Rewari Kingdom, Pataudi Village, Mercenary Recruitment Camp
A 17-year-old boy with dry throat and scarred feet, dragged himself toward the Pataudi village under the scorching sun. He wore a worn-out white shirt and dhoti. Ahead of him, a long queue of villagers stood waiting with weary faces. The recruitment camp was a large makeshift tent over an open field which bore banners of the Hindshakti company fluttering in the wind.
Ignoring his fatigue, the boy joined the line. Moments later, two boys of similar age, both panting heavily, ran up and stood behind him. They were twins, nearly identical in height and build, with one having curly hair and the other straight.
"Thanks to you, we almost missed it!" the curly-haired twin grumbled, still catching his breath.
"Stop complaining," the straight-haired twin shot back. "We made it just in time, didn't we?"
