Free Govinda (The Aryavarta Chronicles) by Krishna Udayasankar

of spies in the most unlikely places,’ Govinda added.
    Shikandin nodded. ‘Truth be told, I was expecting you, Govinda. Ghora Angirasa’s death has thrown Aryavarta into complete
     disarray. Magadha’s moving troops all over the empire and, as a result, so is every other kingdom. Armies are being mustered,
     and every soldier has been ordered to report for duty. Seems to me like the kind of hornets’ nest you like playing with so
     much.’
    Yuyudhana said, ‘Jarasandha won’t let Dwaraka be. I can only hope that when war does come to our doorstep, it is of an honourable
     kind …’
    ‘Then, in your interests and ours, we’d better get moving,’Panchali cut in. ‘They won’t dare follow us into Panchala. If we ride fast, it’ll save us some needless fighting. When there’s
     battle, friend or enemy, it’s still human life that’s lost.’ Even as she said it she seemed to realize that the statement
     sounded incongruous coming from her, for she softly added, ‘That’s what I’ve learnt from Shikandin …’
    Her innocent but fervent zeal was nothing short of charming. With a smile of submission, Yuyudhana swung on to his horse and
     readied himself for the ride ahead. In a habit born of long use, he took off his quiver and made sure that the arrows were
     neatly stacked inside. He then refastened the quiver across his back, pulling the belt tight to bring the edge up high on
     his right shoulder. The Panchala soldiers watched him, impressed. Yuyudhana was one of the fastest archers in Aryavarta and
     the best bowman of the many Yadu clans of Dwaraka. He could, in fact, as the old saying went, shoot faster than one could
     blink.
    Soon all of them were back in the saddle. Shikandin whistled a signal to his soldiers and the cohort set off in perfect unison.
    ‘I still haven’t thanked you for your timely help, Panchali,’ Govinda said, as they rode side by side. ‘As always, I’m left
     in your debt.’
    ‘Must we play games like adversaries or, worse still, strangers?’ she asked him in a low voice. ‘Why don’t you speak to me
     plainly? You come and go at a whim; sometimes you sail away for months on end. Every day I wait to hear from you, but …’ She
     breathed out hard and added sharply, ‘And now, you finally turn up, but it’s taken a dead old man to bring you here. I demand
     no explanations, but won’t you at least be honest with me?’
    ‘I have no honest words to explain my actions, Panchali, not at this moment.’
    ‘Then keep your mouth shut!’ she snapped.
    Govinda nodded meekly as Dhrstyadymn called to him above the thud of hooves, ‘There’s no arguing with that one, don’t even
     bother!’
    The company had been riding for only a short while, when the sound of galloping horses closed in on them from behind.
    ‘Keep going,’ Shikandin ordered. ‘We’re at the border. Cross the stream, and we’ll be in Southern Panchala.’
    They emerged from the woods onto a short, open stretch that led to the stream. As one, the riders urged their steeds on as
     fast as they could. Hardly had the first horse set foot in the water, when imperial soldiers poured out of the forest behind
     them. The first of the enemy’s arrows fell short, but by the time Govinda and his companions were halfway across the stream
     the distance between them and their pursuers had decreased. With a whistle and a dull thud, an arrow caught one of Shikandin’s
     men in the arm.
    ‘Go!’ Shikandin urged the others, as he went to help the wounded soldier. ‘Go! Don’t engage! Just go!’ The last thing he wanted
     to do was make a stand in the middle of a stream.
    Arrows began falling around them as they urged their horses on through the strong current. Fortunately, the stream was narrow
     and soon they were all across. They kept going till they were within the first of the woods of Southern Panchala, then slowed
     their horses down to a gentle trot. Barring the soldier who had been hurt, there were