This is Part 2 of The Hateful Hunt, a free web novel posted in parts. For the full story and upcoming episodes, visit The Hateful Hunt page.
Quick Recap
In Episode 1 of The Hateful Hunt, the rain-soaked town of Shimla trembles under the shadow of King Rudra Pratap Chandel’s tyranny as Awdhesh Kamat, a noble and wise monk, uncovers ancient verses that could unlock the secrets of the Mayavi Jungle—a treasure that could liberate the oppressed. However, his discovery leads to a tragic fate as the king, fearing the power of the mantras, orders Awdhesh’s public execution. Dragged to death by a wild horse, Awdhesh’s legacy passes to his young son, Giri, who vows to avenge his father and unlock the jungle’s secrets with the guidance of his father’s old friend, Adhirath Nath.
The winds howled through the palace corridors, carrying with them the echoes of King Rudra Pratap Chandel’s anger. He stormed through the halls, his face twisted in a scowl, his eyes filled with unbridled rage. The news of Awdhesh Kamat’s death had done little to quell his fury. The monk was dead, yes, but the knowledge he possessed—the mantras and verses that could unlock the secrets of the Mayavi Jungle—was still out there, somewhere. The king knew that as long as that knowledge existed, his throne would never be secure.
“Where are they?” The king’s voice boomed through the grand hall as he paced back and forth, his robes swirling around him like a storm. “Where are those cursed mantras?”
The soldiers and advisors present exchanged uneasy glances, their heads bowed in fear. None dared to meet the king’s gaze, knowing that even the slightest sign of weakness could mean their death. The search had been exhaustive—every corner of Awdhesh Kamat’s home had been torn apart, every scroll and book scrutinized—but there was no sign of the verses that the king so desperately sought.
The king turned his gaze to Alka Kamat, who stood at the center of the hall, her hands bound in front of her. Her face was pale but resolute, her eyes burning with a quiet defiance. She had been brought here in chains, a prisoner of the king’s wrath, but she had not uttered a single word. The king’s threats, his promises of pain and suffering, had done nothing to break her silence.
“Speak, woman!” the king snarled, stepping closer to her. “Tell me where the mantras are, or I will make you suffer as your husband did!”
Alka met the king’s gaze without flinching, her expression calm and unwavering. “My husband died for a noble cause,” she said, her voice steady. “I will not betray his memory by giving you what you seek.”
The king’s eyes narrowed, his hand twitching towards the sword at his side. But before he could draw it, a voice interrupted the tension in the hall.
“Your Majesty, wait.”
The king turned to see Ambola Maharaj, the royal priest, stepping forward from the shadows. Ambola was a man of contradictions—a dirty and selfish monk who served the king’s interests but had a deep, if begrudging, respect for Awdhesh Kamat. He knew the value of the knowledge Awdhesh had possessed, but he also knew that killing Alka would bring them no closer to finding it.
“Your Majesty,” Ambola said, his voice calm and measured, “killing this woman will not help us. She will not speak, no matter what we do. But if we keep her alive, she may yet lead us to what we seek.”
The king glared at Ambola, his anger barely contained. But after a moment, he relented, sheathing his sword with a frustrated growl. “Fine,” he spat, “but she remains under guard. If she tries to escape, kill her.”
Ambola nodded, stepping back into the shadows as the king gave his orders. “Search the town,” the king commanded. “Find Awdhesh’s son and the monk Adhirath Nath. They will know where the verses are hidden.”
As the king’s men scoured the town, searching every house, every alley, Adhirath Nath knew they had little time. He had been hiding with Giri, Awdhesh’s son, in a small cottage on the outskirts of Shimla, waiting for the right moment to escape. But with the king’s soldiers closing in, that moment had arrived sooner than expected.
“Giri, we must go,” Adhirath whispered urgently as he packed a small bag with supplies. The boy, barely a teenager, looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes. But beneath that fear was a determination that mirrored his father’s.
“Where will we go?” Giri asked, his voice trembling.
“To a place where they cannot find us,” Adhirath replied, placing a reassuring hand on Giri’s shoulder. “We will go to Nainital, to a Gurukul where you will learn the skills you need to fulfil your father’s legacy.”
Giri nodded, clutching the small locket his mother had given him before they had been separated. It was the only connection he had left to his family, and he vowed to protect it with his life.
