Grandfather (part 4)

"Jeh-shaan of the Patr-dal vansh? What kind of conflict?" The old man frowned. "Wait, wait…You said he's being weird? Weird in what way?"

The platoon commander looked as though he fell into difficulty. He sorted his thoughts for a moment and said, "He keeps muttering about the other him who was the real him, who unfortunately turned out to be stupid because of the wicked gandharva…" The platoon commander's face looked a little comical as he explained. "And now he doesn't know what to do about it."

Not only the commander, even the old regent felt a little tongue-tied at the situation. Vaguely recalling something, he in the end laughed. "Ah, it must be that old choosing fate conundrum…"

"What's that, my lord?" the other man asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Your little highness believes he chose his own fate before he took birth on this land…" he paused for dramatic effect, "But he picked the wrong choice. Ha ha ha! That kid's imagination had always been way of the charts. Ha ha ha!" the old man laughed heartily.

The platoon commander could only stand there helplessly in the face of the old regent's delight. He still didn't understand a thing.

"Don't worry about it," the old regent said gently after his laughter passed, "No matter how wise your little prince might seem, he is still a child after all. And children have…" he gestured his arms expansively in the air, "their own mysterious ways of understanding the world. These strange thoughts will naturally fade away into the background as Little Cactus grows up. So just ignore his mutterings for now. Tell me about the conflict with the Patr-dal boy."

The platoon commanded nodded several times to himself, adding, "What you said is true, my lord. Indeed when my daughter Likhita was five, she was also different in some ways. She used to vividly describe strange sceneries she had never heard about or seen with her own eyes, she used to speak of people from a strange culture and describe experiences that any little child cannot possibly know about. The old brahmin used to say she was merely narrating her past life experiences and that we shouldn't bother with it. Perhaps children do really have mysterious insights into the truth of the world."

"Indeed," the old man concurred. "Their whimsical line of thoughts is often only half pure fancy. The other half…who can say? Perhaps the other half has touched the very core of reality that we adults can only dream of."

Nodding, the platoon commander then got on to the subject at hand and narrated the incident at the gates that he had witnessed from start to end.

A cruel light flashed past the old man's lethargic eyes. But he didn't say anything straight away and asked instead, "So, do you believe the Patr-dal vansh had been bought over into the grand prince's faction?"

The commander of the guards wasn't the highest ranking member of the Patr-dal vansh, but he was certainly the most accomplished. Although the Patr-dal or Leaf Army clan was known for its steadfast loyalty to the monarch in every generation of kings, it is not a guarantee that the clan will remain loyal when a single individual overtakes the entire luster of a clan. If the young commander of the guards was bought over to the other side, it means that the entire clan would be bought over as well. For a clan of martial men, Kshtriyas, this can bring either ten generations of glory or ten generations of infamy.

"I don't have any information on this aspect, my lord. I was just as shocked as everyone there when the prince suddenly accused the Patr-dal vanshi of disloyal behaviour," the platoon commander answered the old regent.

"Really?" the old man looked a little surprised. "You seriously have no information on this? You don't know the young fellow met with the Raja-guru about a week ago? They spoke for quite a bit of time in the Sole Flower Garden. Naturally, the remoteness of the place ensured no one knew of the meeting. You didn't hear about it?"

The platoon commander looked in shock. It was only a while ago that he confirmed that the Raja-guru has indeed shifted camp to the grand prince's faction. And now, he's already trying to recruit people who were loyal to His Majesty? What gall!

"I had no idea, my lord…" the man answered. He cursed himself inside for being too relaxed on the job. This was clearly something he should've found out for the prince. Everything looks stable now but who knows when the ground would tear apart under their feet?

"Oh…" the old man looked pleasantly surprised. He gazed in the direction of the window which presented a resplendent view of the lake. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The platoon commander followed his gaze and realised the old regent was thinking of the prince. An odd thought came to his mind, "My lord, could it be the prince had known?" He frowned, wondering how it could be possible. He was only an eight year old child. It was already an achievement that he had a capable intelligence cum security agent like him as a subordinate. Where else could he possibly found that information?

Judging by how abruptly he exploded in front of the captain of the guards, he must've known earlier about what happened. The logic he gave him for berating him was simply too insufficient…isn't it?

"No, I don't think he knew…" the old man shook his head, his voice ever more deep and low as he answered in contemplation. "He…sensed it."

"He sensed it?!"

The old regent didn't elaborate on it, only laughing heartily instead. "Ha ha ha ha! Today is not so boring as yesterday. Little Cactus always brings me surprises. Come!" he called out in a loud voice. An attendant promptly appeared in front of him. "Prepare a feast for the little prince. Put out some entertainment fit for children. Make it short but interesting, like juggling or acrobatics or something! Oh, and don't forget to make some signature sweets that the young fellow likes. Make it quick!"

Not used to such hearty behaviour from the lord of the palace, the servant bowed multiple times in acknowledgment and fled to fulfil his orders with jittery legs.

"And you!" he turned to the platoon commander, "You go and fish that disobedient twerp out of the water. Let him answer to this old man why he is late to his meeting! If he isn't standing in front of me in less than half a ghati*, hmph! You still remember my punishment when I was commanding the army!" The old man threatened meanly.

The prince's head of security jumped in his boots as though jolted by a thousand volts. With his tail on fire, he fled the room at his fastest speed.

Little prince, please don't be willful and swim too far out, he prayed. This old butt of mine really can't take that evil old man's rod.