Historical fiction: King Mahameghavahana Kharavela fights to restore Kalinga to its former glory

“Halt! Who goes there?” shouted the prahari (watchman). The alarm rang clear and far in the night air. Archers immediately nocked their arrows and rushed to take positions atop the gates and turrets. Large torches burnt with a hissing sound and shadows danced like possessed spirits in the strong wind.

The traveller had arrived quite late at the gates of Tosali, the capital of Kalinga Nagari. Was it a deliberate miscalculation? The traveller halted; he was searched for weapons and produced before the commander. He did not even resist and remained still.

He was not very tall, but his lean and lithe, yet muscular structure indicated that he could be a trained soldier. He looked sharp and walked with pride in his step, and the guards who had captured him guessed that he was no ordinary person.

It was unusual for people to travel at night-time, that too alone. Beyond the fortified cities and distant janapadas (countryside) were large tracts of forests, infested with wild animals and plagued with savage tribes, who not only looted the possessions of travellers, but also killed with impunity. It was virtually impossible for a person to cross these lawless tracts unescorted.

Inside the cities, there was always a...

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