Page 189 of A King's Oath

“Samarth?” Rajmata found him, still a few feet away from the table.

“Yes, Rajmata?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you happy?”

“About what?”

She sighed. “I will be frank and ask this — are you happy about being Rawal.”

He pushed a bigger smile to his face — “Bade Rawal has decreed.”

“That was not my question.”

“I am happy,” he glanced from her to the family finally beginning to settle around the table, Papa at the helm. That was the only point where he had puthisfoot down. Rawal or Bade Rawal — that chair belonged to Papa.

“If there comes a day when you are not happy,” Rajmata said, bringing his focus back on her. “And if you can’t tell Papa, will you tell me?”

He stared at her. Then, at a loss for what to say, he bobbed his head.

“Now, come on. Bade Rawal will be a hungry beast if my evening kadha recipe has worked.”

Samarth laughed, and followed Rajmata to the table. She took her seat to the right of Bade Rawal. He took his seat to the left of Bade Rawal.

32. Outbreak

8 YEARS LATER

“Good boy, Moti,” he swung his leg out of the stirrup and jumped down from the saddle. “Let’s get some water into you.”

“Let me take him, Rawal,” his Stable Master offered.

“It’s alright, Chander... Are they all new boys?” He nudged his chin to the practise pen in the distance. Half a dozen horses and half a dozen young boys atop them.

“Yes, Rawal. This afternoon the vet had visited so their practise session was pushed to evening. Coach says to permanently shift it to evening.”

“No. They must learn to ride up and down under the hottest sun. Tell Coach I said so, word for word.”

He led Moti to the trough of water, Chander following him. His horse’s mouth plunged into the trough and he drank thirstily.

“How is the school going otherwise?”

“Everything is running smoothly, Rawal. There were issues with a few boys’ fees but…”

“What issue?”

“Late payments.”

“How late?”

“Not much, 2-3 weeks. Our payment schedule is for the end of the month and most people’s salaries are rundown by that time. Many of these boys are working weekdays and learning here on weekends…”

Samarth glanced from his horse to his Stable Master.

“Were these boys troubled for their late dues?”

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