Chapter 258

Chapter 338: Raoul's Ally

Like huge black ants spilling out from an anthill that was accidently trampled by an inquisitive toddler, the dark garbed minions of Raoul spilled out from all over the Citadel and swarmed in attack around the courtyard.

"Darn it!" grunted the General, "I'm out of bullets. Cover me!"

Flaunting his swords as he stepped forward, Lord Arnav produced a dry chuckle, "You see, the life of a gun is too short and untrusting. But nothing beats the blade."

The General turned on his heels and, using the butt of his rifle, knocked out a raring guard with a whack to the head using the butt of his rifle.

He grinned over his shoulder at his brother-in-law, "Even a bullet-less gun has its uses."

Lord Arnav ignored the comment and swung his swords at the enemies while the General thumped heads and smashed ribs with his rifle.

They stood on either side of Ram and Kushi, the force of the warring enemies pushing them backward until they were blocking Kushi from using her swords.

"My arms can't have span to fight," complained Kushi, "With you two pushing at me like this."

"You shouldn't fight, Kushi," said Lord Arnav, tearing his sword through the air, "Not in this state of yours."

"My state?!" Kushi stomped her foot, "I knew I shouldn't have told you when-"

"You know you are not very good at keeping secrets," remarked Lord Arnav with a smirk, "Besides, the mother in you cannot keep the knowledge of the child hidden from the father for long."

Kushi scowled at him and then she glared in the General, "And I don't trust you one bit, not even if you are sustained by my husband."

The General grinned to himself and, dropping his rifle and picking up two swords off a fallen guard, poised himself for newer attack, "Like I told your snobbish husband, I seek not trust from the either of you. Only your skills to fight these guards off and get out of this damned place!"

Finding no alternative, Kushi and Ram stood wedged between the men who strove to fight off the guards.

Anarkali seized the proximity of the moment to playfully pull at Kushi's hair with her drool-drenched hands.

"There's too many of them," yelled the General over the sound of his slashing swords.

"I am not surprised," grunted the First Lord, felling guards before him, "That ship of theirs had enough space, above and below deck, to house a thousand of these trained thugs."

"Let me help, then," pleaded Kushi, having released her hair from Anarkali's clutches and planted an affectionate kiss of her chubby little cheek.

"Keep still, woman!" asserted Lord Arnav as he blocked the swish of a guard's sword.

Fuming, Kushi turned to where the General stood with his back to her and she volunteered to take Anarkali off him.

He shrugged the numbness off his shoulder as the weight of his daughter disappeared.

Victory seemed slim as they progressed the hour into the heat of the battle.

The General groaned as he strained under the swords of three guards, "I don't think we can hold them off."

"You should transform," suggested Lord Arnav earning Kushi's appalled expression.

The General chuckled nastily, "The consequence would be exteremly messy, and I don't want to be the only one taking the brunt of it."

As he swung his sword at another guard, Lord Arnav gritted his teeth, "If only these chains didn't obstruct my-"

Suddenly, they were startled by an arrow hissing though the air, passing very close to Lord Arnav's ear and plunging through the chest of a guard who had nearly found a vulnerable angle to strike at Ram.

All heads turned in the direction of the arrow's origin.

Kushi gasped and Anarkali's eyes lit with mirth.

Lord Arnav blinked disbelievingly, "What the!" Then he instinctively frowned, "Di?!"

Standing at the arched entrance of the unguarded Fortress, Lady Anjali lowered her longbow and strolled royally into the courtyard.

It was then that all eyes were diverted to the shadows moving behind her which appeared to be-

"Men on horses," mumbled a surprised guard.

The General stared in astonishment on realizing that the one leading the militia of men on horses was a familiar rider on a chestnut horse.

"Akashji?" Kushi muttered in surprise, which was when she recognized the faces riding behind him, "Look, Arnavji, that's Lal! That's... they're all your workers at the Industry!"

Indeed, they were men for whom the First Lord and First Lady mattered principally and, arming themselves with spears, sticks and swords, the men had made for the Fortress.

Lord Akash's horse trotted to a stop beside where Lady Anjali stood, aiming her arrow in warning at a group of guards in the distance.

Excited by the cheerful turns of events, Kushi giggled to herself, "Look who's gate crashing!"

Lord Akash yelled aloud, "Hope you don't mind that we invited ourselves to the party!"

"No, we were only about to toast to the family!" winked the General but Lord Arnav was still scowling, "Di was supposed to stay at home! Who's going to protect her now?"

