Author's Notes:
I probably owe you guys a special chapter. It's late so i'll do it tomorrow.
Life at Lanka was bustling, more than ever. The fourth bastion had been completely along with its respective facilities, it was at time of celebration for the engineers and work crew for another milestone in their construction to meet date line. It had been nearly two weeks since the national holiday which was Pagan's birthday, where he announced on radio how he had enjoyed the time of his life.
He also announced the arrival of an expectied prince or princess of Kyrat. Frankly, Ajay was surprised that it was even possible with their advanced ages. But he guessed it was just how it was, to be honest he was glad this happened. It meant that the Min Dynasty would endure and he would no longer need to take up the throne when Pagan had long passed, by giving it to his child. No one would object, not even the blood relatives among the canton families could.
As for the Canton Families, specifically Sun Kwan. His little joy ride scared him stiff, there were instances that he'd been at death's door before. But in a helicopter, he was completely helpless. Sun Kwan knew with his intelligence that Ajay had intentionally invited him, to warn him never to cross him if the situation was ever convenient to do so. Because cornered rats bite the hardest, and Ajay was prepared to ruin him if he joined the Canton Families in whatever mischief they were planning.
On other news, Pagan was regularly enjoying flights in his new customized helicopter Ajay dubbed the "Pagancopter" informally. Ajay didn't meet with Noore who came with Ashley, he didn't want to deal with looking at Ashley's innocent eyes and lie to them. He just made a phone call to take to her from a distance. They were doing fine at her apartment space, she told him that the investigation reports from Pagan's private spy ring had returned. Unfortunately, nothing could be pulled on any immediate family members. Paul's real name was erased and he'd stuck with the alias since he was recruited by the intelligence agency. Laura Harmon was a designated partner for him by the same intelligence agency as a social life cover for his spy work until his service ended. She had no immediate family either. Ashley was truly without family, Noore chose to keep it from her so that she might still hope that they were out there.
It was the string of sins that Ajay and Noore were forced to carry for her sake.
After such a high profile event, it was on to training the PDF in the fortress. Even though, he really didn't want them to be here he had no choice in the matter. So all he could do was train them to be as good as the garrison soldiers if not better if time would permit. Although, morale and initiative would always be lacking in comparison to actual professional soldiers.
Ajay was busy teaching his group how to craft slings and harnesses to improve their carrying capacity and speeds of reload which was essential in a firefight.
"All done." Biraj showed Ajay excited by the fact he completed his faster than the rest.
Ajay inspected it and tugged at it harshly. Biraj began to get worried.
"Hang on- don't!- (Rip)"
"You sewed too few on the straps, if you carried full weight that stitch would only come undone in the midst of your fighting." Ajay said handing back the harness. Biraj glared at Ajay in unrestraint, but Ajay was more than familiar with how Biraj was. The kid was fond of Bhadra, seeing him as an obstacle in his love life. It was a misconception on his part as Bhadra's thoughts on Ajay were far from Biraj's imagination.
After another hour of sewing, Ajay came over to check it.
"Very good. Now, let's move on to advance weapons training." They were split into their electives based upon their posts. Some were on heavy weapons training, dealing with RPGs, heavy machine guns and crew served weapons like the mortar. Others were sharpshooters learning the basic behind sniping. But perhaps the most exotic job were the militia taught how to man the 40mm Bofors cannons by the stationed Air defense contingent under Artillery in the event they needed on-site substitutes because of manpower issues. Ajay took Biraj and five others that were supposed to be the company's platoon leaders to the armory where they practiced the use of the military radio transceivers.
"We operate on five standard channels, be sure to create a private channel for your groups intercommunication and not on the main broadcasting channel."
They spent some time fiddling around with the transceivers.
"So what else can we do besides relay info and give orders to our respective platoons, your grace?" One asked.
