Volume 2Chapter 2 – The Youngest Adults in the Room
Morning arrived.
Unfortunately, so did responsibility.
"Tara."
No response.
"Tara."
Silence.
"TARA."
Inside a room that looked less like a minister's residence and more like the aftermath of a military campaign, Tara remained completely unconscious beneath her blanket.
One arm hung off the bed.
Her hair resembled an abandoned bird nest.
Half her pillow had somehow ended up on the floor.
Nobody knew how.
Not even Tara.
Malini stood beside the bed.
She stared.
The bed stared back.
Malini:
"You have exactly thirty minutes before we need to leave."
Tara:
"..."
Malini:
"Twenty-nine now."
Tara pulled the blanket over her head.
Tara:
"Tell the Empire I died honorably in my sleep."
Malini:
"I already tried that excuse on your behalf."
Tara's head immediately emerged.
Tara:
"What?"
Malini:
"The Empire refused your resignation."
Tara:
"...Cruel."
Malini walked toward the window and threw open the curtains.
Sunlight invaded the room.
Tara hissed like a vampire exposed to daylight.
Tara:
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"
Malini:
"Because unlike you, the sun has work to do."
Tara:
"The sun is overrated."
Malini:
"The Emperor personally appointed you head of the largest diplomatic expedition in years."
Tara:
"A decision he will eventually regret."
Malini:
"Get up."
Tara:
"Five more minutes."
Malini:
"You said that fifteen minutes ago."
Tara:
"Then clearly I require another fifteen."
A knock came from the door.
Aryav:
"Minister Tara, are you alive?"
Kavya:
"We're taking bets."
Tara immediately sat up.
Tara:
"I'M ALIVE."
Aryav opened the door.
He looked at Tara.
Then her hair.
Then the blanket wrapped around her like armor.
Aryav:
"I withdraw my statement."
Kavya nodded.
Kavya:
"She appears partially alive."
Tara pointed accusingly.
Tara:
"I want both of you to remember that His Majesty specifically ordered you to come with me."
Aryav:
"I remember."
Tara:
"I find strength in your suffering."
Aryav:
"I find suffering in your strength."
Kavya:
"This friendship is unhealthy."
Malini placed breakfast onto the table.
Malini:
"Eat."
Tara:
"I'm not hungry."
Malini:
"Eat."
Tara:
"I physically cannot."
Malini:
"Eat."
Tara:
"..."
Several moments later, Tara found herself sitting in a chair while Malini practically shoved food into her mouth.
Aryav:
"It's inspiring that the Head Representative of the Empire requires supervised eating."
Tara:
"I wasn't informed adulthood involved mornings."
Kavya:
"You're a minister."
Tara:
"A terrible oversight by the government."
Malini:
"The government was you."
Tara:
"...That explains a lot."
The capital was already awake when they left.
Merchants opened their stores.
Officials hurried toward ministries.
Temple bells echoed through the streets.
The city felt alive.
Busy.
Familiar.
Home.
Several citizens recognized Tara immediately.
Merchant:
"Minister Tara! Good luck on your journey!"
Another:
"Bring glory to the Empire!"
Another:
"Please come back safely!"
Tara smiled awkwardly.
Tara:
"When did everyone become so supportive?"
Aryav:
"Since they discovered you're leaving for the mountains instead of making more paperwork."
Tara:
"I create culture."
Aryav:
"You create forms."
Kavya:
"Mostly forms."
Tara:
"Traitors."
The Cultural Ministry was in chaos.
Absolute chaos.
The moment Tara entered, dozens of eyes turned toward her.
Some hopeful.
Some terrified.
Most looked like prisoners awaiting sentencing.
Tara immediately understood why.
Tara:
"...They know."
Malini:
"They know."
Aryav:
"They've known since yesterday."
Kavya:
"Some attempted escape."
Tara blinked.
Tara:
"What?"
Malini opened a notebook.
Malini:
"Three climbed the rear wall."
Aryav:
"One hid inside the archive room."
Kavya:
"Another attempted to disguise himself as a gardener."
Tara stared.
Tara:
"...Did it work?"
Aryav:
"No."
Kavya:
"He forgot to bring plants."
Tara rubbed her forehead.
Tara:
"I haven't even spoken yet."
At that exact moment, a young official stood up.
Official:
"Minister, before we begin, I'd like to officially state that I have weak lungs."
Another stood up immediately.
Second Official:
"I have weak knees."
Third Official:
"I suffer from severe mountain anxiety."
Tara:
"You've never seen a mountain."
Third Official:
"It's preventative anxiety."
Another raised his hand.
Official:
"My grandmother needs me."
Malini:
"Your grandmother lives in another province."
Official:
"Emotionally."
Another:
"I promised to feed the ministry cats."
