Shiva looked at Gopal before turning back to the burning ships. ‘We have no choice, Panditji.’

‘No, we don’t.’

‘What do you suggest we do, Panditji?’ asked Shiva.

‘The rainy season is here,’ said Gopal. ‘It will be difficult to mount a campaign to attack Devagiri any time soon. Even if we could, without the advantage of our cavalry it is unlikely that we will be able to conquer a well-designed citadel like Devagiri.’

‘But it will be difficult for them to attack us in Lothal as well,’ said Shiva. ‘Lothal, in fact, is better designed for defence than even Devagiri.’

‘True,’ said Gopal. ‘So it is a stalemate. Which suits the Meluhans just fine since all they will have to do is wait for the Ayodhyan forces to reach Meluha. They could be here in as little as six months.’

Silently, Shiva gazed at the burning ships, contemplating this unhappy turn of events.

Chenardhwaj spoke up. ‘I have a suggestion, My Lord.’

Shiva turned to Chenardhwaj with a frown.

‘We can draw up a crack force of Nagas and my troops,’ said Chenardhwaj. ‘The commandos will attack the Somras factory stealthily. It will be a suicide mission, but we will destroy it.’

‘No,’ said Shiva.

‘Why, My Lord?’

‘Because Parvateshwar will certainly be prepared for that. He’s not an idiot. It will be a suicide mission all right, but not a successful one.’

‘There is one other way,’ whispered Gopal.

‘The Vayuputras?’ asked Shiva.

‘Yes.’

Shiva looked back at the burning ships, his expression inscrutable. The Vayuputras appeared to be the only recourse now.

Chapter 32: The Last Resort

Chapter 32

The Last Resort

Shiva had pulled a light cloth over his head and wrapped it around his face, leaving his eyes open. His angvastram was draped across his muscular torso, affording protection from the fine drizzle. Sati lay in a covered cart as oxen pulled it gently. She was strong enough to walk now, but Ayurvati had insisted on exercising abundant caution during the march to Lothal. Shiva parted the curtains on the cart and looked at his sleeping wife. He smiled and drew the curtain shut again.

He kicked his horse into a canter.

‘Panditji,’ said Shiva, slowing his horse down as he approached Gopal. ‘About the Vayuputras...’

‘Yes?’

‘What is that terrible weapon that they possess that Kali spoke of?’

‘The Brahmastra?’ asked Gopal, referring to the fearsome weapon of Brahma.

‘Yes. How is it different from other daivi astras?’ asked Shiva, for he didn’t understand how a Brahmastra was so much more terrible than other divine weapons.

‘Most daivi astras only kill men. But there are some, like the Brahmastra, that can destroy entire cities, if not kingdoms.’

‘By the holy lake! How can one weapon do that?’