Shivaditya stared at the bloodied man tied in front of him.

"Did he confess?" Shiv asked.

"No your highness. We have tried everything."

Shiv looked at the tall powerfully built man. These barbarian lords were mercenaries. Torture wouldn't work.

"I know who you are. I will pay you more if you tell me where is the princess." Shiv said in Turkish.

For the first time, the man gave some sign of intelligence.

"You speak my tongue!" He said.

"That's not the point. Where is the princess? Answer me and I would let you go along with your people. Otherwise, I will kill everyone right from the oldest man to the youngest babe of your tribe."

The man laughed.

"You people are too soft, you follow these weird laws you wouldn't dare."

"Try me! There is a reason I am called Shivaditya the ruthless, I will do exactly what I said. My reputation is quite well known."

"I don't understand all this fuss about a woman! You people give too much freedom to your women. They dont even cover their faces!" Ghori was clearly annoyed.

"I am not here to discuss your opinion about women! Where is Chitra?"

Shiv yelled.

"I don't have her," Ghori said.

"But I wish I did. 2 mighty kingdoms fighting over her. She must be something!" He smirked.

Shiv clenched his hands in a tight fist trying not to hit him. He needed him alive, and willing to talk.

"Where is she?" He repeated patiently.

"She is with King Vikram. I don't know what issues you both have but he wanted me to get her for him. He invited me to attack Navsarika. I was supposed to capture her and deliver her but his men took her away during the battle."

Shiv's face burned with Fury.

"Vikram" he muttered.

"Where did he take her?"

Ghori smirked.

"That information will have a cost."

"I will pay you whatever you want. Just give me her whereabouts."

"Release me and my men. Give me a sack of gold for every man I have lost and all the jewels of the palace. I will take you to her."

Shiv's face had hardened like a mask.

"You have my word. I will fulfil all your demands. Take me to her."

Ghori smiled. These people were foolish enough to fight over petty things. He would be back.....one day.

*******

"Over here your highness!" called a faceless soldier somewhere to Shiv's left.

They had followed the narrow path for hours. Although it pained him to proceed at such an infuriatingly slow pace, he knew the importance of a single clue - and the consequences of missing it. If they went tearing up the path, they could miss a vital clue or some tiny hint that showed the way to Chitrangda.

Shiv rushed over to the soldier who pointed to the ground before their feet. "You see here sir? The ground is a little disturbed and over there can you see how the grass had been bent and in places broken?"

"It looks like more than several pairs of footprints," Shivditya said, his anxiety rising.

"Indeed sir. I'd say according to the indentation they went this way," he said, tracing the outline of the footprints with his index finger.

"My Chitra" he mumbled, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"Your highness!" shouted another soldier further up the path.

"The trail picks up here, it looks like they continued down a grassy slope here, up to... to... up to... my goodness," he said, his words trailing off as Shiv and Dev reached his side.

Shiv's eyes followed the path pointed out by the young soldier. He felt his insides turn to ice as he set eyes on a castle before him.

"Vikram!" he growled, unsheathing his sword and stepping out of the woods into the darkness of the night. As he approached the old castle, his men falling into step behind him, there was nothing but bloodbath in his heart.

*******

"Shiv will kill you for this Vikram. There will be a war! " Chitra tried to reason with Vikram.

He leaned over her making her fall on the bed.

"He is too far away to save you, my slave."

She winced at his words.

"We are already at war. I was never interested in these peace negotiations. I just wanted to reach you Chitra. You still don't get it to do you?"

She searched his face trying to understand what he meant.

"It was impossible to get you out of Badami. I considered that option but luring you out to Navsarika was easier. Fortunately, you fell for my words." He smirked.

He moved further while she crawled back almost backing into the headboard.

"The attack. I arranged it." He gave her his most charming smile which made her wince.

"How could you Vikram. So many innocent people died."

He placed his arm on her shoulder removing her dupatta and throwing it aside.

"If you would have let me do this earlier. All these innocent lives could have been saved. How does it feel to be responsible for so many deaths Chitra?"

She wished to die. Perhaps if she was ugly all this wouldn't have happened.

"So how about we get back to business," Vikram said and brought his lips on hers.

She fought like a tigress hitting him on the face and chest trying to push him off.

He groaned in frustration.

"Just stop it Chitra! You cannot escape." He was pinning her hand on either side of her head while she squirmed. She was tall almost as tall as him but he was surprised, she was still strong enough to keep resisting him.

"Let me go Vikram." She said angrily.

Chitra sighed with temporary relief when he got off her but her eyes grew wide in terror.

He grabbed both her wrists and tied them to the headboard using hen dupatta.

"No! Leave me" she struggled pinned below his heavy body.

"This is to ensure that you don't try anything smart."

She choked back a tear and tugged at her bound hands.

"Perhaps I should kill myself before he has his way." She thought. But she was helpless to even kill herself.

Now that she was subdued he raked her from top to bottom. He took off his tunic revealing taut muscles.

"Where to start...." He grinned.

"Don't do this Vikram please." She pleaded.

"I should bind your mouth too but I love to hear your screams."

She closed her eyes expecting the worst. He held the neckline of her blouse and tore it revealing her beautiful mounds.

She closed her eyes unable to see her humiliation.

"Wow! You are absolutely beautiful."

He squeezed her nipples roughly, making her scream in pain.

His other hand went under her lehenga pushing it upwards until his hand reached her thigh and further up.

"Open your eyes Chitra I want you to see. How I am a better lover than that Shiv.

"NO!" she screamed, her arms and legs thrashing as far as the restraints allowed them.

He bent his head and kissed her forcefully. Her screams muffled.

"I know you are enjoying this Chitra. Keep your eyes open."

Tears streamed from her eyes.

His hands clawed on her breasts, waist, back....everywhere making her scream.