Akshat said, "The entrance to the capital is just 200 meters away." I nodded and replied, "Okay."
Over the past few days, we've been travelling from village to village on our way to the capital. It surprises me how exhausting and painful it is to travel in this era. We've passed through countless forests and villages, each one with its character, much like Keshini's village. But what excites me the most is finally reaching the capital. I can't wait to experience the vibrancy of life in such a grand city.
I asked Akshat, "What is this coin that Bhumika gave me?"
Akshat replied, "It's an old coin from the Mauryan Empire. That's all I know about it. An old man gave it to me along with payment for some tools I made for him on a custom order. He mentioned that it might help me in the future, but I didn't know how this coin could be useful, so I gave it to Bhumika. To me, it's just an old tale. I don't care much about the coin."
"Oh!" I responded.
Akshat then added, "Bhumika loves this coin very much, and she gave it to you. Maybe she loves you more than the coin."
"Perhaps," I said with a small smile on my face.
A few minutes later, Akshat said, "There you go, this is the entrance to the capital and the 4th town."
"4th town?" I asked.
Akshat nodded. "I forgot to tell you about the capital. It's located right next to the Yamuna River and is surrounded by thick stone walls. The capital can only be accessed through specific entry points, which also serve as gates to seven towns surrounding the castle and the king's palace. Different lords govern each of these towns."
I asked Akshat, "Are these people chosen to govern, or are they part of ruling families?"
Akshat replied, "The governance of the towns is a responsibility assigned either by the king or the council, or sometimes it's given as a gift," he said with a soft smile.
"So, which of the seven towns do you work in?" I asked.
Akshat answered, "We're entering the fourth town now, and I work there as a blacksmith for the lord himself." Curious, I inquired, "What is your lord's name?"
Akshat replied, "His full name is Ratan Pal Thakur."
"I'm looking forward to meeting him," I said, offering a small smile.
—We enter through the gate—
"Hey Akshat, why did the guards check everyone else but not us?" I asked.
Akshat replied, "Because they know I work for Lord Ratan Pal, and he's like a friend to me. Don't worry about it."
Then Akshat asked, "Tell me, is this your first time in the capital?"
"Yes," I replied.
I was shocked by the sights around me—everything looked so fascinating.
"The merchandise they were selling was astounding."
Akshat said, "Of course, our capital is well connected to the Silk Road."
I asked Akshat, "Can I take a look at those shops?" Akshat replied, "Sure, but be careful. If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it, and you don't have the money to do that."
"Okay," I said.
I strolled through the busy market, taking in all the sights and sounds. The stalls were filled with various goods, from utensils and jewellery to toys and entertainment. After checking out almost everything, I found myself drawn to a weaponry shop by the glint of steel.
"Hey, Akshat," I called out, turning to my friend. "Can we go inside?"
Akshat nodded, with a slight smile on his face. "Yes, you can."
I stepped into the shop, eyes wide with fascination. The array of weapons was impressive—swords, spears, and shields, each one more magnificent than the last. I couldn't resist reaching for a beautifully crafted sword. I picked it up and started swinging it through the air to feel the weight and balance.
"Hey, boy!" The shopkeeper's voice startled me. "You can't do that here! Don't swing that sword around like that—you could harm someone, if not yourself." Startled, I lowered the sword and glanced at Akshat. The shopkeeper's eyes flicked to him as well, recognition dawning on his face. "Sir Akshat, is this boy with you?"
"Yes, he is," Akshat replied calmly.
I put the sword back in its place and turned to Akshat.
"Do you know him?" I asked.
"Yes," Akshat said, nodding toward the shopkeeper. "He works for Lord Ratan Pal as a blacksmith, and I am his chief."
"Wow," I said, impressed. "He must like you a lot to make you chief blacksmith."
Akshat shook his head, his expression serious. "No, it's not about liking. He made me chief because I'm loyal to him and I serve him well. And you, too, must prove useful to him. If not, I'll have no choice but to leave you to fend for yourself."
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Why so serious? Why don't you show me around your workplace?"
Akshat agreed, and we made our way through the forge.
The air was thick with the smell of burning coal and hot metal, with the sound of hammers against anvils echoing around us. As we walked, something caught my eye—a brownish rock on a table. I pointed at it, curious. "What's that strange rock over there?"
Akshat corrected me. "First of all, it's not red—it's brown. And it's not just a rock; it's metal ore. It's called copper."
"Do you use it to make swords?" I asked, intrigued.
Akshat nodded, though his expression turned thoughtful. "I tried, but copper alone makes a soft blade that breaks easily."
An idea popped into my head. "Then why don't you mix it with iron and make a sword from that?"
Akshat looked at me with a mix of surprise and approval. "That's very clever of you to think of. I did try mixing iron and copper in equal parts, but the result was not strong enough. It turned out to be a disaster, and I had to cover the loss out of my pocket." I pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Oh, but why don't you try mixing them in different proportions?"
Akshat shook his head, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I don't have the money to waste on experiments like that."
"Then," I proposed, "try grinding both the iron and copper into fine, sand-like particles before melting them together."
Akshat narrowed his eyes at me, sceptical. "And why would I do that? And where am I supposed to find the funds to pay for the raw materials?"
I smiled, feeling a spark of excitement. "Because when you grind them down, the metals will bond together more strongly. And who knows, maybe I'll be the one funding your project in the future."
Akshat smirked, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
"Yep, who knows."
A few minutes passed as I continued to explore the weaponry. The gleam of the weapons and the hum of the forge filled the space. Suddenly, Akshat called out to me. "Hey, Tushar! I've got something for you."
I turned to him as he handed me a rolled-up map.
"Here," he said, "it's a map of the capital. Let me explain it to you in detail."
