The two boys spoke at length about their plans, although it was mostly Vajradandaka speaking and Kush listening. Vajra's plan was exhaustive in detail and rigorous in execution. Although it might seem that it was yet to be set in motion, since the moment Vajra planted his spies among the barbarian horde, he already began to execute them. If he didn't do so, how would he know that Kush truly needed his help?
After a long and detailed discussion, Kush fell on his back exhausted. "Just one last question…Why are you doing all this?"
"Hmm?"
"Even though it seems like you are benefitting by having the initiative in an armed confrontation with Dhija, you could've done it through any other method. Fact is that you are helping me…and quite thoroughly at that. Not to mention, you are also introducing me to a dependable ally who is your brother-in-law."
"He's not my brother-in-law!" Vajra flared up suddenly, giving Kush a start. "That bastard is not my brother-in-law. I will not give my sister to him no matter what!"
The bastard in question was Yuvaraja Hara of Abhaya. Ever since Vajradandaka recovered somewhat, he had been pestered by this handsome yet cunning prince to fulfil Rtadhara's promise to Abhaya. Vajra absolutely did not want that as he believed Abhaya would fall to the pressure of four major kingdoms. It was only a matter of time. Hara knew his thoughts and blackmailed him that he would talk to his father instead. Nihapriya had few lucid periods because of his illness. No one knew what he would do. So instead, Vajra had to bribe the Abhaya prince with various gifts, trade agreements, pastoral territories; he had to even let some of the nomadic clans belonging to the state swear fealty to Abhaya. He had to lend the services of trading clans like Ha'gya to cater specifically to Abhaya's needs after the coalition completely cut trade relations with the nation. Clans like that brought Rtadhara a fortune every year! It didn't matter that his father died now. Vajra didn't believe that the pressure from Hara would get any less, and it was not good for their two nations that were already singled out by the others to have this friction between them.
Also, Vajra knew that Hara truly loved Sarapriya. His brother's wife Jesta advised him seriously the other time that even Sarapriya was in love with Hara. Although he absolutely did not want to part with Sara, he would rather he did it to someone who loved her. In that regard, Vajra had a somewhat hot and cold relationship with Prince Hara of Abhaya.
Crunching his brows, he appeared downcast as he explained to Kush, "Although I don't want that bastard having my sister, I also don't want the four major kingdoms taking Abhaya through brute force. Abhaya is in need of allies at this hour. You can discuss your own terms of alliance with them, I won't interfere with it. The mountain terrain of Abhaya is strange and extreme. It is not easily breached. You will be safe there for a while, and will be able to set up a temporary stronghold. Didn't you say your teacher will meet you outside Anandini pass? Outside Anandini pass is the Aaradhya kingdom of the prairie. It's a mirror kingdom to Abhaya and serves the same function of an unbreachable defence into the prairie. The nation was built for this purpose, but it never considers dryland nations the enemy. On the contrary, it was the barbarians that they guard against. It was said that back during the nations' formations, the barbarian nomads did exist as far as the prairie. I think it's not true, but the Aaradhya kingdom believes that. I'm afraid you will provoke their jingoism when you get there, because the nation's whole purpose is to guard against barbarians for the prairie yet it never got the chance to do so. There will be a lot of self-righteous princes who will come to show off their prowess against you. I would advice you to first rest and regroup inside Abhaya and later decide what to do. I would also expect the four kingdoms to use the fact that Abhaya sheltered the barbarians as an excuse and wage war against them.
"Don't worry about that though. They've always been against Abhaya and would've used any excuse to wage war. Once I waste Dhija on this side, their alliance will not be so strong anymore. Later, I can send reinforcements to Abhaya and help them ward off the other three nations. I expect Hangi will only show a lukewarm response to this alliance from now on. The Hangi king is superstitious. It's alright if it's Indra, but he wouldn't want to stand against Martanda. If I ally with Abhaya, I would only need to show up for him to call his army back."
Once he heard all of this, Kush had a headache coming. He knew nothing about the politics in the west. He knew nothing about Aaradhya or any other nations in the prairie.
"Are you saying I have to go to war again after I reach Abhaya? First to defend Abhaya, then to fight against Aaradhya?!"
Vajra looked at him peculiarly. "Aren't you a conquest king? Aren't you trying to establish your own territory?"
"Yes! But this feels like I'm just running and running without an end."
"Grass, you need to pick a territory you can win against. Aaradhya has a standing army of 100,000 men, and that is just a ten year old estimate. Most dryland nations have even more than that number. Even a minor kingdom will have a minimum of 70 to 100,000 soldiers to itself."
"What?!" Kush was shocked. He knew Rtadhara had an abnormal number of soldiers, but he thought it was an exception owing to having deeper roots which in turn gives its people a higher conviction to defend it. The crown prince's personal guard itself had seven hundred to a thousand elite soldiers in it. The little prince had three hundred. A normal prince in the mainland would have only fifty to hundred!
Vajra nodded seriously. "These nations are small, but they are well populated. Their illustrious backgrounds allow them to flourish even in this harsh climate. Do not underestimate the western drylands Grass. There's a reason why your teacher advised you not to move against any of them."
Kush sucked his breath and nodded. His hands and feet were suddenly numb.
"Only after you move past Aaradhya will you be able to conquer a territory, any territory. Though in my opinion, the prairie itself is full of hidden dragons. It's not so simple as the sweet pastoral lifestyle it shows on the outside. For example…didn't I tell you about the cowherd boy?"
Kush frowned and then chuckled. "That's just a story, Cactus!"
"I believe it's true! In the prairie, Asuras sometimes take control of the lands and they cause untold hardship to the common people. Nations fall and rise without rhyme or reason. It is all because of those Asuras…but where do they originate from? We don't have many Asura sects this side of Aryavarta. Grandfather is of the opinion that they are descendants of true Asuras."
"True Asuras?"
"Yes, since the start of this era, only my family's bloodline has remained pure, but you cannot deny it that there are many bloodlines of gods that are out there. On the other hand, Asuras are born through teachings and sects rather than bloodlines. But why should that be? There were some prominent bloodlines of Asuras in history that ruled over territories, for example Hiranyakashyapa and his son Prahalada, Mahabali, the half Asura Ravana, the famous monarch Druma and many others. They were each no weaker than gods. In many cases, the supreme god had to personally come subdue them. They couldn't be handled by just any god. Grandfather believes that remnants of their bloodlines still remain in the prairie and that is why it is so chaotic. Even if you conquer a land somewhere in the prairie, you never know where a monster could spring up from causing you all kinds of trouble. And they are real monsters, you know…They can raze entire cities to ground in moments. They eat humans when they are hungry!"