Page 20 of A King's Oath

“Sammy, O, Sammy!” A familiar baritone broke them apart. She jumped back, as did he, looking for something to busy himself, to look like he was doing something here aside from trying to flirt with a girl…

“Oh, bad timing.”

Hukum Giriraj Singh Mewad — the Steward of Mewad, its king for all intents and purposes, stopped at the mouth of the stables. The light was blocked by his body, the sun radiating around him like some halo. Samarth squinted, observing Ava shift from foot to foot.

“Hukum,” he strode down the stables and towards him, hands folded, hoping to greet him and manoeuvre him out. Samarth reached him and bent down to touch his feet.

“Khush raho, yaar!” Hukum grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to his feet. “You have shot up in just six months. Don’t leave us all behind.” He squeezed his biceps, rattling them hard. Samarth chuckled nervously, bowing his head in front of not only Mewad’s King but also one of his father’s closest friends in the royal circles.

“Are you ready?” Hukum stepped inside, away from the sun behind him, and Samarth got a full look at him. He wore a casual loose stripped shirt — peacock blue and white stripes. Something Samarth could never carry off, neither imagine his father or Maan bhai carrying off. A pair of denim pants and a white flat cap made him look like some superhuman being from some other era, world, even universe. Stylish, but who knew from which dimension?

“Introduce me to your friend, she is getting uncomfortable,” Hukum muttered low to him, so low that only he could catch. Then, loudly — “I said, are you ready?”

“Uhh… yes, yes, Hukum. I am ready, just getting geared up. Also… this is my friend, Ava. Avantika Kumari Raje…”

“From Gwalior,” Hukum added, his eyes suddenly opening up with a wide smile, pushing past him to where Ava was squirming in a corner. Samarth turned, and observed Ava’s face turn red. Was she blushing at just the reception of a smile from Hukum?

“I know your father and uncle… what know? We had tea together just last week in Dharamshala. How are you, Avantika?”

“Oh…” she stepped up, suddenly all school-girl shyness gone and her Kumari manners kicking in. Her hands folded in front of her chest but her head tipped higher. Her lips widened in a genuine smile but Samarth knew from experience her eyes weren’t in the game. They were still nervous.

“Hukum,” Avantika Kumari Raje of Gwalior greeted the Steward of Mewad. “It is an honour to meet you.”

“Likewise. Are you ready to head to the stands? This one here will be busy running and whipping his horses soon.”

“You whip them?!” Ava’s disbelieving eyes turned to him. Samarth scrambled — “I… sometimes. I don’t like it, but it’s part of communication. Teaching. And it’s not like a process… in riding if…”

Her mouth pursed. And Samarth saw that sliver of a chance, that hope of her answer coming in affirmative slip away. His pulse escalated, and he glanced at Hukum, unable to even glare at the enigma of a man. He was just standing there quietly, smirking.

“I am not going to whip them!” Samarth went on blurting. “I mean… not if it’s not needed. But it won’t be needed… I use the reigns mostly for urgency, acceleration, even for strategic manoeuvring I try and only use my reins…”

The door of the stables was again darkened by a shadow. This one Harsh. He folded his hands and bowed his head to Hukum, then made some hand gestures.You are being summoned by your coach.

Samarth nodded, swallowing the sudden tension in the room that had settled inside him now. He opened his mouth and took a deep breath, then glanced at Ava, bringing his Kunwar voice to the fore — “Would you like to be escorted by Hukum to the Pavilion, Ava?”

“Oh… My sister and I are in the Grandstands…”

“We’ll fetch her,” Hukum nodded, stretching an arm out. “Let’s go.”

Ava began to walk, crossing him to the door. She did not stop, her head down, not even looking at him. And Samarth’s heart went thudding behind her, along with her, to wherever she was going. In half a minute, the stables were empty. Horses neighed. And he remained.

Samarth began to stride out when Hukum returned. Alone.

“Where’s Ava?” Samarth demanded. “I mean… Hukum… she might not know the way.”

“I find you have lost your way.”

Samarth wasn’t in the mood for Hukum’s twisted talks. He just lowered his head, unable to keep his slowly rising temper in check. If only Hukum had not talked about whipping and stuff…

“Whipping is important, isn’t it?” Hukum asked.

“Yes, Hukum.”

“You do it after the pony grows up or from an early age?”

Samarth glanced up at Hukum, hating that he had to have this conversation now when Ava had left like this. His hopes didn’t look any more hopeful, and he had a game to play. And win.

“Hmm?” Hukum nudged, one hand going to his waist.

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