The Needy Queen
The princess and her escort arrived at Azhagapuri pretty late in the afternoon the next day. Not expecting any ceremony in lieu of her arrival, the surprised Chamundeswari stared around her at the colourful flags flying from bamboo poles on both sides of the path she was riding on.
“Are you celebrating something?” asked Vijayendran, turning left and right to check out the many decorations.
“Nothing that I am aware of,” said Princess Chamundeswari, a shrewd look in her eyes. She could not help wondering what plan her stepmother, Queen Naganandini and the chief minister Marthanda Bhupathi had cooked up between them. “I would like to introduce you to my stepmother first,” she told him.
He gave a nod of acknowledgement before continuing to study his new surroundings. The fortress of Azhagapuri was strong and it would be difficult for an enemy to get inside. Which was a good thing. The trouble was that the enemy was already ensconced within the fort. And it looked like that was not just one man but a whole team. Vijayendran was up to the challenge and actually looked forward to it.
Velan turned in the direction of the barracks while the horse carts were led away to the stable yard. Vishnurayan and Anagha went on to their home, the instructions regarding further action made clear to them. With Manu left in a trusted servant’s care—Selvan had helped with the care of the tiger when he had been a cub and was capable of handling him; it was only Princess Chamundeswari and Prince Vijayendra Chozhan who got down from their horses in front of the main palace where the queen and the princess both lived.
They walked side by side into the palace, a sentry announcing their arrival to Queen Naganandini who was seated on her throne in the main hall. “Chamundi, my dear child! Welcome back home,” she greeted her stepdaughter, throwing her arms open wide.
“Chinnamma!” Chamundeswari walked forward to touch her stepmother’s feet. “How have you been?”
“Not too bad, I suppose. It is just that I have missed you terribly. You have been gone for too long, you naughty young lady,” she scolded affectionately even as her eyes ran over the young and handsome warrior who had stepped into the hall along with her stepdaughter. “And who might this be?” asked the queen, her eyes roving hungrily over the well-built stranger. At just thirty-four, the queen had never remarried, considering that she had enough complications in her life without dragging a second husband into the scene. But she did take a lover sometimes; strictly for brief periods not lasting more than a month. Usually, these men were sent off to distant lands so that they were never around to tell the tale once the affair was over. As long as her lovers did not linger in Kongunadu, her brother had decided to turn a blind eye to Naganandini’s multiple affairs. Just now, the queen found herself unable to take her eyes off the stranger.
Chamundeswari turned to Vijayendran and beckoned him forward. “Chinnamma, this is Adityan. He is a distant relative of my mother’s.” The princess decided to stick with the explanation she had come up with when Sadaiyan had asked her the same question. “His father and my mother were third cousins. I was lucky to find him in Thanjavur. As he has no family, I invited him over to stay with us for some time. And Adityan, this is my stepmother, Queen Naganandini. She is the most affectionate person in the world.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and back only for him to see.
Vijayendran had a difficult time not laughing at the princess’s mischievous expression as he bowed his head respectfully to the queen, bringing his hands together in obeisance. “Your Majesty! I am honoured to make your acquaintance and I am truly grateful to you for having me at your palace as your guest.”
Good manners too! Naganandini was too impressed by now. No force on earth was going to stop her from wooing this Adityan into becoming her lover. Well, she did have at least a few weeks, or maybe months. If he was Chamundeswari’s relative, then he would definitely remain here until the coronation. Oh yes! That was one thing that was confirmed now: that Chamundeswari was going to become the queen of Kongunadu on her seventeenth birthday. Marthanda Bhupathi and Pandiyan had come up with a fool proof plan that had to work.
“Aditya, welcome to Azhagapuri,” said the queen gracefully, giving him a wide smile that lit up not only her eyes but her whole face. “I hope you have a comfortable stay here. In fact, you will enjoy the festivities tomorrow when we will receive an important guest.”
Vijayendran’s gaze went to meet Chamundeswari’s startled one before he turned his attention back to the queen. “Is that so, Your Majesty? I am truly fortunate to be here at the right time, it seems.”
“You are correct. You are very fortunate indeed!” While I am even more so. The queen felt truly excited to meet a virile young man after a long time. Even better was the fact that he did not belong to Kongunadu and will return to wherever he came from. She decided to have him in her bed as soon as was possible.
A servant brought some chilled wine and poured it into three golden goblets before offering it to the queen, the princess and their guest. Chamundeswari settled down on an ornate chair next to her stepmother’s golden throne, after inviting Vijayendran to sit on the chair opposite hers.
“How have you been, Chinnamma?” the princess asked, sipping from her goblet.
