Govinda (The Aryavarta Chronicles) (40 page)

Hardly had they crossed, when the three men noticed that something was very obviously wrong.

‘I don’t like this …’ Partha muttered softly.

‘You’re right. The tilling of these lands should have started a week or two ago, but it hasn’t. It looks abandoned … or evacuated
…’ Shikandin added.

Govinda threw his head back and looked up at the clear blue sky. ‘We keep moving.’

THE ATTACK WAS WELL-TIMED AND PERFECTLY EXECUTED
. Sudakshin, the king of Kashi, had kept his armies hidden in the small woods for days. With no reports of troop movement
coming in from the scouts, Partha’s men were taken completely unawares. Unprepared though he was, Partha responded quickly
the moment the first of the enemy poured out of the woods. He engaged them with a few of his men giving the others time to
dig trenches and set
up barricades of quickly built mud banks as well as overturned carts and spears planted into the ground. Very soon, they had
established a position that was open only on two fronts, with barricades closing off the right and left flank from attack.
This, they hoped, could not only be defended for a while, but it would also give them enough time to fall back to a place
that afforded more safety. But it did not take them long to realize that Sudakshin’s forces had them surrounded. There was
no question of falling back anymore.

As darkness fell, the situation settled into an uneasy stalemate. Sudakshin’s soldiers made the occasional attack on either
front, but with some effort, they were repelled. Partha knew that these attacks were but minor skirmishes; far from the massacre
he could expect if Sudakshin’s army came at them in full force.

It was well past midnight by the time he called for a meeting of all his captains, along with Shikandin and Govinda. The group
convened in the small command tent, which had been set up right at the centre of their position. To everyone’s surprise, Partha
retained little trace of his earlier irritation and looked completely at ease.

‘I admit,’ he told them, ‘that I was worried. But I no longer am. To march into a trap such as this, to be caught in this
position, is nothing less than folly. But of one thing I am certain – Govinda Shauri is no fool. The predicament we’re in,
unable to move forward or to retreat, is proof enough that an effective strategy is in place. Come, Govinda, it’s time to
reveal your plan. Tell us what is to be our next move.’

‘We attack at dawn,’ Govinda announced. ‘We throw our entire might against the enemy behind us. That’s where they’ll least
expect it.’

‘And the other front? Won’t they just rush in and corner us from the rear?’ one of the men queried.

‘No,’ Govinda said. ‘I’m … hopeful that we’ll have help from Bhim. The trap the enemy has laid for us will turn into a trap
for them.’

‘By Varuna!’ Partha exclaimed as the implications dawned on him. His earlier conviction seemed to leave him, and angry scepticism
took its place.

Some of the others too looked doubtful. ‘It’s a huge risk you’ve
run, Commander,’ Partha’s senior captain spoke up. ‘I assume you’ve sent word to Magadha for reinforcements … but how can
we be sure that your messengers got through, where so many of ours and Bhagadatta’s failed?’

‘If you’re asking me for certainty, my friend, I’m no oracle. I’m just a man … There’s nothing more I can offer you than the
promise that I’ll personally lead our rearguard and hold off an attack on the other flank.’

‘Even so, that means splitting up our forces,’ the captain countered. ‘The men are tired enough from the relentless marching.
If we attack with half or even three-fifth of our men, it may not be enough.’

‘You won’t need to split up the forces,’ Shikandin added in a low growl. ‘My men and I will fight to watch your backs well
enough.’

‘He’s right. We’ll begin the attack early, while it’s still misty. We need to make them think that our rearguard is well-manned.
They won’t advance so quickly, then,’ Govinda added.

Partha scowled, unconvinced. ‘It’s a dangerous idea … When the enemy does attack, their force will be considerable. You’d
have to fall back quickly, very quickly …’

‘Or, perhaps, not at all,’ Shikandin dryly finished.

The comment roused the other men to defend their pride. ‘In that case, we’ll honour your death by fighting to the last man,’
the captain added as his men heartily declared their assent. With a few more muttered exclamations and some indistinct grumbling,
the soldiers settled down to plan their offensive.

The attack began a little before dawn. Govinda, Shikandin and the men of the Eastern Guard made full use of the darkness to
take up strategic positions in the vacant trenches. Armed with an abundance of arrows, as well as flares to send signals to
divisions that did not exist, they were all set to give the impression that there were more of them than actually were. The
archers were arranged to shoot in alternating sequence so that a continuous volley of arrows could keep the enemy forces from
advancing.

