Raghav woke up in the evening, his vision slightly blurred. The Vaidyas and nurses attending to him left quietly, satisfied that his condition was stable. As his senses returned, Rudra sat beside him, relief evident on his face.
"You're safe now," Rudra assured him. "How are you feeling?"
Raghav took a deep breath, trying to piece together the events of the night before. "I... I don't remember much after being hit in the head," he admitted, frustration clear in his voice. "I saw three men. They were talking in a language I didn't quite understand. There's not much I can tell you about that... but I do remember something else."
Rudra leaned in, listening carefully. "Go on."
Raghav frowned as he tried to recall the details. "Their weapons... they were intricately designed. A curved blade in a leather sheath. A black handle with silver metalwork. And their daggers—the handles were decorated with the same silver metal, polished, shining even in the dim light. The blades were precise, finely cut. These weren't weapons of common thieves or smugglers. No chance. Only high-ranking officers or elite soldiers would carry such weapons."
As he spoke, the door opened, and Arya entered the room. Raghav smiled faintly at the sight of him, but Rudra remained cold. Arya walked over, his expression calm but concerned. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" he asked. Without waiting for an answer, he turned to Kalanemi, who stood in the corner. "Make sure he has everything he needs."
Raghav immediately sensed the tension between Arya and Rudra. He was about to say something when Rudra abruptly stood up, his voice sharp with anger. "So, Pit Master, are you happy to see him alive? Why trouble yourself coming here? You could've sent your men. Why bother yourself with such tasks? Why should the ruler care about his subordinates?"
Arya sighed, his voice firm but not unkind. "Rudra, I didn't stay back because I wanted to. I had no choice. If I leave the castle alone without proper planning, it makes me vulnerable. People are watching, waiting for a moment of weakness. I barely understand the full scope of what's happening here, but I trusted you and our men to find Raghav."
Rudra clenched his fists, but Arya continued, his voice growing heavier. "Do you think the people here have accepted me? They haven't. They look at me with suspicion, and if they don't trust me, imagine what they think of you two? If I had come with you, do you think they would have let us return? The moment I step out unguarded, our lives are in danger. And because you are with me, they can use you against me. If that day ever comes, I'll be willing to give it all up. But don't ever question whether I care about you."
A tense silence filled the room. Raghav, still weak but unwilling to let their argument continue, finally spoke. "I don't want you two to fight over something so small. Our lives changed the day we set foot in this place. We need to own that. We need to understand our roles here. There's too much at stake for us to let personal grievances get in the way. There's so much to uncover, so many unanswered questions."
Arya exhaled, then sat beside Raghav. "Tell me everything again. I need to hear it all."
Raghav repeated what he remembered. Arya listened carefully, nodding slowly. "Weapons of that quality... even Upendra's men didn't have such craftsmanship. Only the elite forces of the kingdom carry blades like those."
His expression darkened. "We need answers. Send for Yatnish."
A short while later, Yatnish entered, his usual smug demeanor intact. "You sent for me?"
Arya nodded. "Yes. Raghav has something for us. Tell him, Raghav."
Raghav sat up slightly. "I saw three men covered from head to toe, carrying weapons of high quality—something only elite soldiers or high-ranking officers carry. No common criminals would have access to such weapons. Also they spoke in a different language. I haven't heard that before."
"You must know something about it Yatnish. I want all the information" says Rudra.
Yatnish's eyes flickered with amusement as he turned to Rudra, placing both hands on his shoulders. "And I should tell you this... why?"
Rudra glared at him, but Arya intervened. "Yatnish, this isn't a game. We need this information. Who were these men? What did the boxes contain? Do you know anything about this?"
Yatnish sighed dramatically, shrugging. "Well, I don't know what all this is yet. But we'll have to figure something out soon, or else..." His voice lowered, his expression darkening. "The day is not far when you'll find yourselves back where you started. And unfortunately, I'll have to come with you this time."