‘It’s been almost half an hour,’ said Bhagirath. ‘What is he waiting for?’

Kartik and his army remained behind the forest line. They wanted to give Surapadman the impression that the Brangas did not wish to engage in a battle. They hoped he would be lulled into believing that he could launch a surprise attack.

Kartik suddenly exclaimed, ‘Son of a bitch!’

‘Lord Kartik?’ asked Divodas.

‘Send a message to our lookouts,’ said Kartik. ‘Tell them to communicate with those on the other side. I want to know what is happening there.’

Bhagirath slapped his forehead. ‘Oh my God! We’d asked our lookouts to stay low!’

Divodas rushed off and messages were soon relayed across the Sarayu using light signals. He was back in no time with worrying news. ‘They’re mobilising on the other side, hidden by their massive vessels. Row boats are being lowered quietly into the river and soldiers are boarding it even as we speak. It looks like they’re preparing to row downriver.’

‘That cunning son of a flea-bitten dog!’ said Bhagirath. ‘He intends to row downriver, hidden by his own ships, and attack us from the south.’

‘What do we do, Lord Kartik?’ asked Divodas.

‘Ask our lookouts if the Magadhans are disembarking from their tenth ship. That is where Surapadman is.’ Turning to Bhagirath, Kartik continued. ‘Prince Bhagirath, I suspect he will launch a two-pronged attack. There will be one at Bal-Atibal Kund. Surapadman would want to keep us busy here. In the meantime, another contingent of Magadhans would row down south, flank our southern side and aim to enter our camp from behind. We would be sandwiched between two sections of his army.’

‘Which means we need to break up,’ said Bhagirath. ‘One of us will stay here at the Bal-Atibal Kund, and the other will ride out to meet their southern force.’

‘Exactly,’ said Kartik.

Meanwhile, Divodas returned. ‘Lord Kartik, they are disembarking from Surapadman’s ship.’

‘Prince Bhagirath,’ said Kartik, ‘You will lead our main force here. We have to ensure the Magadhans don’t get past Bal-Atibal. I want this to be a death trap for them.’

‘It’ll be so, Kartik, I assure you. But do not leave too many from our forces with me. You will need a large number of soldiers to battle Surapadman in the south.’

‘No I won’t,’ said Kartik. ‘He’s rowing downriver. He will not have any horses. I will.’

Bhagirath understood immediately. A single mounted cavalry warrior was equal to ten foot soldiers. He had the advantage of height as well as his horse’s fearsome kicks. ‘All right.’