“Not too bad, I suppose. Only it has been so quiet here without your lively presence.” While she spoke to her stepdaughter, Naganandini could not help casting surreptitious glances at the handsome guest. Turning to him, she said, “So, Aditya. Where are you from? And what do you do? Tell me all. I so love to have people visiting us here.” Turning to Chamundeswari, she said, “Why don’t you run along and tell the chef to make a special meal for dinner tonight? And I am sure you will want to freshen up.” While her words and tone were sweet, it was obvious that the queen was giving the princess a direct order.
Her face shutting down to turn expressionless, Chamundeswari immediately got up, leaving her unfinished wine on a side table and bowing before the queen. “I will do just that, Chinnamma.” Turning to Vijayendran, she said, “If you will excuse me, Aditya. I will see you at dinner.”
He gave a nod, without uttering a word. For one thing, he was surprised that the rebel princess had turned into a docile young woman who was ready to obey whatever her stepmother commanded. He had known Chamundeswari for only a few days, but even he was aware that it was not her original nature. Did that mean the princess led a completely false life within her own kingdom? He had better meet Vishnurayan and find out the whole story of Chamundeswari and the members of her family.
“Aditya!” Queen Naganandini’s voice was petulant as she tried to draw her guest’s attention back towards herself. It was not as if he was watching the princess, but Adityan seemed to have slipped into a world of his own.
“Your Majesty, I apologise! You were saying…?”
“Tell me all about yourself,” she invited, relaxing back to sip from a second cup of wine.
He smiled at her, taking a small sip of wine from his own cup. He did not plan to get intoxicated as he needed to be alert at all times. “I am from Thanjavur. My parents died when I was a child. Being an only child, I lived with some benevolent relatives of mine until some years ago. I work in the Chozha army.”
Naganandini could not help noticing his broad and muscular shoulders tapering to a lean waist and long legs. He was extremely tall, just the way she liked her men.
Before she could utter another word, Vijayendran placed his goblet down on a side table even as he got up to stand before the queen. Bowing low, he said, “If you will please excuse me, Your Majesty! I would like to freshen up before dinner.”
Sparks of fire flew from Naganandini’s gaze as she glared at him. How dare he? Just how dare he try to leave her presence before he was dismissed? A mere warrior? She had a good mind to throw him in Azhagapuri’s dungeon. Only the thought that she would not get a chance to make love to a prisoner—her brother would murder her if she did something like that—stopped her from doing exactly that.
Swallowing her temper, she said, “Wait! Let me get someone to take you to your quarters.” Calling to a manservant, the queen commanded, “Muthu, show our guest to the second chamber on the west wing. Do not forget to take his luggage to him once he is settled there.” Returning her gaze to Vijayendran, she said softly, “Get back soon, Aditya. I cannot wait to know you more.”
If Muthu was aware that the second chamber on the west wing was right next to the queen’s royal chambers, he did not show it. “Please come with me, My Lord!”
Vijayendran stopped in his tracks to say, “Let me get my saddle bag, Muthu. I will take but a minute.”
“No, My Lord! Please do not trouble yourself. I will bring it to you immediately after I show you to your chamber.” There was fear in Muthu’s eyes as he pleaded with the guest.
So! The sweet-talking Queen Naganandini was not so sweet after all. Not keen to upset the manservant who was so obviously afraid of his queen, Vijayendran turned right back towards the marble staircase further down the hallway. “Alright, Muthu. Lead the way.”
A curious Vijayendran studied his surroundings surreptitiously, not missing the extraordinary grandeur of the palace, considering that it was only a small kingdom compared to the Chozha empire. He could not help wondering how the people lived. “What is your duty, Muthu?” he asked the young servant walking a couple of feet behind him after pointing Vijayendran in the right direction.
The fear disappeared from Muthu’s face as he gave the guest a broad smile, his white teeth shining in his brown face. “I take care of the horses, My Lord!”
It was obvious that Muthu loved the animals. Then what was he doing here inside the palace? “Do you keep the horses inside the palace in Kongunadu?” asked Vijayendran, a mischievous smile on his face.
The manservant’s face turned red before he realised that the guest was not being sarcastic but only teasing. Laughing despite himself, Muthu replied proudly, “Of course not, My Lord! Today, this whole week I am on palace duty as we have an esteemed guest arriving tomorrow.” He did not mention that it was not only him, but many others as well.
“Is that so? And who might this important guest be?”
“I am not very clear, My Lord! But I think he is a prince from the Chozha royal family.” Muthu pushed opened the ornately carved tall double doors to the second chamber in the west wing and bowed low, inviting the guest to step inside.
A Chozha prince? He knew that Maharaja Rajendra Chozhan’s sons were all travelling in far flung kingdoms. Then who was going to be visiting the Azhagapuri royals tomorrow? He was extremely curious and could not wait to find out. But it was best that he did not quiz the manservant too much or the young man might blurt something to his queen out of sheer fright.
