Anahilapataka, Chaulukya Kingdom — 1180 CE
The report arrived before the evening meal, carried by a messenger who had travelled from the western revenue office with two changes of horses along the way. It was a thin bundle of palm-leaf records tied between wooden boards, accompanied by a short statement from the local officer explaining why he had sent it to the capital. The seal on the cord was intact, though the outer wrapping had collected enough dust to suggest that the papers had spent several weeks in storage before anyone thought to examine them closely.
Bhima received the messenger in his private chamber. Arnoraja was already there, having postponed his meeting with the quartermasters after the guard brought word of the report. The messenger bowed, placed the bundle on the table, and waited while Bhima inspected the seal.
"Who ordered you to bring this to Anahilapataka?" Bhima asked.
