Chapter 127: Midnight Ambush part -2
Rewari kingdom, Khera village , Night of 8th march 1557
Aditya, Bheem, and Meenakshi stood at the village square, their gazes fixed on the horrifying scene unfolding before them. The village was engulfed in flames, with fire consuming the huts and casting a ghostly glow over the chaos.
Thick smoke billowed into the sky, mingling with the desperate cries of panicked villagers and the frantic sounds of distressed cattle and horses. People fled through the streets, their faces etched with terror, while soldiers, with their uniforms and armor only partially donned, tried hard valiantly to control the spreading fires.
Meenakshi’s face turned pale as she witnessed the once peaceful village engulfed in flames. Although the immediate threat to people seemed minimal, the devastating loss of property weighed heavily on her heart. The grim realization of an approaching unknown enemy only added to her worry.
She turned to Aditya with concern. "What do we do now?"
Aditya felt a surge of reassurance at her calm demeanor. In the midst of such chaos, her composure and willingness to discuss their next steps without any sign of panic or complaints about the security situation were a comfort. He replied, "We need to regain control of the situation. But I need you near by to help with any further plans."
Meenakshi nodded in understanding, and Aditya turned to Bheem, giving him a directive to coordinate with the soldiers to put out the fire first and then establish a secure area for everyone to gather.
As Bheem moved to carry out the orders, Aditya’s gaze swept over the scene. It seemed the village caught fire from the edge away from the eyes of the guards, as the security, even though lax, was tight at the center near the village square.
The only good thing he could count on was that the fire hadn’t spread to the whole village but had almost engulfed the eastern half while still spreading nearby. The water fetched from the well is still able to douse it, and eventually, it might get subdued. So, the purpose of putting out the fire felt out of place.
A grim realization dawned on him as he considered the enemy’s possible plan and the most effective way they might attack. His frustration grew with the passing time as he struggled to gather more information before devising a counter-strategy. Just as he began to formulate a plan, Havildar Brijesh emerged from the smoke, dragging two women behind him.
His soldiers flanked him, their swords drawn and faces grim as they dragged the women, bound and with their clothes ragged and torn. From their appearance, it was clear that the situation was more complex than it initially seemed.
Brijesh roughly threw the women to the ground at Aditya’s feet, pointing his sword threateningly over their necks. . "Your highness, These are the ones we caught torching the huts," he said with a voice full of disdain.