The General shot him a look, "Can you not see, Master Menace? My wife can protect herself."

Lord Arnav growled, "She is not safe here."

The General eyed him fixedly, "Neither is your wife."

Meanwhile, the guards, on finding newer recruits to combat with, rushed in scores towards where the arrived men alighted from their horsebacks.

Lord Akash, too, got off his horse and made his way through the guards, fighting them as he headed for Lord Arnav.

Following him was Lady Anjali, the string of her longbow twanging as she let arrows flying through the air.

When they reached where Lord Arnav and the rest of them stood, Lady Anjali stepped aside and glanced at her brother. She was relieved to find him unharmed and in his scowling self.

"Chotey," she nodded in greeting, but she ignored him otherwise, not wanting to invite an occasion for him to delve into the details of how she escaped from home.

Instead, as the men fought around them, Lady Anjali made straight for where Kushi stood with Anarkali.

"My Baby! My Princess!" she breathed out fervently, as she took her child in her arms and embraced her lovingly.

The moment her mother took her into her arms, Anarkali broke into tears.

All this while of being a strong child, keeping her unvoiced apprehensions to herself, she could not contain herself at the first glimpse of her dear mother. Wailing soundlessly as huge beads of teardrops streamed down her chubby little cheeks, Anarkali lifted her little hand touched the tears on her mother's face.

And then the child, feeling secure in her mother's hold, inclined her little head to her mother's shoulder and sucked her two fingers, tears still glistening on her innocent cheeks.

Lady Anjali sniffed emotionally as she looked at Kushi, "Kushiji, are you alright?"

"I am well and safe, Di," smiled Kushi, "How did you get here? And my! What a hand you have with that bow!"

"I am astonished myself that my hands still remember the skill," Lady Anjali replied and then her eyes fell on the little boy beside Kushi and she held out her hand, beckoning him closer, "And you Ram? Did these horrid villains hurt you?"

Ram shook his head as he approached her. When his steps hesitated, she pulled him to her and, with her free arm, wrapped his little shoulder in fond embrace.

"You are a good lad, Ram," whispered Lady Anjali as fresh tears rose in her eyes, "I know I have you to thank for the safety of your little sister."

Ram sobbed silently against her, relieved at last that the burden was no longer to be carried. He could be a little boy, feeling loved and protected again.

Kissing her child on her forehead, Lady Anjali handed her to Ram so she could help the others in the fight against the sentinels.

She had only just drawn an arrow from her quiver when the General turned about and pulled her to him, his arm around her waist.

"This fight is not yours, Lady Queen!" he stated, "Take the children and Kushiji and make for the gate that is on the other side of this fort."

Lady Anjali bit her lower lip reluctant to conform to her husband's demand. A second later, she nodded.

The General's features relaxed, "Just be careful. Whatever you do, don't get caught."

Leaning up, she kissed him quickly on his lips and then departed from his hold.

The General poised his swords as he watched her leave with the others.

As soon as Lord Akash had come to take position beside his brother, gearing for fight, he shot a look over his shoulder distractingly.

"What is he doing here?!!" Lord Akash asked, brandishing his sword expertly, "Di told me he had helped her get here but I don't trust him. I think he might have a hand in all of this."

"I haven't given him my trust," grunted Lord Arnav as he fought his guards, "But there is no denying that he is helping us."

Lord Akash was not convinced, "It's a deceitful distraction to make us think he's in the right when he's really not."

"I thought of that too," remarked Lord Arnav, "Until I saw him save Anarkali and strap her safe from harm whilst he fought."

"This is all too suspicious," mumbled Lord Akash, "He shouldn't be here."

Lord Arnav swung his sword at a guard and then turned on his brother, "And you shouldn't be here either. Didn't I tell you to stay at the Castle and keep guard on it?"

"Father and Rahim Chacha will take care of matters at the Castle," pointed out Lord Akash.

"You still shouldn't have come," grumbled Lord Arnav, "This is not a convivial state of affairs."

"Which brings me to my wondering: Who's the host of this party?" quipped Lord Akash.

"Raoul Tau," replied Lord Arnav, shoving a guard to the ground with his fist.

"Who?"

Lord Arnav looked at him, "You remember Raoul Tau, don't you? My father's brother?"

"Him?!" Lord Akash made a repulsed face, "I didn't like him one bit when I used to visit your place during school vacations. He was mean and despised our playtime, do you remember, saying we made wild noises..."

