‘Women can also kill, My Lady. I killed my first man at seven. He was my own father. He would pay me nightly visits, if you catch my meaning. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve killed since then. Fat merchants dressed in velvet, magisters sitting behind their desks, knights on horses, trampling the poor. Oh no, do not for a moment think we practice some kind of vigilante justice. We have killed innocent virgins, married women and children too. Because people die. It is the truth. And I am proud I am the one doing the killing.’

Storm cast Draupadi a look of scorn. ‘I see you enjoying five husbands, all lusting for you. The power you have! And yet I see you weeping every day. And you a Princess!’ Storm spat at her feet to show what she thought of Draupadi. ‘You wanted to know about the Silver Wolves,’ she said, lifting the sword from Draupadi’s throat, ‘and now you know it!’

Draupadi felt like she had been slapped. Tears shone in her eyes. She wanted to scream at Storm the torture of being passed around like goods, from one man to another, with no thought for what she wanted. To be driven to the point when she prayed to Prakioni and Ratih for the turn of the moon so that her moon-blood would keep her husbands away from her.

Draupadi wanted to scream all this to Storm, but all she said was, ‘I would like to accompany you on one of your patrols, Storm, if that is alright.’ Draupadi had not been permitted to bring any handmaidens from Panchal. Storm, gruff as she was, was the only girl here she knew from Panchal. A Princess wins over her subjects with love and care, she had been taught. She would do just that.

Storm had not expected such a response. Disarmed, she managed to stutter, ‘As you command, My Lady.’ Looking away, she said, ‘Seven pardons for my unwise words. The swaying palanquin gives me the aches. I am dizzy, and I feel sick. But that is no excuse. I should not have misspoken so.’

Draupadi smiled. Love and care. ‘There is nothing to pardon,’ she said kindly. ‘I am merely anxious to meet Lady Satyabhama, and wanted to know more before meeting her in person.’

‘Nothing to worry on that front, My Lady,’ Storm said. ‘She is as soft as a petal.’

II