Page 129 of A King's Oath

“Fallen off but not taken down!” The commentator’s voice boomed. Her knees kept going down.

Avantika locked her body to keep it from falling further. Her legs shivering, she kept gaping, waiting to see what that meant. The crowd was still thick.

"After driving Gir Zephyrs to victory in the final second of the final chukker, here comes the winner. HH Sam. What a goal, what a finish, what a prince!”

She didn’t understand what he was saying until the group parted and out walked Samarth.Walked.

Avantika half-collapsed with that sight.

He was limping, his left side completely muddied, his helmet in hand. He ran someway and caught up with his horse that was being brought home. Avantika wanted to cry then when he patted the horse’s rump and caressed his neck, his gaze on the limping joint of his horse’s forelimb.

“That’s a royal win under the Tuscan sun, ladies and gentlemen. A young legend, his injured pony, and a moment that’ll be remembered in polo history!”

His entourage reached the tents and Avantika did not think. She saw him coming towards her, took steps towards him withoutthinking if he was indeed coming towards her and flung her arms around his neck. He caught her with one arm, his body swivelling with the impact. She steadied her feet, taking his weight. “Shit, sorry!”

“I’m fine, Ava…” he panted in her ear, sweat mixed with blood in his scent. She let a deep breath go into his neck before mustering her voice.

“You knew your horse was injured?”

“I felt it in the final seconds.”

“You could have stopped the match…”

“There were five horses behind mine. It would have been a fatal collision. For all of us.”

“Anything broken?”

“No…”

“Kunwar!”

At that loud deep voice Avantika pushed out of his arms and quickly made her way towards the stables without turning. She prayed Maan bhai did not recognise her. But then, how could he? He had never seen her in person. Avantika hoped Samarth could spin that hug and tell a story…

“Are you still bleeding?” Maan bhai’s boom was loud, worried. She wanted to stop and go back. But she stepped inside the dark of the stables and scurried away. Nothing was broken as per Samarth. She had to make peace with the fact that he would take care of the rest.

Avantika reached the cool, shadowed interiors and collapsed with her hands out on the fence of a stall. Finally, she let her breaths go. In pants. In shallow pants that she tried to deepen. She channeled her inner sportsperson and threw her headbetween her legs, using breathing techniques.In fear or shock, bring your heart rate under control.4-7-8. Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. She did it. And slowly the lightheaded fear sitting in her body started to loosen its grip.

Avantika pushed her head back up and came face to face with a little horse gaping at her. At least, she thought he was gaping. White, with a mane the colour of butterscotch, the pony was very cute.

“Hi,” she whispered softly to him, stepping closer to his stall. “Hello…” Avantika held her hand out to let him sniff. He tried to lick it and she giggled, making him snort.

“Aww…” she tickled his chin, seeing his mouth smile. Or come close to that expression Samarth had taught her meant happy. “You are the cutest little pony I have ever seen. Are you a newborn foal? Are you? Do you know how pretty you are?” She began to lean closer to nuzzle his neck when voices sounded from outside, coming in.

“I am in one piece, Maan bhai, no point in an MRI scan…” Samarth argued.

“You are getting one. Your head is still bleeding… don’t go in, I can’t see anything there!”

“Head wounds bleed the most, Maan. Don’t you know yourself?” That was Hukum’s voice. “How many times have you fallen off your horse and left a pool of blood? My Lake Palace field is still red near the centre line.”

“You answer to Siddharth then when his son shows permanent memory loss.”

“Look there, boy — who is he?”

A pause. Then — “Frederick Alphanso VII?”

Avantika snorted.

“Youarecoming with me for an MRI scan. Get me the team doctor!” Maan bhai’s loud holler made her tiny baby foal startle. Avantika reached up and caressed his nose.

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