The guest room of the Garuda Clan residence was open to the afternoon light.
From where he sat, Prime Minister Mervil could see the outer gardens through the intricately carved lattice windows—still, disciplined, and carefully maintained.
The soft afternoon breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowering trees into the room.
Mervil sipped his tea slowly, allowing the silence to settle around him.
Footsteps approached.
Mervil rose as the Head of the Garuda Clan entered.
Lord Akansh inclined his head and gestured for him to sit.
“It has been a long time, young man.”
“You know how court life is, sir,” Mervil replied, returning to his seat.
Lord Akansh studied him for a moment, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Watching you now reminds me of my own years in service. Prime Ministers rarely visit old friends without reason.”
Mervil did not deny it.
“Then let us speak plainly.”
Akansh set his cup aside.
“What do you wish to know?”
“Why Her Majesty undertook the first voyage,” Mervil asked.
“And why there are no records of it. Aside from her stay in the Land of the Fallen Stars, the archives are… empty.”
Akansh exhaled slowly.
“The first voyage itself was not unexpected. Queen Amaranda had always shown an interest in mystic knowledge. Being of the Shakta Clan, curiosity was in her blood.”
He paused.
“She insisted the journey remain unrecorded. She said she wished to write of it herself, properly, when she returned.”
“That alone does not explain the absence,” Mervil said.
His gaze remained fixed upon Akansh.
“The Shakta Clan possessed extensive knowledge of the Land of the Fallen Stars. As Queen—and as the eldest daughter—she had unrestricted access.”
Akansh’s gaze darkened.
“That question has haunted us as well. At first, we believed it was simply exploration.”
He paused.
“But after her return—barely forty-five days later—she departed again.”
Mervil’s expression tightened.
“This time, she remained away for nearly a year.”
Silence settled between them.
Mervil rose and moved toward the window.
“Perhaps her maid knows more than she was willing to say.”
“You may try again,” Akansh replied.
“I spoke with the maid after Her Majesty’s death.”
“What did she say?”
“She claimed the Queen lived alone in the royal quarters upon her return. She refused all attendants.”
Mervil turned.
“Those quarters were inspected?”
“Yes.”
Akansh lifted his cup.
“And that is what troubled us most.”
A pause.
“They were clean.”
His eyes met Mervil’s.
“Too clean.”
Silence followed.
The two men spoke little after that, letting the afternoon slowly fade as questions multiplied instead of answers.
Mervil had barely set his travel bag down when a familiar voice cut through the corridor.
“So, you still remember the way home.”
He turned to see his mother standing by the doorway, arms folded, her expression sharp but her eyes warm.
“Barely,” Mervil replied.
He stepped forward and pulled her into a brief embrace.
“Hmph. Save that for later,” she said, patting his shoulder once.
“Dinner’s ready. Don’t make the elders wait.”
The dining hall was alive with conversation.
The long wooden table was filled with uncles, aunts, cousins, and attendants moving in a quiet rhythm.
Brass lamps cast a warm glow across the room, reflecting off polished serving vessels and the dishes spread across the table.
At the head sat Lord Subodh, the patriarch of the Surya Clan, his presence steady and unyielding.
At the far end sat Mahel, already deep in conversation and clearly enjoying himself.
Mervil took his seat beside his grandfather.
Mahel seized the moment.
“You should have seen him as a child,” he announced to the table.
“Always watching, never speaking. Drove the tutors mad.”
Laughter rippled through the hall.
“Some habits endure,” Mervil replied dryly.
After a moment, he glanced down the table.
“Brother, where is my nephew?”
Mahel shrugged.
“Camping with friends. Had I known you were coming, I would have called him back.”
I doubt he would have listened anyway, Mervil thought.
He said nothing.
As the laughter settled, Subodh placed his glass down.
“Mervil,” he said evenly, “how fares the investigation?”
The table fell silent.
“Murky,” Mervil replied after a moment.
“More so than expected.”
“Why now?” Lord Subodh pressed.
Mervil met his gaze.
“That is what troubles me most.”
