Rewari kingdom, Khera vilge , Night of 8th march 1557

  Amidst the secluded alleys of Khera vilge, ten hooded figures gathered under the cloak of darkness. Among them, two women who didn't belonged to that group aged in their mid-twenties, stood trembling as hostage. They clung to each other for support and fear evident in their eyes.

  These men, posing as logistic support for the supply caravan, were actually hired assassins working for the brahmins. Tonight, they were tasked with a dangerous mission. Their group leader, Ranga, emerged from the shadows with commanding presence.

  Ranga addressed the group in a low, urgent tone. "Our pn is simple. The prince is alone tonight. The security is x due to the recent festivity, and we've marked the house where he is sleeping. We cannot let this chance go."

  A murmur of unease rippled through the group. One member, clearly anxious, spoke up. "But Sardar, our target is the imperial prince. Are we certain this is the right move"

  Ranga's eyes narrowed beneath his hood, and he took a step closer to the hesitant member. Even though he controlled his voice but it was ced with frustration. "Coward! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The prince may be formidable with his army, but tonight he's vulnerable. We've handled tougher missions before. Think of the fortune that awaits us if we succeed."

  The promise of wealth began to sway the group's resolve, but another member raised a concern. "But Sardar, why not ambush them outside where it's safer? Why take the risk in the vilge with possible reinforcements?"

  Ranga sighed, his patience wearing thin. "We have no choice. The prince chose tonight to stay and call for reinforcements. If he summons more men, it will be even harder for us. Luckily, we have our own forces ready outside, and our hazur expects us to act quickly."

  Determination fshed in Ranga's eyes as he clenched his fist. "The prince will die tonight, but whether we survive depends on how we handle this. Let's kill him and get rich while we can."

  The hooded figures nodded in grim understanding. Their fate was sealed; their only chance of escape was to kill the prince and slip away.

  Ranga then turned to the two women, who were shaking with fear. His tone softened but remained stern. "You understand your roles, right? We'll help you set up the torches. Any mistakes, and you can forget about seeing your loved ones again."

  Both women nodded in terrified agreement.

  Few moments ter

  As the moon reached its peak, marking midnight, the vilge stood silent, with only the whispers of a gentle breeze breaking the stillness. The vilge square was marked by the smouldering remains of a campfire which was evident of the recent celebration.

  As a few guards patrolled the outskirts of the vilge, hooded mercenaries cd in dark robes moved stealthily through the shadows. They skillfully navigated alleys and avoided detection from the patrol guards with their calcuted steps and blending skills in the darkness. Their destination was a modest hut where the prince was marked to be sleeping alone.

  Upon reaching the hut, they observed three soldiers standing guard. The mercenaries approached them from behind in silence and, with a swift, coordinated attack, snapped the soldiers' necks. Their bodies were quickly removed and hidden in the shadows, leaving no trace behind

  With the guards dispatched, three of the assassins took their pces by disguising themselves as soldiers. Meanwhile, the remaining seven mercenaries approached the hut's entrance. Fortunately, the door was slightly ajar, and inside, in the flickering mplight, they could see the cramped space and the prince sleeping on a khatia (a local wooden bed).

  One of the assassins gently pushed the door open, but it creaked loudly due to its old wooden frame. The group froze, holding their breath as they awaited any reaction. However, the prince remained undisturbed by the sound, still lying in sleep. With a collective sigh of relief, the mercenaries advanced cautiously.

  They entered the hut, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. The room was almost empty, with only a bed, a stool, and a gss , perhaps filled with water, nearby. The prince's form was visible in the light. The mercenaries moved with careful steps, trying not to make a sound as they approached their target.

  Ranga led the group with his sword drawn that gleamed in the dim light. With silent, measured steps, the assassins advanced toward the bed where the prince slept. But as they neared their target, a pillow was suddenly hurled towards Ranga's face blocking his view.

  Startled, Ranga barely had time to react before the prince leaped from his bed. Aditya's foot connected with Ranga's chest, sending him crashing into the other assassins behind. The chaos momentarily threw the group into disarray.

  Seizing the opportunity, Aditya grabbed a metallic gss from the nearby stool and hurled it at one of the assaints. The gss missed its mark but cnged loudly against the wall before falling to the ground, the noise echoing in the small room.

  Aditya chuckled at the cttering sound but his amusement quickly faded when he realized no one was coming to his aid.

  Ranga, now gaining back on his feet recovered from his shock. A cold smirk pying on his lip as he positioned the favourite sword in his hand .

