Vajra made a quick calculation. On the coalition highway, Kush would meet forces from three kingdoms, and even a few contingents from Dhija who they are able to spare. But before these, he would meet the main armies of the smaller nations. It is absolutely difficult for him for him to go against so many of them and not lose a lot of men, even if he was just running. Also, the initial estimate of a fifteen day march might be thrown haywire because of various interruptions, which means problems will naturally arise in logistics. If Kush cannot feed his new army, even more people will die. If not due to starvation, then due to internal strife. So Vajra nodded.
"If you think it's too big a price, you could stay back…But the barbarians will rebel. In their comfort zone, they will absolutely not let someone else gain control."
Kush understood that perfectly as well. Besides, his teacher gave him the task to meet her outside Anandini pass. Ultimately, he did not understand why she brought him here.
His face downcast, Kush put his pointy chin on Vajra's tender shoulder, poking him. "When I didn't want to sacrifice six thousand men, I went to face Bo'Hur and three commanders alone. Who will I go face now?"
Bringing his hand to Kush's head, Vajra patted him roughly. "The barbarians are not your people. Don't worry about their lives."
"Then why are they following me, Cactus?" Kush asked, his voice cracking a bit as he was feeling obstinate. "If they are not my people, why did they give me their lives?"
"Grass," Vajra advised seriously, "The lord must accept his people, people must accept the lord. But before that happens, everything is fair game, you hear? Do not, absolutely do not face a dryland warrior in battle. You never know which one has divine sanction. Do not try to decide an outcome via duel. You will just be leading your people to slaughter."
Vajra felt Kush shudder. He continued, "The barbarians all have roughly the same potential. But even so, by the time you reach the destination your teacher set for you, only the strongest will survive. I reckon what your teacher is looking for is this exact group. I reckon she is looking for these seeds which can then be further developed during the battle she plans with Aaradhya."
"Teacher is planning to take over Aaradhya?"
Vajra shook his head. "No Kush. Didn't I say Aaradhya's defense is impenetrable? Aaradhya literally means worship. People of that country are fanatical in nature. I reckon she wishes to use them to sharpen your blade."
"But wouldn't even more people die?" Kush gasped.
"Grass…I don't understand you man. Aren't you going out on conquests? So what if people die! Aren't they soldiers that are willing to die in the first place?" Kush remained silent. "That day when I arrived, you had a fever. You didn't wake up at all. So I was able to talk to your teacher for a while."
"Teacher was still here? I thought she left after she gave me that directive…"
"You know teacher Ashangi. She's always just around the corner."
"He he. That she is."
"After having talked, I understand her thoughts a little. You wanted an army, right? She just wants to give you the best and strongest army that solely belongs to you. Your personal guard man…So yeah, even if fifteen thousand barbarians die before you reach Abhaya, you will still have twenty thousand men in total. After that, say your battle campaign against Aaradhya runs for about three months. You need to persist for at least that long for them to cut their losses and let you pass."
"You mean, I'll win?"
"No dummy. You'll wear them down, that's all. You won't conquer Aaradhya. You'll just get permission from them to let you pass through their lands and enter the prairie."
"Fuck!"
"Yeah." Vajradandaka agreed, nodding. "You will even having to give them gifts and so on, but I'm sure teacher Ashangi will think about that part. A campaign for three months against those crazy Aaradhya soldiers who will literally be throwing their lives at you…well, trust me, you will be lucky if you were left with ten thousand men in the end. But I think, realistically speaking, you will only have about seven thousand."
Kush swallowed.
"Now this…will be you true elite army that can move unhindered anywhere!"
Vajra carried the boy and walked towards the sun, humming a small tune that seemed to speak to flowing sands, the endless times and the laughter of wind. The smaller boy on top of him scooched, wrapped his arms around his neck and lay motionless for a long time. Vajra assumed he fell asleep.
But just then, he heard a small voice speak. "But I still don't want to sacrifice people for my sake."
Kush knew after facing people like Ashangi and Bhargava that he was no match for those with divine sanction. But he still felt it was the only way. Even if he was to lose his life, he still felt nobody else's was any cheaper than his own. Vajra didn't speak at all, hearing his own opinion.
He walked to a high spot where he could watch the splendid sun as it changes colors on its western journey. He placed Kush down and rubbed his sandy head with a smile. Throwing an arm around him, he sat down and watched the sunset.
"Grass…I really like your name, you know that?"
"Hmm?"
"It's true…They say grass is green, but in the drylands it is either brown or a very faint shade of green that comes along with brown. I often wonder what the prairie looks like. They say it is green and green as far as the eye can see."
"That's true. I've been to the prairie."
Vajra smiled. "But here, it's all brown. Tall and brown. I find it very beautiful."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Grass is smooth…uniform. Every blade is similar to the one next to it. Even when it appears lifeless, its roots are flourishing. There is green underneath the dead stems. It conserves moisture using its numbers. How ingenious. Together, it has reason not to give up…" Vajra gave a dead pause, his eyes grey and dull as he looked at Kush, "It gives you the impression that as long as you're the same as everyone else…life will go on."