All preparations made, they waited. Partha came around for one last word before heading off to lead the attack on the other
side. He found Govinda dozing. ‘Where’s Shikandin?’ he asked.

‘He’s gone ahead to scout around a bit. We figured that if he can intercept the inevitable enemy messenger who brings back
news of your attack on the other side, it may give us some more time. Also, we need to know exactly when they begin moving
and get a sense of their pace.’

‘He’s alone?’

‘Yes,’ Govinda affirmed, shutting his eyes again and stretching his arms out before placing them under his head as a pillow.
‘He likes to work alone, Partha. You should know that by now.’

‘But …’

‘He’ll be fine, don’t worry,’ Govinda added. ‘I’ve known Shikandin a long time and the man still astonishes me with his skills.’

Partha felt a sudden pang of guilt. He remembered the time, all those years ago, when he had fought Dhrupad and Satrajit on
Dron’s behalf. As he had dragged a captive father and son to Dron’s hermitage, Dhrupad had incessantly cursed the absent Shikandin.
Partha felt a little sick, recalling how he had added insult to injury by calling Dhrupad the father of a coward. He swallowed
hard and turned to Govinda, only to realize that the other man was watching him by the feeble glow of the small torch that
flickered nearby.

‘Yes, you should apologize. It might make you feel better,’ Govinda said.

Partha gasped. ‘How do you … never mind!’ He stood up to leave. Silently, he promised himself that if he lived through the
day’s battle he would indeed apologize to Shikandin. Whatever it was that had kept the man from fighting that day, Partha
now knew that it certainly had not been cowardice. With a final nod at Govinda, he left.

Govinda settled down to resume his nap, but was roused again in a few moments as Shikandin slid into the trenches, right next
to him.

‘Ah, right when I was sinking into sleep. Partha just left …’

‘I know,’ Shikandin replied. ‘I was waiting for him to go. I didn’t want to say this in front of him. Govinda, this isn’t
going to be easy. Sudakshin’s got a full battalion on this side alone. If we’re not getting any help … if Bhim thinks we’re
dead and hasn’t sent men … Well, we soon will be. Dead, that is …’

If Shikandin was alarmed, he did not show it. Instead, he calmly pulled on the leather-finished cast metal armour that one
of his men held out.

‘Only one way to find out,’ Govinda replied, sitting up to help his friend strap on the chest-plate. That done, the two men
waited in battle gear, listening intently. The darkness had let up a little, but mist lay heavy over the land. They could
hardly see their own hands in front of them. Soon, the distant sounds of battle came from behind them.

‘If we can hear it …’ Shikandin began.

‘So can the enemy,’ Govinda finished. He set an arrow to his bow, but did not take aim.

Shikandin whistled. His men were ready at once. He then crawled out of the trenches and moved a few feet ahead. Lying flat
with his ear to the ground, he listened, judging the enemy’s advance by the thudding of the earth. In a moment he was up on
his feet. Quick as lightning, he drew his bow and released a shaft. The twang of his bowstring was signal enough and the men
behind him released their first volley, quickly followed by the second. By the time Govinda had his third arrow on the string,
Shikandin was back at his side. Wordlessly, the men worked in unison, the combined twangs of their bowstrings disguising their
true numbers.

Around them, the sounds of battle grew more intense. The first of the enemy’s spears rained down a short distance ahead of
the trenches.

‘Another ten feet, and we’ll be within range …’ Shikandin noted. Grimly, he continued to shoot arrow after arrow.

‘Which means …’ Govinda said, putting down his bow.

‘Strike before they expect it?’

‘Precisely. They’ll expect us to fall back …’

‘Instead, we go ahead. Nice thinking, Govinda,’ Shikandin said. He whistled a long, shrill signal through the air. In response,
his men readied themselves for a charge at the enemy. Drawing his sword, he said, ‘Ready?’

‘Always,’ replied Govinda.

At Shikandin’s signal, the men rushed out of the trenches with a fearsome yell. They crashed as one into the Kashi soldiers,
breaking the head of the enemy’s formation. But quickly, the Kashi soldiers, too, repositioned themselves and fought back
with fierce vengeance.

Shikandin and Govinda stood back to back, facing the enemy soldiers with surprising glee.

