‘No assassin speaks as much as that fool. It is a good thing Lady Satyabhama was not here to hear him talk. She would have slain him.’

Rain looked like she was contemplating giving Storm a good hard cuff, but it appeared that it was a thought she entertained a dozen times a day. ‘Well, if you turn out to be wrong, it’ll give you something to talk about with Lady Satyabhama.’

‘Lady Satyabhama approves of all my actions.’

‘I think I would have remembered such a conversation, Storm.’

Just then Satyabhama walked towards them and sat down beside Draupadi, stretching out her feet, her back against the rockface which protected them from the wind. Draupadi perked up in anticipation.

Storm jolted to attention. ‘Traders attempting to smuggle bone jewellery, War Mistress.’ Rain and Bleed sniggered behind Storm. ‘Harmless sods. We took the cut, though. Thirty marks. A good bargain.’ Saying which, she showed Satyabhama the loot which clinked momentarily against each other over a profusely sweating palm.

Satyabhama waved her off. ‘Restrain entries, Storm. Mathura has too many mouths to feed as it is, and scarcely any farmers left.’ She regarded Draupadi for a while. ‘Leave us,’ she commanded the others, who promptly disappeared.

‘You’re afraid of me,’ Satyabhama stated. ‘Why?’

Draupadi clutched the edge of her shawl and began to nervously pleat it. Remember to be queenly. ‘Not of you…so much…as your judgment of me, My Lady.’

‘Hm...’ Satyabhama stretched out further against the cliffside as if it were a feather mattress, while Draupadi struggled to maintain her virtue against the wind ruffling her skirts. ‘You are right. I find you pathetic. But you should not care what I think.’

Draupadi looked at her, ashen-faced. She did not respond for a while. Finally, she asked, ‘And why should I not? I respect you, Lady Satyabhama.’

Satyabhama gave a bitter laugh. ‘Because you are wed to possibly a future King. You have a tough life ahead of you, and if you vie for everyone’s respect, it will be a short life too.’

‘Do you think me…’ the word grew cold in her throat, ‘pathetic…for the same reasons as Storm? That I complain when I have five…,’ she looked at Satyabhama with red, swollen eyes, ‘strong husbands to…use and abuse?’

Satyabhama laughed. ‘Sounds like Storm. She was in the wrong to speak to you in that manner. But no. I think you are…’ she turned towards Draupadi, her features softening, ‘I think you pathetic because you have not killed Arjun in his sleep yet. Worse, you fawn over the fool.’

Draupadi’s back shot up like a spear. ‘Arjun?’ she almost shouted. ‘He won my hand! Amongst all the five, it is only he I have any affection for.’

Satyabhama shook her head. ‘Precisely the reason that smug bastard should have stood up for you and refused to share you with his brothers, fought for you. I am called the War Mistress, and I admit I am handy with a sword, but I’ve seen him use a bow. He is a weapon of precise destruction. But that damn old bitch Kunti, she secured the fate of the brothers by tying you up as the sacrificial lamb, and your gallant champion just let her.’