  "Did you really think we'd come unprepared?" He sneered. "By the time we're done, this vilge will be nothing but ashes. It's your bad luck to face us tonight."

  Aditya's eyes narrowed and he assumed a fighting stance without a dey. "Stop barking and Come!"

  Due to the limited space, only a few could approach the prince, but the mercenaries still had the advantage in numbers. As Ranga and three of his assassins lunged toward Aditya with their weapons drawn, Aditya grabbed the nearby stool and used it with surprising agility to block their attacks. He trapped Ranga's sword, deflected another's bde that attempted to thrust at him, and parried the swipes of the other two. With a swift rotation, he sent two of the assaints' swords including Ranga, which cttered to the floor and pushed them back with brutal force, maintaining his ground.

  With a quick and powerful throw, Aditya hurled the stool at the group. Ranga facing the front ducked to avoid the heavy projectile, but it struck two of the assassins behind him, knocking them off bance. Aditya swiftly seized the fallen swords as he got some real ground in fight.

  "You think you can defeat me with these meagre skills?" Aditya sneered, twirling the swords expertly. The assassins, recognizing the expert stance, tensed up.

  Ranga's cursed under the breadth," Damn brat, we got wrong information," he commanded in hush voice, pointing at Aditya. "Surround him! He's only one man!"

  The remaining five assaints moved to encircle Aditya from three sides. The two who had lost their swords, including Ranga, sheathed their daggers and positioned themselves at door, waiting for their turn. Aditya, retreating until he felt the wall against his back, held his swords in a cross guard. This position allowed him to both defend and strike with precision.

  With the wall to his back and the assassins closing in, Aditya's focus sharpened.

  The first attacker lunged from the front with a powerful overhead swing. Aditya blocked the blow with his left sword. As the talwar collided with his bde, Aditya swiftly stabbed downward, thrusting his torso. The attacker fell, succumbing to his injuries.

  To his right, the second attacker aimed a sweeping side strike. Aditya shifted his stance, parried the blow with his right sword, and spun on his heels, bringing the other sword into py. His bde fshed in a swift arc, cutting through the man's defenses and throwing up his intestines.

  Aditya's aggressive arc forced the remaining assaints to retreat momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, he changed direction and kicked the third assaint on his left, sending him stumbling backward onto nearby bed.

  The fourth and fifth attackers moved in from different angles, trying to overwhelm him. Aditya, seeing no escape, rolled forward and sliced at their legs, making them fall. He then thrust his swords into them, propelling himself up with the momentum.

  The third assaint, regaining his posture, attempted to stab from behind. Aditya, anticipating the attack, spun around and met it with a cross-cut from both swords. The force of his strike severed the third man's weapon arm, causing him to drop to the ground, writhing in pain.

  The remaining assaints, now witnessing the carnage, attempted to close in from the sides. Realizing that giving Aditya gap would be their st mistake, they avoided picking up the fallen swords and tried to size him up with their knives by changing positions.

  Aditya's eyes were like a hawk, capturing their movements while ignoring the cries around him. Soon, he was rewarded with a thrust from the sixth attacker, which he anticipated, while the seventh feigned a move. With a twist of his left wrist, he deflected the knife thrust, while his other bde sliced through the sixth attacker's neck in a rotating arc, maintaining his guard against the st assaint on the right, who was caught off guard.

  The st attacker was Ranga, who sweated profusely. He took his position and lunged at Aditya with his knife. Aditya dodged the attack and, with a swift, powerful cut, sshed Ranga's wrist, causing him to drop the knife.

  Aditya advanced, his swords dripping with the blood of his enemies. He cornered Ranga, pressing one sword to his heart, and demanded, "Who sent you?"

  Suddenly, he felt commotion ongoing outside, and Bheem flung open the door, bathed in blood. Seeing the carnage and Aditya safe, he sighed in relief and asked with an apology, "Forgive me, Your Highness. Are you alright?"

  Before Aditya could sh out at him for his negligence, Ranga ughed out loud, clutching his bleeding wrist. "They are coming. It's already begun."

  Aditya thrust his sword into Ranga's heart, killing him instantly. He then instructed Bheem to check on the survivors for answers while he rushed outside.

  Aditya was shocked to see the huts on fire, people rushing around in panic, soldiers trying to douse the fmes, and the sounds of cattle and horses mingling in the chaos.

  Meenakshi appeared from the surroundings and asked urgently, "What's happening?"

  Aditya, with a grave expression, replied, "We are under attack. Enemies are coming."