Satyabhama frowned. ‘The day they actually win…’

Time suddenly came to a grinding halt. Everything seemed to slow as the air whistled behind Satyabhama. She raised her hand lightning fast to catch a quarrel mid-air, and turned towards the attacker. Yet another quarrel struck her breastplate with a loud thwack. The impact pushed her momentarily onto the back foot. Red dye smeared her breastplate from the cotton end of the quarrel.

It seemed that everyone had stopped breathing. The fallen City Guard and Silver Wolves no longer tended to their wounds. Satyaki looked like it had been he who had been shot with a crossbow quarrel, his mouth gaping wide. Krishna warily turned to find Storm astride the balustrade, while Rain peered between the pilasters of the balcony on which Satyabhama had been standing so short a time ago. Both their crossbows were levelled at the War Mistress. Storm had meant it when she had said she was bait.

‘The day they actually win?’ Krishna asked innocently.

‘Shut up, husband!’

Satyaki slid slyly towards Krishna and whispered, ‘Is that a smile on Satyabhama’s face? I think…I saw…one.’

Satyabhama turned to Satyaki. ‘Send word to the Silver Wolves and the City Guard. Tell them that once they’ve cleared the scarecrows from the streets, they can take to the Boar’s Tavern. The rounds are on me. They have earned drinking rights.’

The Silver Wolves and the City Guard cheered. Some of the Wolves hoisted Storm and Rain onto their shoulders for a victory parade. Satyaki smiled at the celebrations till he noticed Satyabhama’s eyes on him. ‘Oh now? Yes, War Mistress.’ Saying which, he hastily disappeared from sight.

‘You are too hard on him,’ Krishna said once Satyaki was gone and they were slowly walking down the street. ‘You know he is afraid of you. He is little more than a boy.’

‘Scare them when they are boys, then they continue to be afraid even when they become men. What brings you to the dirt of the streets, Lord Husband? Did Lady Rukmini not pat the cushions of your bed well enough?’

She is in a mood. ‘I was just inspecting the tunnels before coming. I’m headed to Syamantaka. Thought of taking Satyaki with me. You know, we need a third person to act in my stead when I’m not around or the bears will forget who they answer to. I will get there by nightfall and return on the morrow. But I might not have time to see you again. Best to catch the daylight when I leave again for Panchal.’

‘Yes, I know,’ she rasped. Satyabhama did not bother to check her pace as she walked out of the training alleys.