Lord Arnav grunted under the strain of the fighting, "Whatever he was, he has only become unforgivably evil ten years down. I don't even know what led him to hunt me down in this manner, kidnapping Kushi and all!"

Lord Akash hacked at a guard and then turned to make a suggestion, "I'll keep the guards at bay with the rest of our men, you two go find Raoul and get to the root of this whole deal."

Lord Arnav looked at him and then at the General who had overheard the suggestion and was staring at them. They shared a nod and then parted ways.

As Lord Arnav and the General were heading for the fort, fighting their way through, Lord Arnav found himself in close proximity with one of his Industry workers.

The employee was ramming a guard with his stick over and over again until the guard fell over, writhing in pain.

Lord Arnav paused a moment, appraising his employee whose name he could unfortunately no remember. Not that he had ever bothered to learn it. If only Kushi had been here, she would have known this one's name...

The employee caught Lord Arnav's eye and bowed respectfully.

Lord Arnav smiled in acknowledgement of his effort and then left to follow after the General, vowing in his mind to reward all those who fought for him by learning their names first thing he got back to the Castle

Kushi wielded her swords and slashed at the guards before her as she made her way through the corridor.

Close at her heels came Ram, carrying Anarkali, followed by Lady Anjali who looked over her shoulder frequently, and if finding a guard or two approach them from behind, handily shot her arrow to stop their progress.

Fortunately, the battle in the courtyard was what all the guards found more challenging and only a handful few strayed in the direction where Kushi led her company to the other side of the Fortress where the broken wall to the outside was.

"So who is the madman behind all this kidnapping?" Lady Anjali asked as they raced up a flight of stairs.

Kushi answered, "It's your uncle, Raoul."

"What?" Lady Anjali halted at the landing and so did the rest of them.

She stared disbelievingly at Kushi, "Our Tau? What reason did he have to do all this?"

Kushi could only shrug. Then she asked in curiosity, "What was he like in your childhood?"

Lady Anjali recalled, "He was a very protective man. But he let us live in the family house which he had inherited."

Just then their attention was diverted to a movement along the other corridor.

It had been quick but they had recognized their husbands' gait instantly.

"They must be going after him," mused Kushi.

With her hand on Ram's shoulder, Lady Anjali looked at Kushi, "Then we must go with them."

"Why?" asked Kushi.

"Don't you want to know why he did all this?" asked Lady Anjali, "Besides, I'd like to see what he looks like after all these years."

Miles away, her intuition triggered by fear, Lady Deviyani gripped at the armrests of her chair.

She stared palely at the darkness that surrounded her nightly room.

She couldn't sleep nor could she bear to remain awake and aware.

Just then, a knock was heard on the door.

She looked towards it as it opened.

"You summoned me, Lady Mother?" the butler's voice asked into the bleakness.

"Yes," she mumbled, "It's been three days. Has anyone told the Guptas of what has happened?"

"The Elder Lord is to ride to the Village at morning to break them the news."

"Let him not go then," revealed Lady Deviyani, "I shall go myself. For I fear it is time I tell them what they must know."

The butler was confused, "About what, my lady?"

"About everything."

The butler stepped closer, concerned, "Is something the matter?"

Lady Deviyani turned her ashen face to look at him, her lips trembling as she spoke, "Something's wrong, Rahim Chacha. I sense something bad is going to happen."

In the darkness of a huge room, that once in appearance was the throne room of a Greek nobleman who once lived in that citadel, Astrophe sat at her Master's feet licking her paw.

Raoul, attired in a black robe and cloak, spoke, "Are you certain that they haven't diverted?"

"No, I saw them abandoning the courtyard combat and heading this way towards you," spoke a voice behind him.

"Good," Raoul grinned evilly, his eyes on the extensive door across the room from him.

Just then, Astrophe's deltoid ears perked at the sound of footsteps rushing in from a distance towards them.

She began strolling about the room, wanting to find a spot from where she could get a better view of things that were to unveil.

Raoul trained his eye on the door at the other end, a slight smile forming on his lips as he told the one behind him, "Ready it. Here he comes..."

All at once, Lord Arnav and General Jha barged into the room.

Raoul was taken aback for a moment, confused by the appearance of the unfamiliar General, but he soon recovered from his surprise and bawled aloud, "Release the snare!"

