The Aryavarta Chronicles Kaurava: Book 2 by Krishna Udayasankar Page B

Secret Keeper. In fact, he was so blinded with anger by the end of our conversation that the conceited muhira did not even realize what I was talking about.’
    Sanjaya frowned. ‘I’m not so sure it’s as simple as that. But yes, the bait has been well placed. Asvattama is ambitious, but he is far from stupid and his loyalties have always been divided. He served the Vyasa well enough, far too well, in fact. In any case, the seeds of his downfall have been laid. He won’t last long.’
    ‘How?’
    ‘His father. The only thing more dangerous than not being trusted by the man who sired you, is being hated by the one you’ve sired. I should know. Be ready, you’ll need to go to work soon. How long do you think it will take?’
    ‘To completely refit an army? That will take months. But I can make modifications to any conventional weaponry within two or three days. Why, I remember, I had Sudakshin fire up a hundred small forges just to heat and remove the tip off all his men’s arrows to create the crescent shape that keeps the skin open so that the enemy bleeds to death from just a flesh wound.’
    ‘I can tell you now that you will be dealing with Danava mercenaries.’
    ‘That lot is a pleasure to work with. Show them any gruesome way to kill and they pick it up like trained monkeys at a village fair. I’ll equip them all right.’
    ‘Good. Now remember, at no point should anyone suspect my involvement in this affair. As far as they are concerned, you are the last Firewright, yes? Don’t worry…you will be treated well by Saubha. Still, be careful. Don’t outstay your utility, or reveal all your tricks just yet. And don’t be seen at Dwaraka. Your involvement must remain known only to those who think themselves either benefitted or condemned by it, for only they will have cause to keep it a secret.’
    Devala nodded. He was still a little stunned by the turn of events. ‘Are you sure this will work? How did you get them to agree to this?’ he asked.
    ‘Getting them to agree was simple enough. Jayadrath and his allies have much to gain if they can take Dwaraka down, especially in these newly prosperous times. The port of Dwaraka is the key to the future, to trade and wealth. He was very easily motivated, as was King Saubha, weeks earlier.’
    ‘They have much to gain once Dwaraka is gone.’
    ‘Who doesn’t?’
    ‘I meant economically and politically, not in terms of moral satisfaction.’
    ‘That too,’ Sanjaya affirmed. ‘But to be on the safe side, I’ve personally ensured that Dharma’s legislators have been putting forward proposals which are just ambiguous enough to seem incursive on the sovereignty of the more sensitive kings. But the gods smile on us, Devala – something in those edicts has inspired Empress Panchali to present a controversial proposal of her own… To remove taxes on Naga iron-work so that their craft will spread.’
    Devala’s usually bitter expression softened. ‘She’s a good woman. Honestly believes in what the Wrights stood for. Unfortunately, she’s also rather malleable, as Govinda Shauri knew well…’
    ‘It’s a quality we can put to use, just as he did.’
    ‘But this proposal, this idea of removing taxes on Naga-made goods – you must admit, it has a certain appeal. It’s not too different from what Agniveshya had hoped for, or what I myself would have wanted had I been the one to teach the Nagas the metal craft of the Wrights.’
    ‘I agree. But that is precisely the point. We were not the ones to teach them their skills, nor are we the ones now to hasten their rise. If the power of the Firewrights is to remain in our hands, Devala, so must their knowledge. Now, more than ever, the need for secrecy and caution is upon us. Only if we centralize all knowledge in the hands of a few can we control Aryavarta’s destiny. We must make ourselves indispensable to Aryavarta’s monarchs – the new generation of rulers, mind you, not these old dotards that were