Later in the day, when the dead were counted, it would emerge that seventy thousand of the Magadhan army from amongst seventy-five thousand had been slaughtered, burned or drowned. Kartik, on the other hand, had lost only five thousand of his one hundred thousand men. This was not a battle. It had been a massacre.

Kartik looked up at the sky. The first rays of the sun were breaking on the horizon, heralding a new day. And on this day, a legend had been born. The legend of Kartik, the Lord of War!

Chapter 24: The Age of Violence

Chapter 24

The Age of Violence

The golden orb of a rising sun peeked from the mainland to the right as a strong southerly wind filled their sails, racing them towards the port of Lothal. Shiva, with Sati at his side, stood poised on the foredeck, eyes transfixed northwards, wishing their ship all speed.

‘I wonder how the war has progressed in Swadweep,’ said Sati.

Shiva turned to her with a smile. ‘We do not know if there has been a war at all, Sati. Maybe Ganesh’s tactics have worked.’

‘I hope so.’

Shiva held Sati’s hand. ‘Our sons are warriors. They are doing what they are supposed to. You don’t need to worry about them.’

‘I’m not worried about Ganesh. I know that if he can avoid bloodshed, he will. Not that he’s a coward, but he understands the futility of war. But Kartik... He loves the art of war. I fear he will go out of his way to court danger.’

‘You’re probably right,’ said Shiva. ‘But you cannot change his essential character. And in any case, isn’t that what being a warrior is all about?’

‘But every other warrior goes into battle reluctantly. He fights because he has to. Kartik is not like that. He’s enthused by warfare. It seems that his swadharma is war. That worries me,’ said Sati, expressing her anxieties about what she felt was Kartik’s personal dharma.

Shiva drew Sati into his arms and kissed her on her lips, reassuringly. ‘Everything will be all right.’

Sati smiled and rested her head on Shiva’s chest. ‘I must admit that helped a bit...’

Shiva laughed softly. ‘Let me help you some more then.’

Shiva raised Sati’s face and kissed her again.

‘Ahem!’

Shiva and Sati turned around to find Veerbhadra and Krittika approaching them.

‘This is an open deck,’ said a smiling Veerbhadra, teasing his friend. ‘Find a room!’

Krittika hit Veerbhadra lightly on his stomach, embarrassed. ‘Shut up!’

Shiva smiled. ‘How’re you, Krittika?’

‘Very well, My Lord.’

‘Krittika,’ said Shiva. ‘How many times do I have to tell you? You are my friend’s wife. Call me Shiva.’

Krittika smiled. ‘I’m sorry.’

Shiva rested his hand on Veerbhadra’s shoulder. ‘What did the captain say, Bhadra? How far are we?’