10. The Prince and the Wizard

Badal’s Quest for Vengeance

In a bid to avenge his master’s death, Badal enters the palace with the intent to assassinate King Bhuvar-singh. However, his plan misfires, prompting a hot chase by the palace guards. Attracted by the commotion, Princess Pratiba opens her door, and Badal slips into her room, quickly shutting the door behind him. The princess, who feels an inexplicable fascination with Badal, is left uncertain whether he has risked everything just for a chance to see her. Ultimately, she decides to let him escape as the wizard observing the events engages in a brief conversation with Ramu, who promises to meet him later, along with Badal.

A Night of Entertainment

Full-throated laughter and raucous applause reverberate through the royal court, providing a much-needed relief for the palace inhabitants after the tension of the night. The wizard, dressed in a colorful robe, mesmerizes the audience with a captivating performance that leaves even the nobility astounded. His tricks include conjuring a live rabbit from his beard and transforming Samser’s waist-belt into a snake, much to the relief of the spectators. The performance crescendos with thunderous applause, as the king presents the wizard with a silken bag filled with mohurs. The wizard bows before the king and departs, followed by his peculiar disciple.

The King’s Dismay

Once the excitement dies down, the king grows pensive, reflecting on the night’s events. The possibility that guards failed to notice a trespasser entering the palace could severely tarnish the royal reputation. More troubling is the fact that the intruder evaded capture, which could undermine the public’s faith in the king’s ability to protect the kingdom. As Samser interrogates the palace guards about the intruder’s appearance, the guards provide only imaginative descriptions, further perplexing him. One claims the stranger’s face was as dark as the night, while another insists the man vanished at will.

The Vampire Revelation

Despite their fanciful accounts, Samser confidently announces to the king that he has deduced the identity of the trespasser. “The trespasser was no human being, but a vampire!” he proclaims, expecting praise. However, the king is visibly irritated, murmuring that this only reveals their own foolishness. Dejected by the king’s lack of enthusiasm, Samser leaves the court disheartened.

A Queen’s Nightmare

Later, the king convenes with his ministers, all of whom agree that the intruder poses a serious threat to the palace. They decide to increase security, especially overnight. As night falls, the king tosses in his bed, unable to sleep. Suddenly, the queen awakens with a blood-curdling scream. Alarmed, the king rushes to her side, where she describes a vivid and terrifying dream in which she and Princess Pratiba stumble upon a hidden door in their garden, leading to a cold, eerie world.

Shadows of Fear

The queen recalls that in her dream, a ghastly figure emerged, seizing the princess and dragging her away. The dream’s uncanny familiarity disturbs her, even though she cannot recall where she has seen the figure. While the king advises her to dismiss the dream, he himself feels an unsettling anxiety creeping in. To ease their fears, he decides to retrieve a diamond talisman from the shrine, believed to possess protective powers.

The Disappearance of the Talisman

The king navigates the quiet corridors adjacent to the princess’s suite but ultimately decides not to disturb her. Upon reaching the shrine, he finds the diamond talisman, a pendant steeped in legend, glowing in its place of honor. But shock overtakes him when he realizes the talisman has vanished! Desperate to keep the alarming discovery to himself, he searches every possible nook and cranny within the shrine but achieves nothing. Overwhelmed, he kneels before the deity, praying for protection for himself and his kingdom.