Kavya:
"Strongest argument so far."
Aryav nodded.
Aryav:
"I support the cats."
Tara raised both hands.
Tara:
"Enough."
The room fell silent.
Tara:
"First of all, nobody is being dragged into certain death."
Aryav:
"Probably."
Tara:
"Aryav."
Aryav:
"I'm helping morale."
Tara sighed.
Tara:
"This expedition is important."
She looked around the room.
Tara:
"We aren't soldiers."
"We aren't conquering anyone."
"We're representing our people."
"Our culture."
"Our festivals."
"Our traditions."
"When people from those kingdoms remember this expedition years from now, I want them to remember kindness before politics."
The room grew quieter.
Tara:
"And for that, I need good people."
A pause.
Tara:
"Unfortunately for all of you, I work with good people."
Groans erupted across the room.
Tara smiled.
Tara:
"Let's begin."
The first official approached the table.
A girl with short hair and entirely too much energy.
Tara:
"Name?"
Girl:
"Meera, Minister."
Tara:
"Position?"
Meera:
"Junior Archivist."
Tara:
"Would you like to join the expedition?"
Meera practically jumped.
Meera:
"Absolutely."
The entire room turned toward her in horror.
Official:
"Are you insane?"
Meera:
"THERE ARE MOUNTAIN KINGDOMS."
"There are libraries."
"There are ruins."
"There are stories nobody in the capital has heard."
She leaned forward.
Meera:
"There might even be secret royal scandals."
Tara:
"...You're coming."
Meera:
"YES."
Another official stepped forward.
Tara:
"Name?"
Dev:
"Dev."
Tara:
"Position?"
Dev:
"Festival Assistant."
Tara:
"Would you like to come?"
Dev looked offended.
Dev:
"No."
Tara:
"...No?"
Dev:
"Minister, mountains are nature's way of telling humans to stay away."
"There is snow."
"There are cliffs."
"There are wolves."
"There are bears."
"There are larger wolves."
Aryav:
"I don't think that's how wolves work."
Dev ignored him.
Dev:
"I respect mountains from a safe distance."
Tara wrote his name down.
Dev:
"...What are you doing?"
Tara:
"Selecting expedition members."
Dev:
"That appears to be my name."
Tara:
"Excellent observation."
Dev:
"MINISTER PLEASE."
The next official approached quietly.
Tara:
"Name?"
Ritu:
"Ritu."
Tara:
"Position?"
Ritu:
"Translator Apprentice."
Tara:
"Would you like to join us?"
Ritu thought for a moment.
Ritu:
"I don't mind."
Silence.
Entire room:
"...What?"
Ritu:
"I prefer smaller groups."
Aryav:
"There will be nearly two hundred people."
Ritu:
"...I forgot."
Tara:
"You're coming too."
Ritu:
"Acceptable."
Another young official approached carrying three notebooks.
Then four more.
Then another two.
Tara:
"...Are those all yours?"
Official:
"Yes."
Tara:
"Name?"
Official:
"Nikhil."
Tara:
"Position?"
Nikhil:
"Records Department."
Tara:
"Would you like to join us?"
Nikhil looked horrified.
Nikhil:
"No."
Tara:
"Why?"
Nikhil:
"Who will organize the archives?"
Malini raised a hand.
Malini:
"I already organized them."
Nikhil froze.
Nikhil:
"...Then what is my purpose?"
Malini looked thoughtful.
Malini:
"Additional organization."
Nikhil nodded slowly.
Nikhil:
"I can accept that."
Tara wrote his name down.
Nikhil:
"...Wait."
Too late.
Hours passed.
Names were chosen.
Assignments were distributed.
Complaints were filed.
Complaints were ignored.
By midday, Tara leaned back in her chair.
Tara:
"I think that's everyone."
Dev raised a hand.
Dev:
"Minister."
Tara:
"Yes?"
Dev:
"Can I still resign?"
Tara:
"No."
Dev:
"I had to try."
Meera practically vibrated with excitement.
Meera:
"We're going beyond the Empire."
"We're actually going."
For the first time all morning—
The room became quiet.
Because she was right.
This wasn't another festival.
Another event.
Another assignment.
They were leaving home.
Leaving the capital.
Leaving the only world most of them had ever known.
Tara looked around the room.
At nervous faces.
Excited faces.
Terrified faces.
Then she smiled.
Tara:
"Don't worry."
Everyone looked toward her.
Tara:
"I've never done this before either."
Several officials stared.
Dev:
"...That wasn't reassuring at all."
Laughter erupted across the room.
For the first time that day—
The fear felt smaller.
Outside the windows of the Cultural Ministry, beyond the walls of the capital—
The mountains waited.
And somehow...