"You can always call me on channel 5-8 if there's a serious problem. But only Colonel and above are allowed to use that channel as per military orders from the Marshal. Although, its only he that calls me on that ever so often." Ajay joked.
"Can we really call you from that channel?"
"Please don't test it. Maybe if Lanka was in flames and all the soldiers were dead then I might come. If not, sit tight and listen to your C.O.."
"Then that's never going to happen." The same person said in a tone of disappointment.
Ajay looked to Biraj, who was struggling with the radio set in aligning the right channel to speak as they had learnt.
"Here."
"That's fine, I'll manage."
"Alright, hotshot. Do your best." Ajay chuckled as he let Biraj do his own thing.
"Permission to speak, sir." The Company 2IC, Nehal asked.
"Yes?"
"Your grace, why did you chose to come and teach us? I'm sure there are more important things to do for the duke." All of the recruits looked up with expectant faces.
"Everything and everyone that passes through Lanka is important. From the most elite troops to the logistic rear echelon troops. The design of the fortress might be impregnable on paper and proven once before. But….. in my line of work, nothing is impossible. And Lanka isn't perfect, even at full strength. If I give a even a little care to every detail, I wouldn't regret it when the time came when the fortress experienced dire straits."
"W-…. Would such a thing happen?" Nehal asked in shock.
"Not with the Golden Path in its current state. Mmmm….. perhaps if it were by an invading force with air superiority then Lanka would face jeopardy of falling." Ajay said with a bit of thought.
"But it's not like there's a foreign army waiting to cross through the natural barrier of the Himalayas just to attack this fortress. So rest easy."
Some sighed in relief.
"How's that transceiver going with you Biraj?"
"Shut up." He said with more thoughts on the radio. While Ajay could deal with Biraj's usual rudeness. It was a different thing for the rest who watched him ridicule the duke many times, and it was creating a friction between them.
"Your grace, we've made something for our group. And we were wondering if you could lend us your views on it." Nehal took out a piece of paper and handed it to him.
"What's this?" Ajay studied what was drawn on the paper within the boundaries of a circle.
A golden bird that looked like phoenix swooping down upon an upright sword.
"Looks unbelievably grand, I think many army units will have to redo their emblems after seeing that." Ajay gave his honest opinion. It was good, a little too good that it gave unexpectedly high expectations of the bearers of that emblem that would be Jatayu Company's sigil.
"Why did you pick this bird in the first place?" It was a question that bugged him a lot. The five of them turned to Biraj who was fiddling with the radio set.
"Biraj, did you draw this?" Ajay asked astonished.
"It's just a rough sketch that's all."
"No, Biraj. I think you actually have a knack for arts. Have you considered expanding, taking up an arts course at the vocation?"
"I can't afford it-."
"That's what scholarships are all about, kid. If you want I'll even write you a letter of recommendation to enter."
"I'm not interested….. not at the moment though….." He mumbled the last phrase softly.
"Is it to support Bibek and the kids?" Biraj's hands stopped fiddling with the dials.
"That's none of your concern."
"It's admirable, he's very lucky to have you watching over the younger ones. All the elder ones left him without much contact, Maya, Bipin, Vasu Sen."
Biraj didn't answer him.
"Yunno that scholarships do pay you to study, right? And there'll be an internship for you to take up a job immediately. Plus….. Bhadra will be there." A head spun towards him with eyes of anticipation.
"No jokes! Is that true?!"
"It is, Biraj. If you're asking about Bhadra, she's there everyday. Off at eight and home by three if there's no co-curricular activities."
A flicker of hesitation could be seen in his eyes.
"So? How about it? Would you like me to write that letter?"
"…. What do you want in return?" Ajay grinned, he was smarter than he often appeared. Perhaps love was what did that.
"Cooperate with me till your Company gets relieved of their station in Lanka. And I'll write both an exception letter to your PDF Human Resource and another to the principal of the same vocation school where Bhadra goes to for a recommendation into their scholarship program."
"Do I have your word?"