I nodded, intrigued. "Okay."
Akshat pointed to various sections of the map. "As I told you before, the capital is divided into seven towns, with a central area at its heart. We are currently in the fourth town, governed by Lord Ratan Pal Thakur. The first town is ruled by Ramachandra, the second by Gopal Das, and the third by Sunder Rao. The sixth is under Ratanlal's control, and the seventh by Bharat Kumar. The fifth town, however, is a lawless place, overrun by gangs and other unsavoury characters."
He paused, then pointed to the centre of the map. "And this," he continued, "is where the royals and the rich live. At the very centre is the castle, Lal Kot."
I blinked, trying to absorb all the information. "That's a lot to process," I admitted, "but I'll do my best to remember it."
Akshat chuckled. "Before we head out to meet Lord Ratan Pal, take these." He handed me five silver coins and two gold coins. "This is the currency of the Empire. One gold coin is equal to twenty-five silver ones, and one silver coin equals a hundred broach coins. One broach coin can buy you a hundred grams of wheat."
I nodded, slipping the coins into my pocket. "Thanks,
Akshat. But there's something I wanted to ask you."
"If it's about the money, that's all I can offer," Akshat said, his tone almost dismissive.
"No, no, it's not that," I quickly assured him. "I'm grateful for the money. I was just wondering... do you know of any metal that sparks or burns when exposed to fire?"
Akshat's expression darkened with frustration. "Are you mad? How can a metal burn? Don't waste my time with such foolish questions. I have work to finish. Wait here until I'm done."
I nodded, slightly embarrassed, and waited as Akshat busied himself with his tasks. Hours later, he returned, looking more composed. "Get ready," he said. "I've convinced Lord Ratan Pal to grant you an audience."
We made our way to the lord's residence, a grand yet austere place. As we approached, I couldn't help but comment, "Hey, Akshat, this residence of your lord's looks quite... impressive. Is he very wealthy?"
Akshat glanced at me, a hint of pride in his voice. "Not only is he rich, but he's also the fourth most influential person in this dynasty."
We entered the hall, where Lord Ratan Pal sat on a throne-like chair, guards stationed around him. As I stood before him, I couldn't help but take in his appearance. He was shorter than I expected, maybe around 5'6" or even 5'2", with brownish-dark skin. His long, oily hair was pulled back, and he wore a dhoti with a long skirt wrapped around his upper body. A thick, long moustache curled above his lips, giving him an air of authority.
Ratan Pal stared at me intently, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher my very soul. "Tushar, where are you from?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
I swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I'm sorry, my lord, but I truly don't remember. I've lost my memory," I lied, desperately trying to hold my composure. "The only thing I recall is being saved by Akshat's son while I was drowning in the Yamuna."
Ratan Pal's expression hardened. He suddenly ordered his guards, "Seize him!" The guards quickly moved, placing their swords at my throat. The cold steel pressed against my skin, and I felt a wave of terror wash over me.
Seeing the sharp blades so close, I began to breathe heavily, panic rising within me. "Please, my lord!" I cried out, my voice trembling. "I'll tell you the truth!
Please, don't kill me! I beg you!"
Ratan Pal raised a hand, signalling the guards to pause.
"Hold on. Let him speak," he commanded.
Gasping for breath, I blurted out, "I come from a thousand years in the future! I come from a time where buildings stood hundreds of meters tall, where there were cars, planes, and missiles!"
Ratan Pal burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. "Buildings hundreds of meters tall? From the future? You sound like some storyteller from the far west. And your skin... it resembles that of Greek merchants."
"My lord, please don't kill me," I pleaded, still breathing heavily.
Ratan Pal considered me for a moment, then said, "Perhaps I won't, but only on one condition: you will work for me as my entertainer."
Relief flooded through me as I hastily agreed. "Yes, my lord, I will! I will!"
Ratan Pal nodded to the guards. "Release him," he ordered. As the swords were withdrawn, he added, "Remember, Tushar, you now belong to me. If you dare to escape, I will have you killed."
"I understand, my lord," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
That night, I lay awake in the darkness, the memory of the cold steel at my neck haunting me. Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed quietly, the fear still lingering. It was the first time in my life that I had been threatened like this. I vowed to myself that nothing like this would ever happen again. Exhausted and shaken, I eventually drifted into a troubled sleep.
Days passed, and I found myself performing in Ratan Pal's court. The sound of a veena playing softly in the background as I told my stories. One day, I recounted a tale of a massive metal dragon that flew directly into one of two large buildings, causing a huge explosion— kaboom!—and just when everyone thought it was over, another metal dragon struck the second building— kaboom!—setting off a chain of events that would lead to a great conflict. I didn't finish the story, though, leaving the court eagerly awaiting more.
Applause filled the room, and I noticed Ratan Pal approaching me. He embraced me, laughing heartily. "Tushar, you are a treasure! Such a skilled storyteller and entertainer! Thanks to you, my guests are always delighted, and they shower me with favours without me even having to ask," he said, smiling broadly.
I bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord. I am honoured to serve you."
Ratan Pal's smile faded slightly as he asked, "Tell me, Tushar, is this metal dragon of yours real?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "Why do you keep asking me, my lord? Yes, it's real, just like the other things I've told you about."
Ratan Pal smirked a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Why don't you make one for me, then?"
I sighed, knowing where this was headed. "It's impossible to make such a thing with the materials we have in this empire—or even in this world."
Ratan Pal laughed, shaking his head. "Then why don't you make something else? Something that can be made."
I thought for a moment before replying, "I could, but I would need at least a hundred gold coins to fund it."
"Fine," Ratan Pal agreed, still chuckling. "I'll give you a hundred gold coins. Let's see what you can do." With that, he walked away, laughter still echoing through the halls.