the immortal of maluha
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>the</strong> bow formation.<br />
The Chandravanshis facing Mayashrenik, however, were made <strong>of</strong> sterner stuff. Despite<br />
taking severe casualties, <strong>the</strong>y fought grimly, refusing to retreat. Mayashrenik and his men<br />
fought fiercely, holding <strong>the</strong>ir enemy. Suddenly, <strong>the</strong> hail <strong>of</strong> arrows stopped. The archers had<br />
been ordered to stand down. Now that <strong>the</strong>ir mission was accomplished without <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
intervention, <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshi brigadier ordered a retreat <strong>of</strong> his cavalry. Mayashrenik, in turn,<br />
withdrew his troops quickly to his earlier position to prepare for <strong>the</strong> main charge, which he<br />
knew was just a few moments away.<br />
‘General, shall we?’ asked Shiva, nodding towards <strong>the</strong> left flank.<br />
‘Yes, my Lord,’ replied Parvateshwar.<br />
As Parvateshwar turned to mount his horse, Shiva called out, ‘Parvateshwar?’<br />
‘Yes, my Lord.’<br />
‘Race you to <strong>the</strong> last line <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis!’<br />
Parvateshwar raised his eyebrows in surprise, smiling broadly. ‘I will win, my Lord.’<br />
‘We’ll see,’ grinned Shiva, his eyes narrowed in a playful challenge.<br />
Parvateshwar rapidly mounted his horse and rode to his command on <strong>the</strong> left. Shiva,<br />
followed by Vraka, Nandi and Veerbhadra rode to <strong>the</strong> right. Prasanjit geared his tortoise corps<br />
in <strong>the</strong> centre for <strong>the</strong> attack.<br />
‘Meluhans!’ roared Shiva, dismounting smoothly. ‘They lie in front <strong>of</strong> you! Waiting to be<br />
slaughtered! It ends today! Evil ends today!’<br />
‘Har Har Mahadev!’ bellowed <strong>the</strong> soldiers as <strong>the</strong> Meluhan conch shell, announcing <strong>the</strong><br />
Suryavanshi attack, was blown.<br />
With an ear-shattering yell, <strong>the</strong> infantry charged towards <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis. The tortoise<br />
corps moved in <strong>the</strong>ir slow, yet unyielding pace towards <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshi centre. The sides <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> bow formation moved quicker than <strong>the</strong> centre. The cavalry cantered along <strong>the</strong> flanks,<br />
protecting <strong>the</strong> infantry from an enemy charge. Courageous remnants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> third and fourth<br />
legions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis meanwhile were rapidly reforming <strong>the</strong>ir lines to face <strong>the</strong><br />
Suryavanshi onslaught. But <strong>the</strong> mass <strong>of</strong> dead bodies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir fallen comrades did not allow <strong>the</strong>m<br />
<strong>the</strong> space needed to form <strong>the</strong>ir traditional Chaturanga formation, which could have allowed<br />
some lateral movement. They were huddled toge<strong>the</strong>r in a tight but thin line before <strong>the</strong><br />
Suryavanshis were upon <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
The battle was going almost exactly as per plan for <strong>the</strong> Suryavanshis. By <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong>y<br />
reached <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshi line, <strong>the</strong>y were in a tight, faintly curved line <strong>of</strong> trained and vicious<br />
soldiers, with <strong>the</strong>ir flanking line <strong>of</strong> light infantry being slightly behind <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> slower<br />
moving tortoise corps at <strong>the</strong> centre. The unstoppable tortoise corps tore ruthlessly into <strong>the</strong><br />
Chandravanshi centre. The shields provided protection for <strong>the</strong> corps against <strong>the</strong> best<br />
Chandravanshi swordsmen, while <strong>the</strong>ir trishuls ripped through <strong>the</strong> Swadweepans. The<br />
Chandravanshis had but two choices. Ei<strong>the</strong>r fall to <strong>the</strong> trishul, or be pushed towards <strong>the</strong> sides<br />
where <strong>the</strong> Suryavanshis were now bearing down hard on <strong>the</strong>m. As <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Chandravanshi army broke under <strong>the</strong> unrelenting assault, <strong>the</strong> Suryavanshi flanks tore through<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir sides.<br />
Shiva was leading his flank ferociously into <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis, decimating all in front <strong>of</strong><br />
him. To his surprise, he found <strong>the</strong> enemy lines thinning. Letting his fellow soldiers charge ahead<br />
<strong>of</strong> him, he rose to his full height to observe <strong>the</strong> movements. He was shocked to see <strong>the</strong><br />
Chandravanshi line opposing him, moving towards <strong>the</strong> centre. They were attacking <strong>the</strong> only