"Do I have yours?" Ajay answered back.
"…." Biraj nodded.
"A nod can mean anything, I want to hear it from your mouth."
"Ok- alright, please do it for me." He said frantically when Ajay showed signs of pulling out if he wasn't really interested.
"Good, then come over so I can teach you how to properly do it and quit wasting everyones' time." The rest snickered as Biraj meekly walked over and sat with them to learn on the transceivers.
"By the way, you only answered who painted it but not why you chose this creature as your emblem."
"Oh, that! Well, I wanted to have Biraj say it the same way he told us when he proposed it as our mascot." Nehal informed him.
"So, Biraj. Why Jatayu?"
Biraj's reaction wanted to trigger an immediate remark that it had nothing to do with him but he remembered his now standing agreement with Ajay and sighed.
"Though it died from challenging the Rakhasa King, despite it's condition it prioritized its relation to SIta, the King's daughter-in-law whom it considered its daughter as well. The Rakshasa may have shrew it, but it gave that mighty demon wounds to remember it by. In the same way, we might just be a PDF, we're just civilians taking up arms to form a militia. But we can still hurt you, and from your wounds you will remember us by." Ajay grinned, it seemed he was underestimating the eagerness and fortitude of the PDF.
"… For we are the 7th Company 'Jatayu'."
The activity in an undisclosed location near Chal Jama Monestary was the staging area for Golden Path and their newest allies from the East. The People's Democratic of Yinke had dispatched their premier army to assist Golden Path in dispatching justice upon their long-time adversaries in a bid for control of the country.
The Golden Path fighters were most amazed to see how an entire army slipped by the border guards vigilance. It was the same mountain pass which allowed Ved and Swara safe passage out of Kyrat for their journey to Yinke to preach the shining way ideology.
Shining Way differed from Golden Path in ideology through several ways. For one, the former was thoroughly a communist governed state, the latter was a socialist ideology with references towards theocracy involved.
Mohan, was the founding father, in every respect to the Golden Path and the Shining Way. And in this manner of perspective, they were brothers by faith.
The expeditionary force that came with the two reappearing Devas was an elite Alphine Regiment with several battalions worth of light infantry, artillery and curiously enough, tanks.
That passage wasn't known by the local geographic records, nor was it visible by satellite. But it was enough for a vehicle the size of their Type 69 main battle tanks to drive straight through without being mired. They currently had a single armored battalion they could afford for their offensive on Lanka. The feelings were different for the Golden Path. This time, they had serious firepower instead of masses. Professional soldiers instead of partisan fighters to aid them. What would the Royal Army think when they were attacked by soldiers of equal if not better qualities? Though Vasu said none, he was inwardly against the idea of foreigners fighting for their own problems. No matter if they had affiliation with Mohan or not, you could supply us but don't involve yourself directly in our affairs. Swara was more than glad to see him again and the subject slipped from his mind during their reacquaintance so conveniently.
"So we sneak into Lanka and open the gates for the rest to enter in the dead of the night, correct?" Sanjeev asked the Commander of the expeditionary force who had been trained in Beijing as part of an alliance overseas trip with China. Yinkes primary source of technology and hardware, their economy also depended heavily on trade with China's autonomous region, Tibet whom were a territory under Beijing's administration.
"We've already dispatched scouts and spies in disguise to recon as much of that fortress as we can, no emplacement in infallible." The commander of the expeditionary force gave his assessment.
"Soldier, who does your allegiances lie with?" Mohan asked the commander who replied without hesitation.
"To the party, but before the party comes the ideal 'shining way'. As the patriarch of said ideal, it naturally falls to you to command us." The commander said with determination.
"Excellent, thought we shall follow with your plan. My brothers shall provide you with the terrain info. I must take time to reflect." The Commander saluted Mohan and left the building, leaving just Mohan, Vasu and Sanjeev. At the same time the door was held open by the Yinke Commander, Willis followed with Lynch stepped inside. The Commander passed a glance with them and became suspicious of the existence of these foreigners.
