He shook his head and said, "I am scared.. for the first time in my life.. I am scared that I will lose her even before seeing her.. Devadatta turned out to be a venomous serpent.. he is too dangerous. ..if he hurts mother.. " she said, "Pinaka, there is absolutely no way that he would hurt the empress, she is the only trump card he is holding now. .. he will be torn to pieces by the people of the empire if he makes a move against her.. don"t lose your reasoning abilities.. in the face of danger we need to act with caution.. be courageous.. I will go and inform father and grandfather regarding the happenings here.. go on.. "

They came out of the prison with the note... Shiva went forward.. Samyukta gave the note to him and signaled him to read it out.. he read what was written.. his face lost colour.. the men who came along were all enraged.. these men are from Gandhara empire.. the empress Chandramathi is the daughter of their emperor.. their blood was boiling.. how can someone old her as a prisoner. ..

Pinaka said, "ok, all of you go with Samyukta, speak to both the emperors. .. I will be going through the tunnel.. Shiva.. stay back with five men"

Samyukta said, "be strong.. " and she moved up the stairs..

Shiva picked five men and asked them to stay back with him.. all others followed Samyukta out.. Pinaka waited till they went away.. he said, "all of you wait here.. Shiva.. lead me to the tunnel..

Shiva led the way, Pinaka was following him.. they crossed the prison and went ahead.. they reached the wall.. Shiva was groping in the dark... he looked as if he was trying to grab something.. he caught a hidden lever and pushed it.. the wall slided aside, revealing a path..

This was the tunnel connecting the Royal Palace and the army general"s palace.. Shiva took out a whip from his pocket and gave it to Pinaka, he said, "your majesty, this belonged to your father.. I kept it for him.. I think it"s time for you to take it.. there are too many people behaving like beasts..and beasts can only be punished by a good beating.. " Pinaka hugged Shiva and thanked him.. he walked towards the tunnel.. as he entered, Shiva pulled the lever closing the tunnel and waited there..

Pinaka walked through the tunnel, it was a long way, he kept going.. after some time he felt that the path was going upwards.. he understood that he was approaching the palace..

He came across a wall which was just like the sliding wall he crossed, he understood that he reached the palace, he sat down facing the wall, closed his eyes and calmed himself..

He looked for a lever... he was able to find it.. he pulled the lever.. the wall slided slowly..