A shadow moved behind him and, before Lord Arnav and the General could retract, something creaked in the ceiling and came crashing down to the floor.

Lord Arnav and the General stepped back too late and found themselves haplessly trapped in a huge cage.

Dropping his swords, the General stepped forward and tried pulling the bars apart.

Lord Arnav stood where he was, his swords hanging uselessly at his side, and his gaze shifting from the bars to his uncle, knowing well that to fight the bars would be futile.

Raoul had a smug grin on his face as he watched the General retreat, panting from the strain of pushing the immovable bars.

Standing beside Lord Arnav, the General commented, ""Damnation! Now I know what you feel."

"Weakened by the metal, right?" Lord Arnav clarified, his eyes still fixed on his uncle.

"What a crap share of luck we have," muttered the General sullenly, "We are surrounded by the metal and we're out of bullets."

Raoul frowned, suspicious of their inaction and their whispered mumblings. He eyed the General, "Who are you?"

Lord Arnav looked in the General's direction.

The General lifted his head proudly, "I am General Shyam Manohar Jha. Your niece's husband."

Raoul blinked in surprise and had just opened his mouth to convey a suitable retort when their attentions were distracted by the sound of another set of footsteps rushing towards the room. All eyes turned to the door just in time to behold Kushi and Lady Anjali charge into the room, followed closely by Ram and Anarkali.

"What the!" Lord Arnav did a double take.

Raoul stared at the company that had halted at the doorway, astounded by the sight of the men in the cage.

Alarmed by the sight of the towering Raoul, Ram hid behind Lady Anjali, clutching Anarkali close to him.

Lady Anjali signalled over her shoulder to Ram, directing him to take cover behind the safety of a dusty curtain.

"Arnavji!" Kushi yelped, dropping her swords and rushing to the cage.

Lord Arnav stepped to the side of the cage from where Kushi approached and clutched at the bars as she looked up at him, "How did you get into this?"

"We didn't foresee the trap," said Lord Arnav, "He must have been expecting us to come after him." He slid his hand through the space between the bars and caressed her face, "Kushi, you must leave. It isn't safe here."

Lady Anjali's hold on her aimed longbow relaxed when her glimpse slid to the man at the other end of the room, "Raoul Tau?"

She found it hard to recognize him. How much he'd changed from the man in her memories of the past.

"Anjali?" Raoul frowned displeasingly, and then grinned, "Well, well, this is quite an ideal family reunion! As always, a gathering before imminent tragedy."

His gaze slid to where Kushi stood, scowling at him, "And look who has graced her presence again: Chandraki herself."

"I am NOT Chandraki," claimed Kushi heatedly, her grip on the bars tightening, "My name is Kushi. Kushi Singh Raizada."

Raoul smirked, "Of course, the wife of a husband who is dubious of his own identity. Do you not see how he was wonderfully clapped himself in a trap again?"

Lady Anjali moved closer to the cage, her gaze glancing from her husband to her brother, as she whispered, "Can you not transform and get yourselves free of this snare?"

"No," the General replied wearily, "This metal is bewitched-"

Raoul laughed, "How intriguing, isn't it?" He looked in Lady Anjali's direction, "Do you remember a golden cage I made for your brother the night after he was cursed?"

"Looks like you have turned cage-making into a hobby," Lady Anjali humoured bitterly.

Raoul grinned wickedly, "But you may recall that the bars of the golden cage was too brittle, made overnight for a cursed adolescent, and could be easily destroyed by his bare hands now that he has become man. So while I planned my quest to find him, I took precaution in advance and perfected a metal that couldn't be easily overcome by sword, fire or brute strength."

The General stared at Raoul, "What is the meaning of all this? Why are you doing this?"

Raoul chuckled, his eyes fastened on Lord Arnav, "The years I have sacrificed, trying to find you and your wretched family... I've preparing for this moment for so long. And I was not alone in this. I wouldn't have found you and obtained occasion for you to voluntarily find me if it hadn't been for my trusted friend."

When he said this, he looked over his shoulder, a slight sneer lifting his spiteful lips.

Lord Arnav and the General stared distrustfully at him.

Kushi gulped, holding onto the bars where her husband's hands clutched them.

Lady Anjali readied her longbow, sensing danger.

Ram peeped out from behind the curtain, Anarkali asleep on his shoulder.

A shadow moved in the darkness behind Raoul.

And then from behind him stepped a smirking Lady in a Dark Hood and, on her shoulder, a familiar white parrot.