As night fell, Adhirath and Giri slipped out of the cottage under the cover of darkness. The streets of Shimla were eerily quiet, the tension in the air palpable as the king’s soldiers continued their search. But Adhirath knew these streets well, and he guided Giri through the winding alleys, avoiding the patrols with practiced ease.
They reached the edge of town just as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. Adhirath paused, looking back at the town one last time. “This is where your journey begins, Giri,” he said quietly. “You are your father’s son, and one day, you will return to reclaim what is rightfully yours.”
Giri nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his father’s legacy. Together, they set off towards Nainital, leaving behind the town that had been their home.
The journey to Nainital was long and arduous, but Adhirath and Giri travelled with purpose, driven by the knowledge that this was the only way to escape the king’s wrath. They reached the Gurukul—a secluded ashram nestled in the hills near Nainital—after several weeks of travel, weary but determined.
The Gurukul was a place of peace and learning, where young monks were trained in the ancient arts of magic, combat, and spiritual wisdom. It was here that Giri would begin his transformation, from a frightened boy into a warrior and monk capable of facing the challenges that lay ahead.
Adhirath introduced Giri to the head of the Gurukul, a wise and kind-hearted guru named Swami Vedanta. Swami Vedanta welcomed Giri with open arms, recognizing the potential within him. “You are here to learn, my child,” Swami Vedanta said with a gentle smile. “But more than that, you are here to discover who you truly are.”
The days at the Gurukul were long and gruelling, but Giri embraced the challenges with a fierce determination. He trained in the ancient arts, learning how to handle demons, how to wield magic, and how to fight with a sword. Each lesson was a step towards his goal, a piece of the puzzle that would one day lead him back to the Mayavi Jungle.
But the training was not just physical—it was also spiritual. Giri spent hours in meditation, learning to control his mind and harness the power of the mantras his father had left behind. The verses that had once been a mystery to him began to make sense, their meanings unfolding like the petals of a lotus.
As time passed, Giri grew stronger, both in body and mind. He transformed from a scared boy into a mighty warrior, his heart filled with the noble ideals his father had instilled in him. He became skilled in the art of combat, wielding his sword with precision and grace, and mastering the mantras that would one day guide him through the Mayavi Jungle.
In the midst of his training, Giri found two people who would become his closest companions—Ruby and Kavin.
Ruby was a young woman with a fierce spirit and a heart full of love. She had come to the Gurukul seeking her own path, but when she met Giri, something in her heart stirred. She admired his strength, his determination, and the quiet nobility that seemed to emanate from him. Over time, their friendship blossomed into something deeper, a love that grew with each passing day.
Kavin, on the other hand, was a warrior through and through. He was strong, brave, and fearless in battle, but he lacked the wisdom and foresight that Giri possessed. Despite his flaws, Kavin was loyal to a fault, and he and Giri became fast friends. Kavin’s sense of humor and easygoing nature brought light to the darkest of days, and his fierce loyalty made him a brother in all but blood.
Together, Giri, Ruby, and Kavin formed a bond that would carry them through the trials that lay ahead. They trained together, laughed together, and shared their dreams and fears. And as they grew closer, Giri knew that he had found the family he had lost.
But even as he found love and friendship, Giri never forgot his father’s legacy. The verses that Awdhesh had created, the secrets of the Mayavi Jungle, and the treasure that could save his people—these were the things that drove him, that kept him focused on his goal. And he knew that one day, he would return to Shimla, to face the king who had taken everything from him, and to reclaim what was rightfully his.
One evening, as the sun set over the mountains, casting long shadows across the Gurukul, Giri sat alone in meditation, his mind focused on the mantras he had been studying. But as he chanted the verses, something strange happened—a vision began to take shape in his mind, a glimpse of a memory that was not his own.
In the vision, Giri saw his father, Awdhesh, standing in a darkened room, surrounded by ancient scrolls and artifacts. The air was thick with tension as Awdhesh chanted a powerful mantra, his voice echoing through the chamber. But before the vision could reveal more, it faded, leaving Giri breathless and shaken.
He opened his eyes, his heart pounding. What had he just seen? Was it a memory from his father’s past, or something more? The questions swirled in his mind, but one thing was clear—this vision was a sign, a message from beyond the grave.
Giri knew that his journey was far from over. The answers he sought were still hidden, buried deep within the secrets of the past. And to uncover them, he would have to face the darkness that lay ahead.
To be Continued
Mark your calendars! The journey continues on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, with the release of Part 3 of “The Hateful Hunt.”
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