IT WAS NEARLY DUSK when the Princess Kaurwaki looked up from the scroll before her and turned to her secretary.
"It's over,Pushpalatha. The proposal is sound.Tell the Minister for Agriculture that he has my support for the proposal for the construction of new Granaries in Sitapur.I will speak to my Father, His Royal Highness Jagganath, about this."
"Forgive me for questioning you ,my princess.But are you sure.What with the drought and all...
Kaurwaki gave a dismissive gesture. "I have been assured by none other than our Royal Astrologer that the wet season will be here in one month .We already have provisions for more than three months.But speaking about the rainy season,what are our preparations for the annual flooding?"
Pushpalatha found the appropriate scroll and informed the princess of the steps taken to prepare for the floods.By the time she finished night had fallen and Dasis entered quietly lighting Diyas in the room taking care not to disturb the princess.
"Very well.I'm satisfied.What else do you have for my attention?" asked Kaurwaki.
"Admiral Chaithanya's man has come.He's in need of additional funds for outfitting our Navy." ventured Pushpalatha.
"And has he applied to my Father?" Kaurwaki laughed. "I'll wager not.Not after the tongue-lashing he got from my Father for failing to capture the pirates who plague our coast."
"The Princess knows everything that goes on in the Palace" Pushpalatha smiled.
"I make it my business to know.Remember my able secretary.Knowledge is power.And us women have little power as it is." Kaurwaki turned serious "Send for the Admiral's man.The Kalingan merchants need the Navy's protection.And as you know three-fourth of our revenue comes from trade."
Pushpalatha went out and returned with a swarthy man who while having a splendid physique had the peculiar gait of sea-going men.
"Greetings to the Most Beautiful Princess Kaurwaki, the Flower of Kalinga, The Treasure of the ..." began the worthy Navy Man.
"Enough with the flattery, sir. Make yourself known to me." invited the Princess.
Pushpalatha smiled to herself when she heard the princess chiding the Navy man.He had begun on the right note.The Princess would have been a little annoyed if he hadn't bothered to praise Her Highness.After all who is completely immune to flatter?
"I am Chandrakant, Admiral Chaithanya's secretary.I have been deputed to secure the additional funds needed for outfitting our Navy.As Your Highness knows, the Port of Kalinga is the only one on this side of Jambudwipa.We have the monopoly of Eastern Trade.But the merchants have been plagued by the Pirates..."
The Princess raised a hand to stop the flood of words."Come to the point Chandrakant.How much does the Navy need and how do you plan to spend the funds?"
"My apologies, Your Highness." Chandrakant gave another bow. "The Admiral has requested for 10,000 pans.Three of the Navy's fighting ships are badly in need of repairs.Other two need to be outfitted.Additional men need to be recruited.It is a sad fact that the Kalingan Army gets the cream of the crop and the Navy has to pay extra to the sailors."
"10,000 pans?" laughed the Princess "Does the worthy Admiral thinks that I have the Kalpaka Vriksha in my Garden to grant me so much money?" She sobered up."Very well, but what does the Admiral guarantee for such a huge sum."
Chandrakant smiled "The Admiral has news of the Pirates' hideout in the Wet Season.Just before the Rains begin, the Pirate fleet will retreat there and we will be waiting for them."
Kaurwaki gestured Chandrakant to retreat a little as she consulted in whispers with her Secretary.
"Your Highness," began Pushpalatha "10,000 pans is more than your Royal Allowance for this three-months.How can we..."
"You are right Pushpalatha" mused Kaurwaki "Yet for 10,000 pans our merchants will feel safe.I get the Navy's goodwill.Hmm." She gestured Chandrakant closer."Now Chandrakant I personally will provide the 10,000 pans."
Kaurwaki took the glittering sapphire necklace from her neck and gave it to the Naval Man.Chandrakant bowed lower as he took the necklace from the Princess's hands.
Pushpalatha gave a tutting noise. "Dear Princess, that was your grand-mother's necklace and worth 15,000 pans.What will you say to..."
"Hush Pushpalatha" gestured Kaurwaki "I will answer to the King, my father.I am sure our Navy needs it more. The people of Kalinga needs it more.Surely,Admiral Chaithanya will bring me better from the Pirates' Loot.Something worth many times the value of this priceless necklace."
Chandrakant's eyes gleamed at this sally and he assured the Princess that his Admiral would defeat the Pirates and the first choice of the Loot would be left to the Princess.He left the chamber still muttering his gratitude.
"Pffew" he thought as he left the chamber "The Princess of Kaling is as clever as she's beautiful. I'm sure her grandmother left her dozens of necklaces and King Jagganath would hardly notice one missing.With this stroke of generosity she has bought the Navy's support if her uncle Kevalraj ever attempts another coup.We Kalingans are lucky to have such a worthy one looking after our interests.
Pushpalatha dusted her hands as she assembled the scrolls."Now that went well.One more matter for your attention, Gracious Princess.The worthy Brahmin Agnidutta of the Matt at Jambulinga demands 2000 pans for draught relief work at their village."
Kaurwaki smiled "Ah he demands, does he? Hasn't my father His Majesty Jagganath already issued 1000 pans from the Royal Treasury for the Matt?"
Pushpalatha bowed "The Princess had donated 2000 pans during last year's drought.So this year..."
Kaurwaki frowned "So he thinks that I'll award him 2000 pans every year, just like that? What does he think?That he can take me for granted?"
Pushpalatha bowed ."I'm not sure that's his intention."
Kaurwaki's eyes gleamed ."I'm sure Jambulinga Matt isn't the only matt affected by the draught.This year I'll award 1000 pans from my Royal Allowance to the Buddhist monastery at Dakshinparva."
"But Princess," her Secretary spluttered "Your father the King Jagganath has taken an aversion to the Buddhist monks since a blind Buddhist seer made a prophesy that your family's rule of Kalinga will come to an end in this generation."
Princess Kaurwaki smiled benevolently at her confused Secretary "Yes, but the Blind Seer also prophesized that I will marry an Emperor.The Buddhists deserve some mercy,don't you think?.Yes Bela..."
Pushpalatha was in such a tizzy that she failed to notice that Kaurwaki's Lady-in-Waiting Bela had entered the chamber and was approaching the princess.
"His Majesty, the King Jagganath has commanded that you attend to him and Her Majesty in his Chamber at the earliest" Bela gave a bow after imparting the message.
"In that case, I'll not keep him waiting" decided Kaurwaki "Dasis attend to me.Pushpalatha prepare the scrolls for my authorization tomorrow."
With a sweep of her silken skirts and a nod to the bowing attendants the Princess Kaurwaki swept from the chamber accompanied by Bela and another Dasi.The chamber seemed empty and seemed to have lost some of its luster after the golden princess exited the chamber.Lost in thought Pushpalatha jerked when a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Is it true that the Princess Kaurwaki will marry a Chakravartin?" asked the little Dasi who had lighted the Diyas.
"There has been a prophesy of the sort" admitted Pushpalatha.
"But there is no Chakravartin in Jambudwipa.There are only Kings.So who will our Princess marry?"
"Whoever she marries" said Pushpalatha determinately "Will end up as a Charavartin. She will make sure of that.She will bend the fates, that one, once she has made up her mind."
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