‘Down!’ Shikandin shouted, slashing hard as he whipped around. His sword cut through the space where Govinda’s head had been
an instant ago and beheaded an oncoming attacker.

At the same time, Govinda spun under to thrust his sword through an enemy soldier. He pushed the blade deep and out the man’s
back to stab another of the Kashi soldiers. By the time he had pulled his flesh-encrusted sword back out, Shikandin had disposed
of two more men by stabbing them, as Govinda had his adversaries, through the small gaps in their armour.

‘So …’ Govinda shouted over the din of battle and the clash of metal on metal, ‘We draw swords together, after all these years.’

‘Yes, finally …’ Shikandin replied as he brought his weapon down fiercely on a Kashi soldier. ‘By Hara, these men don’t like
us much.’

‘I wonder why,’ Govinda said. ‘I don’t suppose it has anything to do with being tricked?’ The two laughed, enjoying their
partnership.

Just then the sun broke through the horizon, setting their long blades afire in streaks of red and orange. As though of one
mind, both men began to recite the same ancient verse. Around them the Panchala soldiers added their own war cries.

Despite their bold front, both Govinda and Shikandin knew that their position was far from superior. They could barely see
or hear beyond the ring of vicious enemy soldiers hurtling at them, each snarling face ready and eager to crush them brutally.
Although the element of surprise had initially given Shikandin’s men the upper hand, the enemy had rallied quickly. The other
two opposition flanks had also drawn near.

‘Maraka!’ Shikandin cursed out loud as he saw that more than half his men were already down. ‘Well, at least Partha can’t
complain,’ he commented dryly as he ran his blade through an enemy cavalryman, a huge man with a leering tilt to his mouth.
Wheeling around smoothly, he slashed at another, letting out a growl of satisfaction as the man fell. Following his lead,
the Panchala soldiers fell on the enemy with renewed vigour. Then they heard the sound. A solemn but uplifting note; an almost
impossible mix of deep booming and clear ringing. The few men of the Eastern Guard still alive felt their hearts fill with
renewed strength and hope.

‘What is that?’ Shikandin exclaimed.

‘Paundra,’ Govinda said. ‘The Great Horn of the East, the war conch of the Magadhan kings …’

Not much later, they heard the thundering of hooves behind them. The Kashi soldiers began falling back into the woods, and
Shikandin and Govinda gradually lowered their bloodied swords, panting heavily.

‘I see that I’m just in time!’ Partha’s captain rode up, leading their horses alongside. ‘I hoped you’d ride with me,’ he
said bowing, ‘but you seem rather tired …?’ Without a word Shikandin and Govinda ran up to their horses and swung into the
saddle. The three men followed the rest of Partha’s cavalry into battle.

Caught between the two fronts, the enemy soldiers struggled to hold their ground. Those who tried to retreat were allowed
to do so through a small break in the formation. Those who engaged
were killed without hesitation. The flanks moved closer until at last Govinda could see Bhim’s tall figure across the field.
The two men greeted each other with loud cheers and fell back into the battle with increased determination. Soon it was over.

Partha greeted Bhim with furious delight. ‘What took you so long!’ he complained, even as he pulled his brother into a grateful
embrace. Bhim returned the gesture with equal gusto, fighting back tears of happiness and relief. But more joyous than the
reunion between the two brothers was the one between Partha and Shikandin. Indeed, Shikandin was pleasantly taken aback by
the way Partha gripped him tight, even as Bhim looked on, slapping both men on the back.

‘I’m sorry, Shikandin. I’m sorry for everything!’ Partha said.

Shikandin did not quite understand, but knew better than to dig too deep. At last, Partha let go of him, and turned to Govinda.

‘How …’? he asked, too perplexed for more words.

Govinda laughed and let out a shrill cry, the likes of which Partha had never heard before. The others looked around at Govinda,
surprised. The call was answered with a faint but similar peal, as a huge brown and white eagle circled down from the sky.
A cry of amazement rose from the men as the massive bird swooped down over their heads and came to rest on Govinda’s gauntlet.

‘My trusty messenger,’ Govinda introduced the bird to them, ‘courtesy of an ever-faithful old friend …’ He whispered words
of thanks and endearment to the majestic creature and clucked his tongue in a series of signals that the bird clearly understood,
even enjoyed. The eagle then deftly stepped off his wrist to perch comfortably on his shoulder.