Read The Aryavarta Chronicles Kurukshetra: Book 3 for Free Online Page A

The crisp efficiency of the Kurus quickly restored order to the room, with all debris cleared and the injured moved out, except for an insistent Dussasan. The impressive efforts at housekeeping, however, did little to restore what little air of conciliation may have remained.
    Govinda’s eyes ran over the recently cleaned surrounds, noting that the same marble that had occupied his entire attention when he had first entered this hall was, in fact, well-worn and the walls of the palace reeked of past grandeur and dust. The men around him, too, gave the impression of being tired and weary, and youthful faces and eager hearts were few and far between. If any man stood out in that jaded, time-worn lot, it was Bhisma.
    The Grandsire was unchanged, his hair and beard the same white since the very day Govinda had first encountered the elder. His towering, powerful build, sharp intellect and impeccable ability to maintain his calm under duress had all endured, the last quality in clear evidence at the moment. By contrast, Govinda found Dhritarastra withered. Age clearly showed on the king’s face as he stared with incomprehension and awe, a sentiment that most in the hall mirrored – except for Dron and Asvattama, as well as Devala and Vasusena. Clearly, Govinda’s methods had not come as a shock to them.
    Govinda smiled at the thought, but said nothing of it out loud. Instead, he declared, ‘With your permission, I shall leave now. Dharma will be expecting me…’
    ‘You make no offer of peace…?’ Syoddhan’s voice held no expectation as he said the words, and his face remained devoid of expression, as it had been since Govinda had entered the hall. It was a feat that many knew the prince could not have managed some decades ago. But much had come to pass over the years, which had left a mark on the man in significant ways. Syoddhan’s newfound equanimity, both practised and effortless, was a quality that Govinda found most suggestive and he saw no sense in further baiting or in games. He asked, his voice sincere, ‘Will you consider peace?’
    Syoddhan said, ‘On reasonable terms, yes.’
    ‘I am known to be a reasonable man.’
    ‘My brothers might disagree.’
    ‘If,’ Govinda said, with a sidelong glance at Dussasan, ‘you play with fire, you must risk getting burnt.’
    ‘It is not fire that is the problem here, Govinda. It is that you are a Firewright.’
    ‘A fact that has been long in evidence and needs no further discussion. Which is why I made no attempt to hide it. Why do you bring it up now?’
    ‘Only to add that even the Wrights found you to be a heretic and far too untrustworthy. There is no one you have not betrayed yet. The only rational thought one expects of you is that which is driven by your self-interest. So do me the courtesy of being plain. State your terms, Govinda Shauri, for that is what these negotiations are truly about.’
    Govinda shrugged. ‘I don’t care what you call my terms , or me – as long as you consider them. I thought I had made them clear, but since there seems to be some doubt: I wish you to declare Dharma Yudhisthir the rightful Emperor of Aryavarta.’
    Cries of outrage rang through the hall, with Dussasan too calling out weak protests from the secluded corner of the hall where he was being tended to. Others such as Vasusena were more vocal, and Bhisma Devavrata appeared far from pleased. If any remained placid, it was those who were affected more by the consequences of the statement than its content. Sanjaya and Devala were pointedly taciturn. The Firstborn scholar-seers continued to mumble prayers for the welfare of all, Suka amongst them.
    Syoddhan gestured for calm, but it took some prompting by others in the hall before the uproar faded into a buzz. He then said, ‘You really wish me to accede to Dharma Yudhisthir? Do you not know that there is no greater dishonour than surrender? Govinda, often have others called you “gwala”, accused you of lacking