"Whatever your planning, I have some words of caution." Willis said unrestraint.
"At this point, you don't have the ability to support our cause, let alone walk on your own." Sanjeev said to him.
"I'm being serious here, Badala has been planning something with the Royal Army since he arrived. And I tell you, it's big!" Seeing that look of worry in Willis of all people made Mohan a bit concerned himself.
"That fortress, Lanka was built with the intentions of enforcing Pacchim Valley and King's Bridge. It's not something we can ignore. With the element of surprise, we take the fortress and use it against them." Sanjeev explained.
"Its not the fortress you should be worrying about. Haven't you noticed it yet, well maybe not when all of you came later than me- but, haven't you noticed that Badala and the Royal Army have never once mounted a heavy offensive to remove our presence or even a sustained attack on Banapur?"
They all looked unconvinced.
"War always depletes supplies, resources and money. And it's clear they've been saving up to build something-…. Something in the North-West." Mohan turned to Lynch being the calmer of the two.
"What is he on about?" Lynch just chuckled.
"It's the first time he's seen satellite imagery from a laptop perhaps, but I can't blame him for that."
"Listen you, hot shit!-."
"Oh no. I don't think you're entitled to say that to me, after all you nicked my PMCs and sent them on a wild goose chase into the North."
"Tsk! You're really a piece of work you know that! How many times do I have to tell you, we haven't even seen all of Badala's playing cards!"
But none of the people in the room took him seriously. Was the arrival of an actual army aiding them getting to their heads.
"I'd like to vouch for Willis this one time." Of all the people who said it, Willis preferred if Lynch never stepped forward.
"You fellas want to take the fortress and Willis wants to caution you on taking the fortress due to an unforeseeable threat that supposedly looms over the mountains. So all you guys need to do is secure the fortress quickly and move in of the North. Whatever happens, you still have the fortress to retreat back to."
"For once I'd like to stand with the American on this one." Sanjeev said in his calm.
"Why thank you, buddy." Lynch patted him on the back in a friendly way.
"And to show my utmost support, I'll throw in a bit of air cover for you." Lynch said in a light manner.
"Are you insane? Didn't Crow tell you they had air defense?!"
"Jeez Willis, you don't always have to be such a worrywart. You'll take care of those batteries in the fortress won't you?" Lynch asked Sanjeev who grinned maliciously.
"Consider it our top priority."
Willis had the impression he was standing amongst fools led blindly by another hyped-up fool. He noticed Vasu staring at the group silently, something had changed about him since he last saw him. But he didn't know what it was, those eyes turned to him. And it felt like the man was gazing into his soul, but that wasn't all.
Willis had the feeling he was a deer to a tiger that he was. And that tiger was hungry.
Another day at the fortress Lanka, it seemed as if he was spending more time at the fortress than home like the others. Though, Saras and Maya were equally busy at their quarters. Having a taste of Bhadra's mutton stew was a feeling to look forward to.
Ajay proof-read his letters to the vocation school and to the PDF admin on Biraj's behalf. He preferred to do things while he still had the chance to do them. When he was satisfied, he placed them in their respective envelopes he'd previously stamped and written the addresses to the respective individuals.
"Be careful with that! You wanna file a report on why those pieces fail because you damaged their electronics?!" The cranky armorer for Lanka shouted at the PDF helping him move the crates around with a forklift within the confines of the Central Armory.
"…" It was the third time the armorer shouted at them.
He was upset because instead of the usual supply troopers it was these stand-in PDF who didn't know where what went where.
Ajay stowed the letters in his jacket and helped out with the moving of boxes. Though, the armorer remained in his foul mood, Ajay figured he was always that way but didn't mind it. If he took stock of all the items in the armory with such scrutiny, then Samar was right for posting him here to do this job.
