DAMODAR

A queen's bold quest to fight injustices and save her land. . .

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Book Excerpt taken from queen of fire by Devika Rangchari

Damodar stood uncertainly by the fort’s main entrance. His mother was surrounded by her officials and companions and seemed to be issuing rapid instructions to them. A horse waited in the shadows—he could hear its whinny and the occasional stamp of its hooves. The night air was pleasant after the intense heat of the day but he was too ill at ease to enjoy it.

At long last, his mother broke away from the crowd and came towards him. He raised anxious eyes to her face as she knelt beside him and took his hands in hers. ‘My son, we have to leave Jhansi now.’ Her tone was gentle but the words smote his heart.

‘Where are we going?’ he whispered.

‘To a place called Kalpi, not far from here. It’s just you and me with some other soldiers, but there might be some dangers ahead, so you must obey my orders at all times.’

Fearsome visions instantly began to float through his mind and the giant was squeezing his stomach so hard that he felt as if he would throw up at any moment.

‘Is it the British? Is that why we must go? Have we lost to them?’

She took a deep breath and stood up. ‘Not yet, my son, not yet—but we must go if you are to be king of Jhansi someday. And now, you must be brave. As the king, you will be. Promise me that.’

He swallowed hard and nodded, too overwrought for words. The stable attendant led a brown horse forward and Damodar realized that they would be riding Badal, not Sarangi.