Her blue trousers whispered against each other as Kani walked back to her room. Though she had told Mola she would stay away from the army's departure, she could not stand to simply wait in her room. Walking to Lani's cage, she lifted her furry friend out, "We are just going to take a quick look. No one will even know we were there."
With those words to reassure, Kani slipped out of her bedroom to the eerily quiet hallway. Sneaking into the hidden passage way that would take her to a small room above the entrance room where the troops and Mola were listening to the Maharajah give a speech about bravery and coming home and all related topics, Kani moved swiftly through above the sorrowful palace. She reached the small room overlooking the entrance just in time to catch the end of the Maharajah's inspiring speech.
"…take courage for the arms of Shiva are warm! Come back to us quickly and victorious my friends. Om Sarva Mangal Manglaye Shivay Sarvaarth Sadhike Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayaani Namostu Te." (Oh the divine couple Shiva Parvati ! O ! Thee, the protectors of this universe, Along with Lords Brahma and Vishnu We pray to You for our well-being , prosperity and the enlightenment of our souls.)
With the prayer complete the large iron gates that protected Pankot from the outside forces of nature slowly rose. Kani searched the crowd for Mola and found him easily . He was sitting atop a large brown horse who pranced nervously in the rippling crowd. He was watching his troops with a calm and determined face. As if he felt her eyes upon him, he turned and stared at the small window that betrayed Kani's hiding place. Kani held her breath at the sorrow held in his eyes but made no sound for fear of exposing them both.
Mola glanced at the small room then at his lord and friend, The Maharajah. Sensing Mola's concern, the wise ruler bowed his head almost in perceptively in acquiescence to his advisor's silent request. Mola almost cried with relief. Kani will be safe, he thought as the iron gate stopped its ascent and the soldiers surged forward with a rough and ragged cry. Glancing once more to where he left his heart and love in the hands of a young healer, Mola kicked his heals into the horse's flank and galloped out to his marching soldiers.
Standing up inside the tiny room Kani wiped her eyes with her sleeve in hopes of stopping the flow of tears. Lani looked at her master and friend and chirped her concern. Reaching down, Kani picked up her only companion in the castle and hugged her close as the grief and pain of Mola's departure shivered through her. She didn't know how much time had passed when she finally composed herself long enough to make it to her bedroom but by the darkening sky she guessed that dinner was long over.
I don't feel like eating right now anyway. She thought as another onslaught of tears threatened to flow. When she opened the door to her room she saw a tray of rice and beans sitting on her desk, steaming. She gently closed her door and walked over to the fragrant food. Sitting on the polished silver was a white piece of parchment. Picking it up Kani saw it was a note written on the Maharajah's personal stationary.
I know you miss him but you must keep up your strength for I can not risk your health.
Holding the note in her shaking hand, Kani took a moment to regain her composure.
The Maharajah knows about us and approves.
Just as she set the note down a slight knock was heard at her door.
"Just a moment!"
Setting Lani in her cage, Kani opened up the door to see the Maharajah waiting patiently for the door to open. She stared for a bit before her etiquette sunk in and she hastily bowed low. He ruler chuckled to himself before gesturing her to rise.
"Please, I am simply making sure you are okay. Mola asked me to check up on you and make sure that you stay safe. I agreed of course because I can not have my newly discovered healer falling ill during a war now can I?"
Kani smiled, "I will be fine my lord. I am, well, heartsick would be the best word for it."
The Maharajah looked at the young woman standing before him in obvious grief and nodded in sympathy. In a moment of spontaneity the wise ruler gathered Kani into his strong slender arms and hugged her close, "We will both miss him but Mola is smart and extremely inventive. He will come back and then it would be my supreme pleasure to marry before the whole palace."
Kani clung to the old man's shoulders as he whispered of her dearest wish. Composing herself Kani pulled away and smiled at the concern on her lord's face, "I will truly be fine. I know he can take care of himself. I just worry that he will become to entangled in taking care of everyone else that he will forget about himself."
Smiling at the truthful assessment of Mola's personality he Maharajah patted Kani on the shoulder and turned to leave.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Thank you very much for the food my lord," Kani blurted out.
A look of puzzlement crossed the rulers face before he shook his head with a smile and waved goodbye. Kani watched him turn the corner before she finally shut her bedroom door. Leaning up against the cool wooden door, Kani sighed in weariness at the awkward scene. The food beckoned her with its tantalizing smell and Kani grebbed the bowl and fork eagerly. Lani began shrieking from her cage and Kani looked in alarm at her small friend.
"What is wrong? Are you hungry again?"
Walking over to the cage Kani filled the food dish with some of the rice and beans from her own bowl. Lani reached out and dumped the food on the floor and Kani sighed in exasperation.
"If you are not going to eat it at least don't waste it."
She began eating the wonderfully spiced food with gusto, not realizing how hungry she had been. Half of the food was gone before Kani finally felt the effects of the drug laced throughout her meal. Lani began shrieking louder but Kani couldn't react as the bowl slipped from her numb hand and shattered on her marble floor. A picture of the Maharajah's puzzled look at her thank you flashed before her and then a picutre of Lani throwing the food away. Kani cursed at her reckless actions. The last image she remembered before the darkness claimed her was her father's face leaning over her body with a look of triumph.