Most of these crates contained ammunition cans fresh from the arsenal in Lanka. Although, it wasn't always ammunition. Sometimes it was small-arms, heavy munitions, spare-parts to crew served weapons. This time, it was the thermal imagers and reflex sights shipped over from Arsenal One in Lakshman, he understood why the armorer was shouting at them to be careful now. You break it you bought it, they weren't cheap.
After his assistance, he headed back to the villa where he hoped that the servants would prepare a meal for him. He took the market route to save time. Every time he passed through, there was always something new, a new store selling a new variety of products. The Kyratis were industrious when they weren't controlled by heavy taxes or legislations preventing cramping down of the sale limits of certain products. If they kept that up for another ten years while including the end of the civil war soon, Kyrat might leave its status as a third-world paradise lost into an actual developed country. That was looking at the situation in a positive light which wasn't impossible.
Ajay next improvement to the fortress was looking to provide residential areas in Lanka for the migrants and for the families of the soldiers which had yet to become a reality. The refugee town Hubris might be improving with the careful protection and assistance from Amita but it was still facing a situation of overcrowding from the displacement of people after the Battle of Lanka when villagers fled the ravenous contingent attempting to capture baghadur and Hubris. Had the Hussars, Dragoons and Unit 58 not been there, there would have been more death.
Passing through the market place actually reminded him to get something for Bhadra. While by some grace, Saras had told her the story of Kanaan and Jeevan, she sort of sympathised with him for having a similar caged lifestyle. Now her irritation lay solely with Ajay for his lack of communication with her. He'd managed to solve that with a group chat through their smartphones, he got one for her. Unfortunately, she wasn't answering his queries. Intentionally getting him to grovel before her in forgiveness. It was a trait that Ajay understood from her too late, if she was happy, she would lavish you with scrumptious treats every meal and break. If you fell out of her grace, you might as well shiv yourself because to go cold turkey on her meals was utter agony. How did Amita feel then?
"Welcome! Ah- your grace! See anything you fancy?" The stall vendor attended to him as he browsed his wares.
"Hi, just having a look." The wares wear handcrafted embroidery, scarfs and other miscellaneous items both first and second hand. A handcrafted figurine of a badger looked nice. His eyes inevitably wandered to an entire row of dolls. But those particular dolls looked kind of familiar.
"What's that?"
"Ohh. This your grace, is a best seller item among children and lovestruck young women from all around."
"….." Ajay picked up the doll, he was a little reluctant to give this as a gift to her, less he return to find pins and needles in it.
"Who makes these?" A question that rung in his head.
"Ah- that! They're made at the linen factory just west of Utkarsh town. I believe the original patenter was an officer in the Royal Army, he went by the name Anish." Ajay sighed, it matched his description all too well. While he was enterprising, he often took a lot of shortcuts to getting rich. No wonder he could afford to go and gamble in Singapore with Luca and the other two boys.
"Your grace?"
"It's nothing, I just had a pleasant discovery regarding the patenter owing me royalties for using my likeness without pay or compensation." He said with a grin.
"Uh- ok…."
"Anything good for seeking forgiveness from a charge for leaving her home alone?"
"But of course! And don't you worry your grace, just offer this up to her and you'll win your redemption! Now where did i…" The stall vendor began to search through the cabinets looking for perhaps an expensive item that Ajay would be obliged to purchase.
Ajay waited for him while looking at the other wares, he did not expect anything else but then his eyes fell upon it and a stream of memories rushed back.
A bamboo flute lay propped up on the table with other random items among the 2nd hand items on display. His hands naturally reached out for it and he inspected the flutes condition. It was solid but full of dust that was all. He wiped the dust off and blew through the flute sending a puff of dust out the other end. It was genuinely thrown aside.
The memory that triggered this was a song which his mother played to him during his childhood and more often than he recalled. Everytime she played it, she cried.
