Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Mangalore, Vijayanagara Empire.

After Asokan received the letter. He followed his bodyguard and some extra guards for safety and walked deep into the forest for 10 to 15 minutes before reaching a small cave. Seated on the stone were two hooded individuals under the warmth of the bonfire.

The night was young. The battle exhaustion just settled in for as he looked around and felt the gaze of the guards of the two individuals viligantly surveying the area. They seemed like important people.

The contents of the letter were harrowing enough for him to come personally to meet them. The letter detailed the betrayal that was going to happen tomorrow amidst the battle. He did notice something wrong, but with the letter, the suspicions were finally dawning on him.

"Who are you?" Asokan asked as he entered the cave alone, leaving his bodyguard outside. A sword hung on his waist, and he wore chainmail to protect himself.

One individual took off the hood, revealing his face.

"Prince Alfonso?" Asokan went wide-eyed in surprise. "What is the prince doing here?"

"Didn't you read the letter I sent you, Asokan?" Alfonso asked, throwing a piece of wood into the bonfire.

Asokan sat down on the dusty ground.

"Yes, but I still don't get it. How and why?"

"Tsk"

The other individual clicked his tongue.

Asokan looked up at the other guy and turned to Alfredo.

"Who is this?"

"Don't worry about him."

Alfonso took a deep breath and added.

"Anyway, the information is legit! You are the target. Parvathi will betray you on the battlefield."

"What if you are lying?"

The other guy, seemingly frustrated, took off his hood.

"If you were not suspicious, why did you come here?" he asked.

"Come on, Viswa. It's natural to have doubts," Alfonso interjected.

Asokan ignored the rants of Viswa, turning to Alfonso.

"Even if I say it's true. What should I do?"

"We shall assist you!"

"Assist me? In such a situation?"

"I don't trust your loyalty to the Prince. Your Highness Alfonso."

"Me? Loyal to Bhairava!" Alfonso laughed.

"We can help you and win!" Viswa said bluntly.

"Hooo. But why help me? I don't understand the benefit."

Viswa looked down at Asokan again and clicked his tongue.

'This kid..' he thought.

"Do you want Prince Bhairava to die?"

"No."

"If you lose, all these armies will go to Hampi, and Bhairava will die. He isn't superhuman to fend off four to five armies at once."

Asokan turned to Alfonso, who nodded at him, implying he was saying the truth.

"So, you are saying Anand, Gopala, and Parvathi are all in this together?"

"Yes, Lord Asokan," Alfonso said.

Asokan sighed.

"How will you help? I assume you have an army."

"Yes, we do have an army. But we will only help on a condition."

"The condition is that you will listen to our one demand."

"State the demand." Asokan declared.

"You will not be going to the capital," Alfonso said.

"WHAT? How will I assist the prince?"

"You will not be assisting anyone."

"The battle would start soon. Anyway, the first prince would delay to get all three to the capital. Choose now whether you will choose to assist Bhairava or defeat the traitor."

Asokan weighed his options, contemplating the various paths he could take for this situation. He finally reached a conclusion. He can't take on the three on his own. Support was necessary, and having those three advance to the capital would burden the prince more.

"Ok, Fine. I will agree."

"Well. Don't be hasty." Alfonso said, pulling out a metal crest and banner out of his pouch. "You decide yourself after seeing the events tomorrow."

Alfonso put the crest and banner in his hand.

"Send this using your bodyguard. Then we will assist you immediately."

"What if I betray you? Aren't you scared?" Asokan asked.

A blade was pointing at his throat in an instant. He didn't even have the time to react to it. His hand barely on the hilt of his sword.

"Stand down. Viswa."

The kid withdrew his sword in an instant, leaving Asokan breathing heavily. He just saw his life flash before him. The kid had the power to kill him if he said anything wrong.

'That kid is a monster,' he thought.

"We will leave the decision to you. Lord Asokan. We hope for a good response tomorrow." Alfonso said as he got up to leave.

Viswa followed close behind Alfonso and said.

"Don't you dare try to pull anything or else I will kill you."

Asokan felt the threat. He knew the kid had the power to do it.

While returning to the camp. He ordered his bodyguard and all the trusted members in his guard squad about the issue at hand.

They all agreed that if things go south, they would ask for support.

'But why do they have an army so close by?' He pondered.

Back to the present. Anand Jadhav's army backline was exposed so badly. They were cut through like butter as the cavalry ran down their support troops and archers with ease. This took the battlefield by surprise as the new army had entered the fray.

Panic settled in Anand Jadhav's army as the infantry were locked in the skirmish with Asokan's army. They couldn't rotate any infantry to shield their support from the oncoming army.

The elephants and horses broke through the ranks of archers and little infantry that were stationed in the back. Breaking apart the formation of the Anand's army easily.

Anand Jadhav screamed. "REGROUP!!"

Gopala Sastri, who noticed, tried sending some support. The damage was already done. The surprise attack resulted in hundreds of soldiers dying.

Raj Patwardhan, who was leading the charge with his cavalry unit, looked at the panicking Anand.

"THIS IS FOR MY COUSIN. YOU BASTARD." He impaled the Anand right in the chest and twisted his lance to lodge in it and pulled Anand close.

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" His eyes aghast.

"Die, you bastard."

Anand was coughing up blood, and the last thing he saw was the face of Raj Patwardhan swinging his sword at him.

Raj had killed Anand Jadhav, and his severed head was lifted high up in the air for every soldier to see.

"SURRENDER OR DIE!! FOR VIJAYANAGARA!!"

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