Chapter 403 - 371: Stop The Horse... Cut The Flag...

(A/N):

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The white stallion, which had been standing quietly on the riverbank, suddenly lifted its head and began to move.

Its ears twitched as it turned towards the waters of the Ganga, its hooves pressing into the damp earth while the banner bearing Vrishabhapura’s bull emblem swayed above its back.

For a brief moment, the soldiers stationed along the border wall exchanged uncertain glances, wondering whether the animal intended to continue along the riverbank or approach the sacred waters separating it from Trivenivrata.

Dronacharya immediately straightened, his attention fixed upon the horse.

The earlier relief he had felt at the prospect of the animal departing from their borders vanished, replaced by the sharp concentration of an experienced warrior assessing a potentially dangerous situation.

"Remain alert,"

he ordered, his voice carrying clearly across the watchtower.

"Watch its movements carefully. Do not assume that it intends to leave merely because it has begun moving."

The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, following the stallion with unwavering attention.

The animal continued towards the river, gradually approaching the point where the waters allowed passage towards the opposite shore.

Its movements remained calm and unhurried, as though it were following an invisible path laid out before it.

Dronacharya turned towards the commander, his expression grave.

"Remember what I told you earlier. If that horse enters the territory of Trivenivrata, we must stop it. An Ashvamedha horse represents the sovereignty claimed by the king conducting the sacrifice. By allowing it to pass freely through our kingdom, we could be seen as acknowledging Vrishabhapura’s authority over our lands."

"Trivenivrata is an independent kingdom, and we shall not surrender that independence through silence or inaction."

The commander bowed solemnly.

"Understood, Acharya. If the horse crosses into our territory, we shall prevent it from proceeding any further."

"Precisely. We must make our position unmistakably clear. Stopping the horse will constitute a challenge to Vrishabhapura’s claim, and their king will have to decide how he wishes to respond. He may send an envoy to negotiate, or he may choose to defend his claim through force of arms."

"Whatever his decision, we cannot allow our kingdom’s sovereignty to be questioned simply because we hesitated to act."

Dronacharya paused, his gaze returning to the approaching stallion.

"However, do not harm the animal unnecessarily. Our dispute is not with the horse itself. It is the declaration represented by its presence that we must challenge."

"Give the animal an opportunity to stop, and make certain that every action we take is deliberate. We are defenders of Trivenivrata, not aggressors seeking an excuse for war."

The commander acknowledged the distinction, then immediately relayed the instructions to the soldiers positioned along the wall.

Men took up their assigned positions near the designated crossing, while archers remained ready without drawing their bows.

Every movement was carefully coordinated, for they knew that a single reckless action could turn a tense encounter into a bloody confrontation.

Meanwhile, the white stallion continued towards the river.

Dronacharya watched its every step, his face betraying none of the uncertainty that stirred within him.

He had spent years training warriors and advising kings, and he understood that the principles of sovereignty and royal honour could sometimes leave little room for compromise.

If Vrishabhapura’s ruler had deliberately sent the Ashvamedha horse towards Trivenivrata, then the kingdom’s response would have to be equally decisive.

The stallion reached the water’s edge.

For a moment, it stood there, its reflection wavering upon the surface of the sacred river.

Then it stepped forward, entering the shallow waters as the current rippled around its legs.

The bull banner fluttered in the wind, its emblem visible even from the distant fortifications.

Every soldier on the wall held his breath.

Dronacharya’s eyes narrowed as the animal continued moving through the river, steadily approaching the opposite bank.

"Prepare yourselves,"

he commanded, his voice now carrying the unmistakable authority of a seasoned acharya.

"If that horse sets even one hoof upon our soil, stop it. Let Vrishabhapura understand that Trivenivrata will never accept another kingdom’s sovereignty over its people."

The soldiers answered with a united nod, their expressions turning grim as they prepared for the moment that might determine the relationship between the two kingdoms.

The horse continued forward, drawing closer to Trivenivrata with every step.

And Dronacharya waited, knowing that the instant the stallion crossed the boundary, the challenge would no longer be a matter of speculation.

It would become a declaration that neither kingdom could afford to ignore.

The moment the white stallion stepped onto the soil of Trivenivrata, Dronacharya knew that the situation he had hoped to avoid had finally arrived.