"How did it go?" At one point, he did pick up the flute out of fascination and tried playing some of the songs from the 1970s greatest Bollywood hits that he bought from a local store one time. When he asked the indian records seller what song his mother sang by reciting it to him, the man shrugged his shoulders. It was a local Kyrati song perhaps, or it was a folk song that only his mother knew. Ajay hadn't been here long enough to know all the local folk songs.
"Finally found it! It was worth th-."
"Manager, how much is this flute?"
"Oh you mean the Venu…. That's just a piece of ju- I mean, it's a very valuable item that was passed down from generation to generation of great Venu players." Ajay looked at him with a deadpan expression when he changed his sentence midway to something that suited his convenience.
"Alright, you got me! Twenty hundred and its yours."
"Did you just try to con me a while ago?" Ajay asked inquisitively.
"O-…on second thought, how bout it put it together with your other purchase as a free gift! On the house!" The manager said sweating. But sighed in relief as Ajay nodded. In the end, he got the item that was for Bhadra, which turned out to be a porcelain figurine of a dancing woman. But made so elegant it was quite pleasing to the eye. And for the price of the piece, it was quite alright. But on a brighter note, he got what he wanted for free as well.
He went home to retire, the butler Puru relieved him of the porcelain figure and promised to treat it with care as if a newborn. The caretaker of the house, Daya was busy at work in the kitchen brewing up their evening supper. They'd broken formalities long ago and joined Ajay in his meals at the table of their master. He did enjoy company after all.
Meanwhile, he'd have time to himself before they finished. Ajay proceeded up to the back of his villa to fetch a rag and pail of water which he used to carefully clean the bamboo flute. And that was when he noticed something interesting about the flute. While not very noticeable, after wiping away the grime and dust, the bamboo was found to have rather intricate designs upon it. Symbols and carvings of all the animals that staked the forests of Kyrat could be found on it. It had apparently been a travelling companion to someone, perhaps a woodsman or a travelling tradesman.
The flute was lending itself to have many hidden surprises. When he was just about done, he blew through the end and it produced a very clear sound for a mere bamboo flute. Ajay wondered if the owner of the stall had misjudged the actual value this instrument could hold. He played a few notes of that folk song that ran through his head but didn't know the name to. It went on for a few minutes as he struggled to recall and play by the stairs with no sign of improving.
"(In the mountains…. Highhhh-above,…the snow encases my sorrow….)" Someone sung with a melodious voice. Ajay wanted to stop but as that person sung it he suddenly recalled the rhythm and continued on with playing just for memory sake.
"(…. I look… overrr the horizon-…. The dusk withers the embers of my journey…)" The woman continued to sing with the heart. He looked up from his seated position to see a gorgeous young woman singing as she walked closer as he was about to reach the end of the song.
"(….. the mountainnns….. where I belong….)" She ended the chorus with an amazing pitch. It was in Hindi but he remembered what it meant, when his mother translated it for him.
"Say…. Where did you hear that song?" She asked in a bright tone even before he had the chance to inquire himself about it.
"M- my mom used to sing it to me once as a kid, I don't know the name to it though." Her brightened face suddenly saddened.
"I see, oh well. At least they won't say I made that song up."
"Um-… Where did you hear of it from?" Ajay asked as it might have some leads to its origin.
"Mmmm… I don't know. For as long as I can remember, it's been in my head all this time." She said scratching her head.
"Where are my manners, I'm-….. Soren." He used his convenience alias.
"You're lying." Ajay had a shock from what she just said, even if it was true.
"Ops! I'm sorry, I do that unconsciously some times! Hehe! I'm sure you have a good reason to hide it." She raised out her hand.
"So I'll do the same then, you can call me…..hmmm….." Ajay was getting positive rays emiting from her very body, like she's been living in a bright and sunny world kind of feeling from her. It was slightly discomforting to him who lived in an exact opposite nearly his entire life.
"Ashna (Friend)." She gave him a warm smile free of charge. For most men, it would have melted their hearts from that kind of sweetness she had, but not someone as grim as Ajay.
