Chapter Text
Two weeks had passed since Shivendra and Asha left the capital. The Hidden Ones’ network had proven invaluable, with spies scattered across the vast Mauryan Empire feeding them vital intelligence. Every day brought them closer to Durdhara, yet each lead seemed to weave a more complex web.
They had started by investigating reports of a veiled woman sighted near the western borders. Shivendra and Asha traced her path through villages and marketplaces, questioning merchants and farmers. They found evidence of her presence but no definitive trail to follow.
Next, they intercepted whispers of recruiters amassing soldiers in secret. In a small town, they discovered a group of mercenaries loyal to Durdhara, but they dispersed before Shivendra and Asha could extract anything useful. The Hidden Ones, however, confirmed that the mercenaries were heading toward a stronghold in the Vindhya Mountains.
Other leads came and went—a stolen ledger recovered from a nobleman’s estate, intercepted messages smuggled through temples, and disrupted trade routes. Each clue reinforced what they already knew: Durdhara was rebuilding her army.
It all culminated in this moment, deep in the dense jungle of the Vindhya Mountains. Shivendra and Asha crouched in a cluster of bushes, their eyes fixed on the fortified outpost ahead.
The structure loomed like a scar on the landscape, surrounded by jagged rocks and towering trees. Guards patrolled its perimeter, their movements precise and disciplined. Fires burned in braziers along the walls, casting flickering shadows that danced like phantoms.
Shivendra’s hand rested on the hilt of one of his scimitars, his muscles taut with tension. Beside him, Asha’s sharp eyes scanned the scene, her bow at the ready.
“They’ve reinforced the walls,” Shivendra whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustle of leaves. “This isn’t just an outpost—it’s a fortress.”
“They know we’re coming,” Asha replied, her tone grim. “Or they’re preparing for an attack from Chandragupta’s forces. Either way, this won’t be easy.”
Shivendra nodded. His instincts told him that Durdhara was here. Every lead, every clue had led them to this place. But getting inside without being detected would require both cunning and courage.
As they observed the guards’ movements, Shivendra’s thoughts drifted to the journey that had brought them here. He remembered the ledger they had uncovered, the intercepted letters, and the moments when they had narrowly avoided capture. It had been a perilous road, but it was all worth it if they could bring Durdhara to justice.
A sudden snap of a twig shattered the silence. Shivendra and Asha froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the sound. A guard stood a mere few feet away, his eyes widening as he spotted them.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The guard’s hand moved toward the hilt of his sword, his mouth opening to shout an alarm.