It was midnight. The darkness of night had created gloom everywhere. But the moonlight was showing them the way. They had now reached near the royal court. Raghuveer stopped at the door.
"Come inside, the king is waiting for you," the messenger said.
Raghuveer didn't say anything. The messenger opened the door and both entered.
Raghuveer stepped into the royal court. Tall pillars, velvet curtains, and golden chandeliers — but the atmosphere was cold. Because of the blood-stained clothes on his body, murmurs began in the court.
"The king has called a midnight assembly for this boy," one officer said to another.
"Look, there's blood on his body," the second officer said.
"He killed our soldiers. He should be sentenced to death," the first officer said.
Such murmurs continued throughout the royal court. Everyone agreed that he should be given the death penalty.
Sharvani stood behind a silk curtain on the upper balcony. Her hair was long, softly curled, decorated with white flowers. She wore a green gown filled with floral patterns, and a gold necklace shaped like a flower hung around her neck. She held a notebook in her hand. Her father was one of the ministers. She had also come to see Raghuveer.
Is this him? Sharvani said to herself.
The king had summoned all upper-caste people to the court. Everyone wondered why the king had called an assembly so late at night.
Raghuveer looked at the king without showing any reaction. The messenger stepped forward and approached the king.
"Your Majesty, I've brought him," the messenger said.
The king sat on his throne, wearing deep blue robes. A golden crown rested on his head.
"Silence, everyone," the king said. The court fell silent. The murmurs stopped. Everyone looked at the king. But Sharvani kept looking at Raghuveer and began sketching him in her notebook. She loved drawing.
"My ministers, tell me your opinion about this boy," the king said.
One minister stood up.
"Your Majesty, everyone agrees. He should be sentenced to death," the minister said.
"Yes… yes… Your Majesty," the other ministers said.
The king looked at Raghuveer. There was no reaction on Raghuveer's face. The king felt strange.
He's not afraid of dying, the king told himself.
Sharvani stopped drawing.
Death sentence… she said to herself. She felt pity for Raghuveer. Those who wanted him punished had also raised hands against soldiers at some point. But because they were upper caste, no action was ever taken against them.
"You are now sentenced to death. Any last wish?" the king asked.
Raghuveer didn't say anything.
"Speak, any last wish?" the king asked again.
"Why?" Raghuveer asked.
"Because you've been sentenced to death," one minister said.
"Why?" Raghuveer asked again.
"Because you attacked the soldiers," another minister said.
"Who gave the punishment?" Raghuveer asked, looking at the minister. There was no fear in his eyes.
"We all decided together," the minister said.
Raghuveer looked up and exhaled. He found all this amusing. He had shown death to so many, and now these small people from a small kingdom wanted to show him death. That was amusing.
"Speak, what is your last wish?" the minister asked again, this time raising his voice.
Raghuveer looked at the minister.
"To kill everyone," Raghuveer said.
The entire court heard it. Surprise appeared on everyone's face.
"Wha… what? You said you want to kill us?" the minister asked.
He now looked at the king. "See, Your Majesty, this… this demon says he wants to kill us," the minister said. His voice showed fear. Because he knew about the knight's death. Murmurs began again. Even Sharvani's face showed surprise.
What should I do? Everyone wants him dead. But if that happens, I'll never understand this boy, the king told himself.
"What's your name?" the king asked Raghuveer.
Raghuveer looked into the king's eyes. He saw the king's tired eyes.
"Raghuveer," he said.
"Will you participate in the competition?" the king asked.
The entire court fell silent and looked at the king.
"Why?" Raghuveer asked.
"Because I need you," the king said. His voice held truth.
He needs me, Raghuveer told himself.
"But Your Majesty, he's a criminal," the minister said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, allowing a criminal to participate in the competition is not right," another minister said.
The entire court agreed with the ministers.
Sharvani listened quietly.
"Tell me honestly — have you never raised a hand against a soldier?" the king asked.
All the ministers stood with their heads down. They didn't say anything. Because they too had committed atrocities against lower-caste soldiers.
"Does anyone else want to say anything?" the king asked.
No one said a word. But the ministers were unhappy with the king's decision.
"So, will you participate in the competition?" the king asked Raghuveer.
"If you win, I will make you the commander," the king said.
Commander. Say yes, Raghuveer. Say yes, Raghuveer told himself.
Raghuveer nodded in response.
"Then it's settled. The competition is in two days. Until then, you may stay in the palace as my bodyguard," the king said.
Raghuveer didn't say anything.
A smile appeared on Sharvani's face. Because Raghuveer had not been sentenced to death.