“Alright!” Vijayendran was truly impressed with his quarters which were sumptuous to put it mildly. There was a large hall with luxuriously appointed chairs, the long windows throwing in a lot of natural light. Walking to a window on his left, he looked down into the palace garden that was full of fruit bearing trees and flowering plants. The twittering of birds was loud at that time of the evening as they were all obviously returning home for the day. With a smile on his face, he turned to Muthu and said, “Thank you, Muthu. I find this extremely comfortable. Will you get my saddle bag? My horse is Kethu. You can ask the stable master.”
“I will do that, My Lord! May I bring you something to drink?”
Having noticed the clay pot of water in one corner of the room, Vijayendran shook his head. “No, Muthu. I have no need for anything else.”
Turning, he walked into the bedchamber and was even more impressed seeing the king-sized bed with a silk cover and a number of soft pillows piled at the head. There was an ornate gold-framed mirror that took up the better part of a wall on one side. He could not help wondering if the king used to sleep here, unaware that he had inadvertently hit upon the truth.
After Muthu returned, Vijayendran asked him for the direction to the bathing hut and went down the stone staircase at the back, having a quick wash before changing his attire, though still continuing to wear his uniform of white cotton veshti and tunic. Leaving his sword behind, he tucked his dagger into his waist band before stepping into his leather footwear, planning to go down. After all, the queen had as good as commanded him to return immediately.
Just then, there was a knock on his door. Stepping forward, Vijayendran opened it to find Princess Chamundeswari on the other side, her face glowing fresh and beautiful. She must have had a bath and smelled of sandalwood paste and newly bloomed jasmine. Draped in a silk sari of a soft shade of yellow in kandaangi style now that she was not going to be sitting astride a horse, she appeared more gorgeous than ever. A thick gold necklace and a long golden chain in a paisley pattern graced her neck while gold jimikis twinkled in her ears. The many gold bangles made a tinkling sound as she swung her arms while stepping inside the living area of his suite.
Turning around to the two maids who had followed her, she said, “You may wait here for me.” Walking to the centre of the room, she looked up at Vijayendran. “Close the door, Aditya,” she commanded.
What was with the women of Kongunadu? Did they not know how to make requests? With an inadvertent grin splitting his face, Vijayendran shut the door and pushed the bolt home.
Turning around to run his gaze from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, he said, “You look absolutely fresh and gorgeous.”
Hot colour suffusing her face, Princess Chamundeswari rushed across the room to throw herself into his arms, burying her face in his massive chest. “Do you know that it has been a whole day since you kissed me?” she grumbled, lifting her face up to him, a pout on her plump lips.
Tracing her silky cheeks with his thumbs, Vijayendran looked down at her. “Your stepmother is waiting for us to go to her. And you have two maids standing outside this very door. Do you not think it makes sense for us to just go down, my princess?” he asked, looking deeply into her eyes. If he began kissing her now, right here in the living room with the bedchamber but a few strides away, Vijayendran was not too sure that he might stop at just that.
Stamping her foot in a temper, Chamundeswari went on her toes to place her mouth over his, not leaving him a choice.
With a sigh that tremored through his being, Vijayendran gave in to her demand, kissing her deeply, gently tangling his tongue with hers.
The breathless princess finally let go of his lips to look up at him triumphantly. “That was not too difficult, was it?” she asked, grinning at him.
An indulgent smile on his face, Vijayendran shook his head at her. “You are a stubborn princess,” he declared.
“Are you telling me you did not enjoy the kiss?” she asked, pushing her tongue inside her cheek to give him a mischievous look.
“Are you even aware of the position we are in? My bedchamber is right next door,” he said, vexation in his voice.
“So? What if it is?”
He burst out laughing. The same princess who had insisted on kissing him deeply, was asking him the innocent question. What a babe!
“Aditya!” A small fist fell on his shoulder. “Tell me what you find so humorous,” she demanded.
He shook his head again. “Some other time, my princess. It is time we went down.” Moving away from her, he looked her up and down to see if her clothes were in order before turning to check himself in the mirror. If anyone noticed that both their lips were fuller and darker than was normal, it was too bad. There was nothing to be done about it.
“When?” she asked, walking with him to the door.
“As soon as possible.”
“Tonight? After dinner?”
“Shall we go for a walk after dinner?” he offered.
“That would be nice,” she agreed. Placing a hand on his forearm just as he was going to open the door, she lifted her face to kiss his manly cheek. “Thank you! And do not forget to remind me. I need to ask you something really important.”
Wondering what she wanted to know, he gave her a nod. “I will do that, Your Majesty!”
They stepped out, Vijayendran walking at the princess’s side even as her maids followed in their wake a few feet behind.
