‘Ganesh, I’m taking the fastest ship and sailing down south. I have to find your mother’s ship. Kali, Kartik and you will remain with the fleet. Avoid all battles, sail as quickly as you can and meet me at Mrittikavati.’

Ganesh and Kartik stood mute, sick with worry about their mother.

‘She’s alive,’ said Shiva, holding his sons’ shoulders. ‘I know she’s alive. She cannot die without me.’

Shiva’s ship had raced down the Saraswati and caught up with Sati’s retreating fleet. He had clambered aboard his wife’s ship to discover that his Sati was out of danger now, but still bed-ridden. However, this relief was accompanied by some terrible news received from a Vasudev pandit. Reports of the devastation of Sati’s army in Devagiri had given the Meluhan prisoners of war in Mrittikavati the courage to challenge their citizen captors. They had broken out of their prison and taken control of the city. Three thousand citizens, loyal to the Neelkanth, had died in the process. Shiva had no choice but to avoid Mrittikavati for now, as it was no longer safe for his army. He decided to sail down another distributary of the Saraswati and then retreat to Lothal. Orders had been conveyed through a Vasudev pandit to Ganesh’s army as well.

For the moment though, Shiva remained on Sati’s ship as it sailed down the Saraswati. Having checked on the naval movements with the captain, Shiva descended to Sati’s cabin.

Ayurvati sat by her bedside, applying soothing herbs on Sati’s burnt face. Quickly and efficiently, she tied a bandage of neem leaves. ‘This will ensure that your wound doesn’t get infected.’

Sati nodded politely. ‘Thank you, Ayurvatiji.’

‘Also,’ continued Ayurvati, thinking Sati may be concerned about the ugly mark which covered nearly a quarter of her face, ‘don’t worry about the scar. Whenever you are ready, I will perform a cosmetic surgery to smoothen out your skin.’

Sati nodded, her lips pursed tight.

Ayurvati looked at Shiva and then back at Sati. ‘Take care, my child.’

‘Thank you once again, Ayurvatiji,’ said Sati, unable to smile due to the scar tissue forming on her face.

Ayurvati quickly walked out of the cabin. Shiva went down on his knees and held her hand.

‘I’m sorry, Shiva. I failed you.’

‘Please stop saying that again and again,’ said Shiva. ‘I’ve been told about the way our elephants reacted to the burning chilli; it’s a miracle that you managed to save as many of our people as you did.’

‘You are just being kind because I’m your wife. We have lost our elephant corps and most of our cavalry. This is a disaster.’

‘Why are you so hard on yourself? What happened at Devagiri was not your fault. We’d lost our elephant corps the moment the Meluhans discovered that the smoke from burning chillies sends them into a state of panic.’