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used the same approach in his campaigns against the Kamboja cavalry, the Girivraja mountain men and many others. He makes an appearance late in the battle and strikes a minor prince or corps commander but never a general or even an Atirathi. The next few days will see him increase his participation on the field, but for today, we have nothing to worry about.’
    He turned and looked at me, ‘As far as my eldest cousin is concerned, I do believe we should take adequate precautions. But keeping him in the reserve sends out two messages—one, that we know their plans, and the second, and most crucial in my opinion, that he is afraid of being taken.’
    They were talking about me like I wasn’t even in the room. I spoke up, just to remind them I was still here, and was as concerned about my safety as any of them, ‘So, are you saying I should be up front?’
    ‘No, no brother. While your eagerness to get killed is admirable, it won’t serve our cause just yet.’ Krishna smiled again, that wicked stretch of the lips.
    Dhristadyumna spoke, ‘You’re right, Krishna. We’ll place him in the centre, surrounded by our troops. Not too far ahead to be at risk, but not too far behind either. And, I have studied Radheya myself. As you rightly pointed out, I do believe he won’t pose a direct threat today. Drona, on the other hand, deserves the full measure of our attention.’
    There were nods of approval all around. Krishna smiled and looked at me. Drupada, sensing the argument slipping from his grasp, took a final shot. ‘Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you when Radheya is riding our boys like a bull in heat.’
    Krishna smiled back at him. ‘With your blessings, sire, we hope it never comes to that.’
    Drupada settled back on his seat defeated and gestured to his son to continue.
    Dhristadyumna said, ‘I think today we will set up a strong perimeter around Yudhishthira on the field. He will be at the centre with the Panchala Corps lead by me and Shikhandi. Satyaki and the Matsya regiments will form a wall with the Yadavas. The rest of the men will be arranged around us. Bhima, Bhagadatta is your concern. Arjuna will lead the front line today with the Indraprastha Corps flanked by Nakula and Sahadeva and your Indraprastha regiments. Chekitana, your men got the worst of Grandsire yesterday, so we will hold them back in reserve.’
    The council ended. Bali, the captain of our Indraprastha Corps, was waiting for us outside the tent. Arjuna debriefed him on his duties and he nodded and left. Bali was born mute but had been compensated adequately by the Lord in courage and battle awareness. His lieutenants had to learn sign language to serve under him and we had instituted special annual examinations to determine his field officers. It was a great honour for the young men of Indraprastha to belong to his batallion.
    We made our way to the chariot park where our own arms lay. The park was abuzz with activity and the scent of dust disembowelled from the earth was intermingled with that of horses and humans. There were warriors from the south, dark and muscular; lithe and wiry men from the east and loud and boisterous ones from the north; all of whom found common ground on a whetstone or bowstring. Swords were being checked for sharpness. There were short blades that were accompanied with round shields, broadswords with blades as thick as a man’s bicep, whip swords with elastic metal blades and snake-shaped blades with their wavy form. There were spears with supple wooden shafts and metal heads, maces with large domes being scrutinized for cracks alongside javelins that were being checked by armourers for sharpness and balance. There were weapons of makes and shapes I had never seen or heard of.
    Bows were being flexed—simple ones made of bamboo, or more complex ones made of animal bone and metal. Bowstrings were being obtained with great haste. Strings made of vegetable fibre were preferred to those of animal fibre that