"Alright, Ashna then. Mind answering me how did you get in here?"
"Here?" She said as baffled as one could be.
"This is a restricted area where only few are allowed in. This is Duke Badala's villa." It wasn't just passing the walls to get into his villa courtyard, it was also her presence in the central keep which made him a little nervous that a civilian madeit all the way in here without guards stopping her.
"Oh?... So that demon lives here?" She said in an excited way, contrary to what most visitors whom had only known his reign of terror on some of their family members in the Golden Path. But if they were like the townsfolk who knew what he was like then that was different.
"You-…. Do you know your way around Lanka at all?"
"Is that what its called?"
-What's with this tourist? Did she come down from the mountaintops away from civilization?- It wasn't uncommon for people to live away from populated centres.
"Look, let me put away my stuff and I'll esc-."
"So why do you get to stay here if it's restricted?" She said with puffed cheeks.
"I'm… a steward to Badala himself. Taking care of the household."
"You're lying again." She said with a frown.
-Shit! I forgot! She had that weird talent of as a lie detector!-
"Ok, I'm not. But I do have permission to be here." It wasn't a lie.
And Ashna could see that through staring at his eyes. What was with this girl? Ajay felt she was either incredible for decerning truth from lie or very terrifying.
"Mmmm… so I really am restricted from being here, is it?" Ajay nodded.
"Could you just lie for me then?" She said with her hands clasped.
"What's so important for you to be here?" When Ajay possed that question, she pondered again, ever so cutely in her actions. He guessed she was about his age, maybe younger, and….. there was something about her that… almost re-.
"Master said to have a look around along with her new disciple. She said I could go and have a look around in this place. But to think its name is Lanka…. It's just like that tale she read to me!"
Ajay scratched his head, a possible hillibilly who's master was potentially a mountain hermit asked her to have a look around to explore. While he was inclined to send her on her way, she did do something for him without realizing. That was help him recall the full notes of the song his mother sung as a lullaby as far back as a baby.
"Look, I am grateful to you for helping me in reiterating that song for me. How about I take you around the place as thanks?"
"Really, you'd do that?!" She said with amazement.
Ajay looked at his watch, Daya wouldn't be ready until seven while was an hour-an-a-half away from being brewed up.
"I've got time." He responded with a smile. Her hands clasped around his so quick he barely caught sight of it.
"Thank you! Thank you! T-….To tell you the truth, I actually got lost. I was trying to lose my scent from that nuisance who kept harassing me at every opportunity. Telling me to be safe and what if the mistress heard you were hurt and yada yada….." She shook her head side to side.
"Must've been rough, come on. I'll show you a nice place to have great snacks."
"OK! I'm starving actually." He genuinely heard her stomach growling.
"Pfftt!-." Ajay laughed a bit at the expense of her dignity. Her smile quickly turned to frowning.
"Oh- don't worry. There'll be snacks there on me just for today." Her frown turned upside down again.
"Well come on! What are you waiting for?" She was already at the gate.
Ajay shrugged his shoulders and led the way to the teahouse.
There was nothing that could bore Ashna when they found a place at the teahouse, she was visibly staring and absorbing the sights and sounds of the bustling activity of the busy teahouse. Since he was having dinner soon, he settled for just Chai to wet his appetite for later. He also ordered some custard pastries for her to have. An in-house specialty of the teahouse that was their selling point to regular customers and everyday patrons. She nibbled sparingly at the pastries that were given to her with such grace he thought he was sitting next to a noble, even if he was also one. She had pretty strong dining etiquette being taught to her.
"Are you going to eat that?" She pointed to the third pastry one the plate, it seemed she rather enjoyed it.
"They're all for you. Enjoy it."
"You're a really nice guy, did anybody ever tell you that?"
"No."
"Well they should!" She said with a frown as she could believe that someone as nice as him didn't get commended for it.
