The hubbub pacified like grains of sand do before creating havoc in water, making quietness resurface but was it comforting ? Sadly, no! Plush sombreness covered city of Florence after witnessing ephemeral chaos. Wailings subsided as family of soldiers had already left the palace but Rithambara and Justus were still standing on protruding porch.

Little boy had taken this news to heart and it was an endeavour consoling him. She kept whispering incoherent words to timid down Justus's cry. His painful sobs were agonizing. Since she was injured, she couldn't sit down and patch him to her chest which she desperatly wanted therefore, she kept flaring her hands through his hair. A dissapointed sigh escaped through her lips seeing her boy crying with such intensity but it was incurable and her heart was vibrating due to same pain's chord.

On the other hand, Justus's heart was plunging with pain at his father's departure while his face was smothered in pain, tear and redness. He was furiously wiping his tears but when he couldn't handle it, he catapulted inside with a spree.

Rithambara was appalled with such vigorous reaction of Justus as he was always a well behaved child.

" Justus! Where are you going? " Ritha cried and tried to move faster with her limping legs.

Justus bit his lips before trying to climb on the bed and after two unsuccessful attempts, he cried loudly venting out his exasperation. Helplessly, he threw his compact form on the floor and wailed agonizingly. At first, his mother was not with him giving his cousions a chance to mock him and now his father. His grand father was also gone along with his father and cries of people has shook his heart to core. His clamped heart wanted to cry it all loud ignoring his Ma's pleas and now, his breathing had turned erratic while hiccups were breath cutting.

Rithambara was dumbfounded at first but now, she was frightened after watching her son getting short on breath. Forgetting her own injuries, she sat down with difficulty,

" Dear Justus, look at Ma. Justus!! Get up son. "

Listening to Justus's cry, two maids had already rushed inside and as per Ritha's order, one picked up Justus while other helped her to stand up.

Once they sat on the bed, Ritha started rubbing circles on his back in order to pacify him. When his breathing returned to par, she made him gulp down water and after maids took their leave, she scooped him close and whisperd in comforting interrogate voice, " son? What happened? "

Listening to his mother's question, Justus once again wiped his face with back of his palm aggressively but he was stopped midway by Ritha who shook her head negatively. Compiling to her orders, he hoisted his eyelids upwards and bit his lips in anticipation after speaking, " where has father gone? "

A question which could be interpreted and answered in three ways. Battlefield could be glorified where soldiers could be compared to Messiah for their respective kingdom or it could be simply named as a territorial fight or could be reduced in a brutal language that he went on an atrocious parade where humans kill each other forgetting humanity in order to acquire lands.

Now, what she should tell to a three year old child? She had three options and all of them could impact his mind in different way. First would make his father a warrior in his eyes, second just a human being and third, a killer but there was also a fourth way to answer, where his father could be named as a helpless human being who was compelled to kill enemies because it is life's harsh truth.

All of it seemed too complex for explaining it to a child therefore, she pondered over it for a while and brushed it off with a smile and a mundane sentence, " He went to do a task. "

Rubbing his red nose with his index finger, Justus threw another innocent question while frowning, " Was it important? "

This particular question grappled her heart and all she could do was nod her head and smile because after all , it was an important task. Adhering to his mother's answer, he laid his head on her stretched legs which brought a beautiful smile on Ritha's face.

After quarter of hour passed, a knock was heard on the door and after Ritha's permission, lady Aquila appeared in. She took slow steps towards mother son duo and bowed down in respect while Rithambara's eyes shone brightly and a smirk formed on her lips. Gone was softness from her eyes and now sly was residue.

Even her tone had slight mockery in it. " Ah! What a pleasant visit we have over here. Lady Aquila, nice to see you. "

Aquila could feel being mocked as she wasn't there along with Ritha to accompany her which was her duty. Gulping down her anger, she asked for an apology, " Pardon my lady! It's my shortcoming that I wasn't there and God forbids, I wouldn't have forgiven myself had anything happened to you."

The cunning smirk of Rithambara turned into fill blown mocking smile listening to Aquila's words, " ah! I can see through your pain as your eyes are swollen and I would go on an extra length to estimate that it was because you weeped for me. Isn't it? "

That smile compelled Aquila to Clench her fists tightly in order to control her anger, and she merely nodded in response unenthusiastically which was quite obvious. Her heart was already trembling and Ritha throwing shades at her was testing her patience.

After seeing sour expressions on Aquila's face, Ritha further continued, " you missed out on major happening of that day, let me draw your attention to it and I hope, you're willing to pay heed to it. "

" Yes, your highness... " Aquila's voice could be mistaken for a whisper but nonetheless, Ritha heard it.

" I'm glad! " she then further recited her tale in cryptic voice, " Three masked covered culprits attacked me out of which one was a man while other two were women. I would admit that I got fooled by their tactic and followed the man. While I was trying to know the man's identity, one lady attacked me. Universe played a phenomenal role and I was able to save myself and kill my attacker simultaneously. "

She stopped speaking and lifted her eyelids to look at Aquila who had her eyes closed tightly. Smirking at her, she deliberately added, " is there any inconvenience lady Aquila? It looks as if you're living a painful moment ."

Aquila was bedazzled by her words but she composed herself before replying, " Uh huh? No...no, my lady, I was just thinking of opposite scenario. What would have happened had they killed you? "

Laughing out loud at her words, Rithambara spoke, " you don't need to imagine scenarios, lady Aquila. I'm capable of turning the tables on my own ,without someone's protection. "

The determination reflecting in her eyes was full proof of it and she continued, " Here comes the intresting part, the second lady acquaintance , whom I consider very vicious, marred the dead body. I mean, how evil a person could be to give such a pathetic death to her friend or more like, comrade."

Aquila's foot started to tap ground making noise and her face was painfully twisted listening to Ritha's words. She was trying her level best to maintain her composure, therefore, once again closed her eyes. Nodding at her words, she looked away but next sentences of Ritha agitated her more instead of pouring oil on the troubled water.

" but here comes the interesting part, the latter one, I mean who didn't spare even the corpse had a deep cut on her wrist, just like you have. " Rithambara completed her sentence while eyeing her wrist. "

Her eyes shot opened while terror drenched farthest corner of her heart. Her red swollen face started losing it's colour to become a frosty one.

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