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The Dawn of the Rite
When the first conch shells of morning echoed across Nandigram, the city stirred not like any ordinary day, but like a body bracing for judgment. Priests bathed the streets with water from copper vessels, merchants hung garlands of marigold on their stalls, and nobles dressed their retainers in silks embroidered with their family crests.
For all its splendor, the mood was tense — whispers carried the same refrain:
"Today, we see who truly holds power."
Above the palace, banners unfurled one by one, each dyed in brilliant hues: red for valor, green for prosperity, blue for wisdom, and white for dharma. They snapped in the wind like heralds of destiny.
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The Grand Court Hall
The court of Nandigram had been transformed for the Rite. The marble floor was polished until it reflected like water. Along the central aisle stood towering pillars wound with golden cloth, each bearing the sigil of a noble house. Musicians played on veenas and mridangams, their notes rising and falling like waves of anticipation.
At the far end, upon a raised dais, sat the Queen-Mother on her throne, veiled in gold. To her right sat Prince Rajendra, young but sharp-eyed, dressed in crimson armor. To her left, the high ministers and generals of the court — each clutching scrolls where tallies of pledges would be recorded.
Behind her throne rose a banner taller than all others: the Banner of Nandigram itself, embroidered with a golden lion beneath a banyan tree.
When the drums fell silent, a herald's voice rang clear:
"The Rite of Coin and Sword begins! Step forth, lords and ladies, pledge your wealth and your strength before the Rajmata of Nandigram!"
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The First Pledges
Lord Darpan, hawk-eyed and lean, strode forward first. Behind him, servants carried heavy chests bound in iron. With a flourish, he opened one, spilling gleaming gold coins across the dais.
"I, Darpan of the Eastern March, pledge five thousand gold coins and fifty armored horsemen to the Rajmata's service!"
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the hall. It was a bold pledge, lavish and dangerous.
The Queen-Mother inclined her head slightly.
"Your devotion is recorded."
Next, Lady Devyani advanced, her every step calculated grace. Servants unfurled silken cloths laden with pearls, sapphires, and spices.
"I, Devyani of the House of Sapphire, pledge forty crates of jewels, fifty sacks of rare saffron, and one hundred war camels trained for desert campaigns."
The nobles murmured again. Jewels and camels meant wealth and reach far beyond Nandigram's borders. Devyani's smile gleamed as sharp as her offerings.
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The Arms of War
Then thunderous footsteps echoed: Bhaskar Rao, Minister of War, strode forward. Behind him marched soldiers in formation, their armor gleaming, their spears tipped with steel.
"I pledge not coins, not jewels, but three hundred soldiers of Nandigram's blood — sworn to fight under the Rajmata's banner until death!"
The court erupted into cheers from military lords, though merchants frowned. Soldiers were power, but soldiers required grain, cloth, and coin.
Shaurya, seated quietly in the guest section, observed without movement. His dark eyes took in each pledge, weighing not the size but the balance.
---
Shaurya's Entrance
Finally, the herald's voice rose again:
"Shaurya, King of Ashval — step forth and pledge your offering."
The court hushed.
Shaurya rose. He wore no crown, no silks, only his indigo robes, a single rudraksha mala around his neck, and the quiet weight of his presence. As he walked down the aisle, nobles leaned closer, some with disdain, others with curiosity.
At his side walked Minister Varun, carrying a single scroll, and Ananta, carrying nothing but his sword.
When Shaurya reached the dais, he bowed briefly — not as a supplicant, but as an equal acknowledging another sovereign.
The Queen-Mother's voice cut the silence.
"Speak, Ashval king. What do you pledge before Nandigram?"
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Shaurya's Pledge
Shaurya's voice was calm, unhurried, yet it carried through the entire hall.
"I bring no mountains of coin, nor caravans of jewels. My kingdom is yet young, born of fire and struggle. What I pledge, I pledge not in excess, but in truth."
He gestured, and Varun unrolled the scroll.
"I pledge grain enough to feed one thousand soldiers for a year, iron ore from Ashval's mines to forge two hundred blades, and the loyalty of craftsmen who build not for luxury, but for endurance."
A murmur spread — some scoffing, others intrigued. Compared to gold and jewels, it seemed modest. Yet others recognized its weight: food, iron, and skilled hands were foundations of lasting power.
Shaurya's gaze swept the court.
"And above all, I pledge my word — that should Nandigram face storm or flame, my sword shall rise beside yours, not behind it."
---
The Court Reacts
Bhaskar Rao barked a laugh.
"Grain and iron? Words and promises? This is a Rite of Coin and Sword, not a farmer's fair!"
But before the laughter could swell, Lady Devyani's eyes glittered as she spoke sweetly.
"Yet armies starve without grain, and swords dull without iron. Perhaps the Ashval king understands balance better than most."
The court shifted again, divided.
The Queen-Mother leaned forward slightly, her voice cool.
"A measured pledge. Neither rich nor poor, but… deliberate. We shall see if it proves enough."
---
Adhipatya's Whisper
In that instant, the System of Adhipatya stirred in Shaurya's vision:
[Influence Gained: +20]
Noble Opinion Shift: 4 Curious, 2 Respectful, 3 Resentful.
New Skill Unlocked: The Weight of Balance
When pledging or bargaining, your offers gain hidden strength if they balance necessity over luxury.
Shaurya gave no outward sign, but within he understood: the game was only beginning.
---
The Queen-Mother's Twist
The Queen-Mother raised her hand, silencing the chamber.
"Hear this, lords and ladies. Wealth and arms are pledged, but this Rite is not complete. Tomorrow, the pledges will be tested — through trials of provision, of strength, and of loyalty. Let us see whose offerings hold weight when measured not in display, but in use."
Gasps rippled through the court. A test? That had not been part of tradition in years.
Shaurya's eyes narrowed slightly, though his face remained composed. A trap, then. But one sprung in daylight.
---
Closing Scene
As the nobles dispersed, murmuring anxiously about the Queen-Mother's sudden decree, Shaurya stood silent, his mind already racing.
Varun whispered urgently, "My king, she changes the Rite itself to expose you. Grain and iron can be tested, soldiers and jewels cannot. She aims to humiliate."
Shaurya's faint smile returned, calm and unshaken.
"Then let her test. Iron proves its worth only when struck."
And with that, the drums rolled again, sealing the first day of the Rite of Coin and Sword.
The trap had been set. The next day, it would be sprung.
To be continued....