A pause.
“I do not yet know.”
A young voice broke the tension.
“Uncle,” Malti said, leaning forward.
“Is it true about the letter?”
Mervil stiffened.
“Who told you that?”
“My friend Nidhi,” she replied easily.
“At dance class.”
Mahel let out a quiet breath.
“Then it’s everywhere.”
Mervil nodded once.
“The letter remains with Her Majesty. I have nothing more to add.”
Mandari, his mother, spoke softly but firmly.
“Remember this—every clan carries secrets.”
She paused.
“Some were buried for a reason.”
Lord Subodh nodded.
“You are the pride of this house, my son.”
His voice remained calm.
“But no truth is worth your life.”
He looked directly at Mervil.
“When the ground shifts, step back. Observe. Then move.”
Mervil inclined his head to both of them.
“I will.”
The Following Morning
The clang of steel echoed through the security gate.
Chief Sendrav stood before a formation of royal guards, inspecting their movements as they went through their morning drills.
Across the Main lawn, beside a stone water fountain, Mervil waited until the exercise concluded.
Sendrav dismissed the squad and approached him.
“What are you up to this morning?”
“Heightened vigilance,” Mervil replied.
Sendrav’s expression sharpened.
“Begin with the Naga Clan and the Shakta Clan.”
Mervil’s voice remained even.
“All activity. No exceptions.”
Sendrav frowned.
“Even the women?”
“Especially the women.”
Sendrav studied him for a moment.
“Are we missing something?”
Mervil turned to leave.
“For now…”
He paused.
“Assume we are missing everything.”
He took a few steps toward the main lobby, then paused.
“And prepare for departure.”
Sendrav looked at him.
“Where?”
“The Land of the Fallen Stars.”
Sendrav watched Mervil head toward the main lobby, unease settling deep in his chest.
Royal Office of the Monarch
The Queen set aside the final document and dismissed the attendants with a brief gesture.
The office fell quiet.
She turned to Mervil.
“Report.”
Mervil summarized the findings—Garuda’s records, the erased history surrounding Amaranda’s quarters, the unanswered second voyage, and the maid now beyond the borders of Mannan.
He spoke plainly, without speculation.
The Queen listened without interruption.
When he finished, she rose from her seat and walked toward the doors.
Mervil followed, stopping a few steps behind her.
She paused.
Without turning, she said,
“Before you proceed further…”
Her voice was low.
Certain.
“Compile a full record of every exiled member of the Shakta Clan.”
A beat.
“All branches.”
Another pause.
“All descendants.”
Mervil stiffened.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The doors opened.
The Queen stepped out, leaving the command—and its implications—hanging in the air.
Later That Day
After lunch, Mervil walked out of his quarters carrying his travel bag.
At the main entrance, Chief Sendrav stood giving instructions to his senior officers—Maheep, Gurmeet, and Kameeth.
As soon as he saw Mervil approaching, Sendrav dismissed them.
“Ready?” Mervil asked.
Sendrav nodded.
“We’ll take around twenty to twenty-five days to return.”
“I’ve instructed the three of them accordingly.”
Mervil gave a slight nod.
Both men walked toward the royal carriage waiting outside.
Their destination was the port city.
“I’ve coordinated with the Royal Navy to prepare the private royal vessel for our journey,” Mervil said as they climbed into the carriage.
Sendrav knocked twice against the carriage wall, signaling the rider to move.
The carriage rolled away from the main lawn.
“I just hope we won’t have any security challenges here until we return,” Sendrav said thoughtfully.
Mervil’s lips curled into a smile.
Sendrav arched an eyebrow.
Then sighed.
He could already imagine the kind of preparations Mervil might have made on a personal level.
“I just hope your elite assassins don’t create a massacre.”
He glanced at Mervil.
“Last time, my officers and I had a tough time dealing with the aftermath.”
“Relax,” Mervil replied calmly.
“I told them to behave this time.”
Sendrav stared at him.
“Your definition of ‘behave’ is as suspicious as you are.”
Mervil chuckled.