Episode 24: The Life & Exploits of Princess Amodini
“Is this the only way?” Satya asked, her voice low and anxious. “Is this the only way to travel to the capital city?”
Veerata smiled, soothing her fears. “Satya, you already know, don’t you? We don’t have much time. We need to get you to Vijayanagar palace as soon as possible.”
They stood in the middle of a large temple compound just outside town. A few priests sat cross-legged around a sacred fire in a wide semicircle, reciting several mantras at superhuman speed, while pouring ghee, or clarified butter, into a tremendous bonfire inside a huge square-shaped apparatus, made of mud, and cemented into the middle of the compound floor.
An hour ago, Satya and her family had followed the young general’s party out of the hamlet. A few neighbours had seen them leaving. Plain awe had marked their faces.
Veerata had thought it unnecessary to explain anything to anyone. Uncle Madhava had managed to tell one of them that they would be back soon.
Upon reaching the main road, Veerata had announced he and Vidyuta would escort Satya to the palace, through a different route to save on time. Uncle Madhava and Aunt Sulochana had to separate from their niece. The young general’s soldiers were to escort them on horseback to the capital city.
At first, both aunt and uncle had been against it. They’d insisted Satya was too young to be left unchaperoned. When Veerata had assured them they would not be separated for long, they’d relented and left with the soldiers.
Satya had followed the young general and his physician friend. Accompanied by two guards, the trio proceeded towards the other end of town. On their arrival at the temple compound, Veerata had informed Satya they would be traveling through the fire portal to save time.
Satya protested. “Senapati, you never said anything about a fire portal.”
Read the rest of the story on My Novel Reader…
Read all episodes on My Novel Reader
One comment on “Fire Portal”