Samyukta trained harder the next day. Pinaka saw her determination and felt a.s.sured that she will win no matter what. Very soon the n.o.ble suitors arrived. They were accomodated in the Royal guest rooms. The emperor invited all the n.o.bles for a banquet. They arrived and paid their respects to the emperor. Krishna Chandra smiled and said, "It is heart warming to see all the n.o.ble sons of Great Dynasties arrive here. This is the privilege of Magadha empire. After the banquet, we are organizing a hunting expedition. Who ever is interested may join. " one of the suitors asked, "will the princess come? " he smiled and said "yes, the princess Will come along with her brothers, now please join me for the feast".Post banquet the emperor summoned his children into his chamber "my dear children, we planned and organized a hunting expedition for the guests. Please join them and take care of them. I don"t want them to know the conflict between you for the throne. This is for the future of you and Magadha.. hope you understand"
They nodded in agreement. Surya and Deepak left. Now Samyukta was alone with the emperor. He sensed that something was bothering her, "what is it my child".. she said, "father, about the betrothal, I am still concerned, I still have second thoughts.. " the emperor said, "my dear, I will give you time to think about it later, the guests are all ready, proceed for the hunting expedition, be careful"
She nodded and departed to join the hunting expedition. She went to the weaponary and selected a short dagger, a sword, took a bow and arrows. She wore an armour. She was exuding an aura of warrior princess.Pinaka too entered the weaponary. He too took his fill of weapons. Both of them greeted each other formally. Samyukta was leading the way, they both went to meet the hunting party.
The military general Rudra verma was there as well. He will be leading the Hunting expedition. He called for attention and addressed everyone, "n.o.ble sons, the princess of Magadha, her highness Samyukta Chandra" all the men looked at her. They lost their mind looking at her, she was so beautiful, perfectly proportioned exuding n.o.ble aura, they were all spell bound. Few of the n.o.ble princes wanted to introduce themselves to her. Among them, one handsome prince came forward and greeted, "Princess Samyukta, it is a pleasure to meet you, I am Karan Satakarni from the Satakarni empire", the princess smiled and responded, "it is a pleasure to meet you Prince Karan, it is a pleasure to meet you all n.o.ble sons of great dynasties of Hindustan, let us all go on for the expedition, there is a ferocious lion which is killing the domestic animals of our kingdom which in turn is leading to heavy losses, we will be entering the forest of Chitra Kuta, more information will be given by Our royal guard Pinaka Veera" her voice sounded like music to their ears. They were in a trance. Prince Karan was smitten. Most of them didn"t hear what she was saying. Looking at the dazed happy faces of the n.o.bles, Pinaka smiled to himself, for their benefit he started from the beginning, "As her majesty the Princess said, we will be entering into the forest of Chitrakuta for hunting a ferocious lion, our soldiers were trying to track the moments of this Lion from three days, they marked three paths, so we will divide into three groups, me and the princess will lead one group, his majesty Prince Deepak Chandra and his majesty Prince Surya Chandra will lead one group, the third group will be lead by n.o.ble general Rudra Verma"
No n.o.ble prince wanted to go with the other two parties, all of them wanted to be with the Princess. The General noticed this, he took the job of splitting the people into three parties. The people who joined the other groups were staring longingly at the princess. Prince Karan was in the group of the Princess He was smiling happily.
The general then said, "n.o.ble sons, please mount the horses, let the expedition begin"