"I don't need someone to congratulate me or praise me just so I can do the things I do. I do it because I want to."
"MmmHmmff… whaii twotawllly gwet twit." She said with her mouth full, completely ruining the image of a well-mannered person. Perhaps it was because she was getting too comfortable with being around him.
"So how long've you been in this region for, have you ever visited it?" Ajay inquired out of curiosity.
Ashna quicken her munching of the custard pastries to clear her mouth, and even licked her fingers to show how much she enjoyed the sweetness of the custard.
"Not long, master says I was born here when she picked me up as a child." So she was adopted.
"Right, let's get going shall we?" She said eager to look around the place. Ajay just sighed and took her out to walked around. As he did, there were people murmuring about Ajay. Some had seen him with Saras and now was escorting another woman. "Player…" "Playboy.." "Leecherous noble." Was passed around by the housewives at the market. Ajay wanted to slam his head against the concrete wall for forgetting to be tactful in the presence of the public. Now his reputation as a player would spread, he was crying inside of him.
"You ok?" Ashna asked out of concern as she noticed something off about him from her eagle like sharpness.
"No, I'm fine. And don't say I'm lying, I can deal with it!" Ashna chuckled as he became more conscious about her antics even if they'd only known eachother for less than two hours.
"Ajay took her around the fortress to show her some of the features that were available to the public. An empty barracks that was used as lodging for the soldiers family members temporarily, an aqueduct system for fresh water streaming down the mountains, one of the highest observation points to see nearly all of Pacchim Valley from and the outskirts at the edge of the outermost wall of Lanka.
There were some parts of the concrete that had lines or battle scars for the lack of a better word. The engineers chose to leave it as a reminder of the assaults that Lanka had withstood.
Ashna chose to balance off the edge of the wall despite its shape. And Ajay found she had rather impressive balance as well, what was her master, a martial artist? Ajay didn't feel interested enough to ask. It was nearly dinner soon, although they would wait, he didn't feel like making them wait for him.
"I think I've been selfish enough to take you away from your duties for one day." As vigilant as ever, Ashna began to understand it was time to end their excursion.
"….."
"I've really enjoyed myself more than I hoped for, thank you Soren. You've been more of a friend to me than many bother."
"That's fine. You can come back again and I'll take you around to see what's new here. There's a lot being planned for Lanka, it'll just get bigger and better."
"I can't wait!" She said excitedly, Ajay chuckled at her tendency to get excited easily. And that's when he was caught off guard to the peck on his check she gave to him.
Ashna turned to leave but stopped in her tracks.
"Yunno…. I don't know how to say this… but I have the strangest feeling we've met….no- nevermind. I look forward to having another fun tour with you, Soren. That care." She waved to him and left him in a state of lost thought.
Because it wasn't just her that had that intuition.
Ashna walked out to the meeting place where she agreed she would meet with the other disciple. Out in the forest near the town of Naccarapur just three miles off the fortress.
The shadow appeared from behind the tree.
"I told you not to stray from my sight. Milady."
"Stop being such a control freak! Remember that I'm your senior, I can tell you to do anything and you'd better do it."
"I have no obligation to obey milady, that privilege belongs to the mistress alone."
"Hmph! Whatever, can we go back now?" She turned to leave but-
"What did you observe in that fortress?" He questioned her as he stood in her path.
"I saw a bustling town more than I saw a military installation." She said as she looked back at the distant silhouette of the fortress.
"That's typically how they all are, those people don't even know that they're being used as human shields."
"Jeez, could you stop looking at it with such negative views? Think positive for once, junior!"
"I am not your junior, Milady. I am Vasu Sen. The Commander of the-."
"Yada yada yada…. You've already told me for the fifteenth. And stop calling me Milady, I feel like an old hag. Let's go back. Ok?" She didn't want to entertain such a boring person, and went on ahead.
"Far enough then, Lady Vel."