"Stop that horse!"

he commanded from atop the border wall.

The soldiers stationed near the riverbank immediately sprang into action.

Several rushed towards the stallion, seizing its reins and attempting to turn it away from the kingdom’s interior.

The horse, however, reacted violently to their intervention.

It reared upon its hind legs, letting out a loud, agitated neigh as it tossed its head and attempted to wrench itself free.

Its powerful hooves struck the ground, forcing the soldiers to brace themselves against its strength, while the banner bearing Vrishabhapura’s bull emblem whipped wildly in the wind.

"Hold the reins firmly! Do not let it advance!"

the commander shouted, rushing forward to assist his men.

The guards struggled to restrain the agitated animal, carefully avoiding its flailing hooves as they tightened their grip upon the reins.

For several tense moments, the stallion resisted, pulling against the soldiers with surprising strength.

Yet the men had been trained to handle difficult situations, and through their combined efforts, they eventually managed to bring the animal under control.

The horse continued stamping its hooves and tossing its head, but it could no longer move further into Trivenivrata.

From the wall above, Dronacharya observed the scene with a grave expression.

There was no satisfaction in his eyes, only the stern resolve of a man who understood the significance of what had just occurred.

The Ashvamedha horse had crossed into their territory, and by stopping it, Trivenivrata had formally rejected the claim of sovereignty represented by Vrishabhapura’s sacrifice.

However, merely restraining the horse would not be enough to make their position unmistakable.

Dronacharya’s gaze shifted towards the banner attached to its harness.

The bull emblem fluttered above the struggling stallion, proclaiming the authority of the kingdom that had sent it.

For as long as that flag remained attached to the horse, it would continue to represent Vrishabhapura’s claim upon the lands through which the animal travelled.

"Cut down the flag!"

Dronacharya ordered, his voice ringing across the riverbank.

"Let it be known that Trivenivrata does not recognise Vrishabhapura’s claim over our kingdom!"

One of the soldiers immediately stepped forward, drawing his sword.

He approached the restrained horse cautiously, waiting for an opportunity to reach the banner without provoking the animal further.

The commander and the other guards maintained their hold upon the reins, keeping the stallion firmly in place while their comrade raised his weapon.

With a swift stroke, the soldier severed the attachment holding the flag.

The banner bearing the bull emblem separated from its pole and fluttered through the air before falling into the flowing waters of the river.

The current caught the fabric almost immediately, carrying it away from the border as the embroidered emblem disappeared beneath the rippling surface.

For a brief moment, silence settled over the riverbank.

The soldiers looked towards the floating banner, then up at Dronacharya, fully aware of the consequences of their actions.

This was no longer simply a matter of stopping a wandering animal.

By restraining the Ashvamedha horse and cutting down the flag of Vrishabhapura, Trivenivrata had openly challenged the authority proclaimed by the sacrifice.

Dronacharya remained standing atop the wall, his eyes following the banner until the current carried it out of sight.

"Take the horse into our custody," he instructed the commander.

"Ensure that it is properly cared for, but keep it under guard. No one is to mistreat the animal, and no one is to release it without the king’s permission."

The commander bowed.

"As you command, Acharya."

"Send another messenger to the palace immediately,"

Dronacharya continued.

"Inform His Majesty that the Ashvamedha horse of Vrishabhapura has entered Trivenivrata’s territory, that we have restrained it, and that its banner has been cut down. Explain that we have rejected the claim represented by the sacrifice."

"The king must be informed before any further developments occur."

The commander turned and began issuing orders, while several guards carefully led the agitated stallion away from the riverbank.

Though the animal continued to resist occasionally, the soldiers maintained a firm but controlled hold upon it, ensuring that it suffered no unnecessary injury.

Dronacharya watched until the horse had been taken safely inside the border outpost.

His thoughts had already moved beyond the immediate incident towards the consequences that would inevitably follow.

Vrishabhapura would soon learn that its Ashvamedha horse had been stopped, its banner cut down, and its claim openly challenged.

Whether its king would respond through diplomacy or summon his warriors for battle remained to be seen.

But one thing was certain: Trivenivrata had refused to bow before Vrishabhapura, and the next move belonged to its king.

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(Author note:)

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