is the journal I maintain on Krishna and Shishupal. Refer to it for your notes.’

‘Erm, who is Shishupal?’ Masha asked.

Burned Matron grunted in impatience. Maimed Matron placed a hand on Burned Matron’s shoulder. ‘She is new, Matron. We should help her out.’

Letting out a sigh, Burned Matron relented. ‘Very well child, but listen well for I will not tell you again. Krishna deposed the former King of Mathura, Kans-now. Remember that name. The coup was deadly. Some of the hoodlums went mad with bloodlust, as often happens in riots, and raped Kans’ two wives, and killed his children.’ She spoke flatly, without emotion. ‘Krishna had nothing to do with that…but well, you know how it goes with blaming the leader. Turns out, the wives of Kans were the daughters of the Magadhan Emperor.’

Masha gasped. ‘Emperor Jarasandh?’

‘Good girl. Not completely ignorant I see. And there began the ten-year-long Yamuna Wars between Krishna’s Mathuran Republic and Jarasandh’s Magadhan Empire. The Emperor sent wave after wave of soldiers to Mathura, but the Mathuran Walls were too high, too strong, to be taken down. And…well, I am not going to tell you everything now, am I? Go read my journal. But to answer your question, Shishupal is the Lord of Chedi, a vassal state of the Empire, and currently he is a soldier in the Empire.’

‘But…’

‘Do not disturb me. I have shown you where to look; do not expect me to tell you what to see. Go read!’

‘Yes, Matron.’ Masha bowed her head and took the journal. She crossed her legs on the stool and settled down uncomfortably for a long read.

‘Oi! Seven Hells! Not from the start, you silly child!’ Burned Matron snatched the journal from Masha and flipped the fragile parchments over till she reached the middle of the stack. ‘Start here – Twilight of the Yamuna Wars, when the untimely suicide of a Princess plunged the entire realm into hushed silence. Now remember this Matron, never confuse silence for peace. Auguries have gone terribly wrong by ignoring that fine distinction.’

‘Take it easy, child. You will enjoy it, you know,’ Maimed Matron added kindly. ‘Krishna has stolen Princesses from sleeping Lords. He flies a griffin. His wife, Satyabhama is the War Mistress of Mathura, who single-handedly killed the Rakshasa King of the East. Ooh she’s quite the fierce one! Then there is Karna, of course. Oh Karna…’ she uttered dreamily.