A group of young officials who barely felt like adults yet...
were going to meet them.
End of Chapter 2 — Part 1
Chapter 2 – Part 2
The Cultural Ministry had officially entered a state of organized panic.
Tables had disappeared beneath mountains of documents.
Maps covered entire walls.
Someone had somehow created three separate lists whose sole purpose was keeping track of other lists.
Tara suspected Nikhil.
Nikhil insisted he was being efficient.
Nobody believed him.
Tara stood at the front of the room with a brush in her hand.
Behind her, a large board displayed the words:
IMPERIAL HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION
Below it were dozens of blank spaces waiting to be filled.
Tara:
"Alright. Since apparently I am now responsible for leading this entire disaster, let's begin."
Dev raised his hand.
Dev:
"I would first like to officially submit my resignation from the expedition."
Tara:
"Denied."
Dev:
"I haven't even explained my reasons yet."
Tara:
"You were rejected preemptively."
Dev looked genuinely disappointed.
Dev:
"This ministry suppresses free speech."
Aryav:
"No, this ministry suppresses your speeches specifically."
Several officials laughed.
Tara pointed at the board.
Tara:
"First issue. Personnel."
"We need representatives from the Cultural Ministry itself."
"People who can actually negotiate cultural exchanges and festivals instead of accidentally starting diplomatic incidents."
Dev slowly lowered his hand.
Tara:
"Especially you."
Dev:
"I feel targeted."
Kavya:
"You are targeted."
Tara began writing names.
Meera.
Nikhil.
Dev.
Ritu.
The room became quiet.
Dev:
"...Wait."
Tara:
"Yes?"
Dev:
"Those are our names."
Tara:
"Excellent observation."
Dev:
"We're going too?"
Tara:
"Congratulations on keeping up."
Meera immediately stood up.
Meera:
"Actually I volunteer."
"I've never left the capital before."
"I heard mountain kingdoms have libraries carved directly into cliffs."
Aryav:
"Your priorities concern me."
Meera:
"Knowledge is important."
Aryav:
"You would walk into an active volcano if someone told you there was a book inside."
Meera considered it.
Meera:
"...Depends on the book."
Tara pointed toward Nikhil.
Tara:
"You?"
Nikhil adjusted his glasses.
Nikhil:
"Statistically speaking, mountain expeditions are associated with increased mortality rates."
Kavya:
"Statistically speaking, so is arguing with Tara."
Nikhil immediately nodded.
Nikhil:
"I accept my assignment."
Tara turned toward Dev.
Dev immediately stood up.
Dev:
"I suffer from altitude sickness."
Tara:
"You've never seen a mountain."
Dev:
"I suffer from altitude sickness emotionally."
Aryav buried his face in his hands.
Aryav:
"He's somehow getting worse."
Finally Tara looked toward Ritu.
Ritu:
"I don't mind going."
Everyone turned toward her.
Ritu:
"Someone has to make sure these people survive."
She pointed toward Dev.
Ritu:
"Mostly him."
Dev looked offended.
Dev:
"I am perfectly capable of surviving."
Ritu:
"You got lost inside the ministry building last week."
Dev:
"The corridors changed."
Malini sighed.
Malini:
"The corridors did not change."
After nearly an hour of arguments and complaints, the expedition roster was finalized.
Unfortunately for everyone involved.
The next topic appeared on the board.
GIFTS
The room immediately became dangerous again.
Meera:
"Ancient manuscripts."
Tara:
"Good."
Another official raised his hand.
Official:
"A life-sized golden elephant statue."
Silence.
Aryav:
"...How are we transporting that through the Himalayas?"
Official:
"Very carefully."
Kavya lowered her head.
Kavya:
"He sounded so confident saying that."
Dev raised his hand.
Dev:
"Fireworks."
Tara:
"Actually not terrible."
Dev smiled proudly.
Dev:
"Five hundred crates."
Tara:
"There it is."
By the end they settled on textiles, instruments, paintings, manuscripts and artisan crafts.
Things that could actually fit on wagons.
Then the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Yashodhan stood there.
Tara blinked.
Tara:
"...Yash?"
Yash bowed politely.
Yash:
"Minister Tara."
Aryav narrowed his eyes.
Aryav:
"Why do I feel like we're about to receive more work?"
Yash looked almost apologetic.
Yash:
"The Investigation Bureau assigned me to accompany the expedition."
The room became quiet.
Tara:
"Assigned or volunteered?"
Yash hesitated.
Yash:
"...Both."
Aryav looked at him with pity.
Aryav:
"Another victim."
Kavya nodded.
Kavya:
"You still have time to escape."
Yash looked confused.
Yash:
"Is the expedition that bad?"
Nobody answered immediately.
That worried Yash considerably more.
Eventually the sun began to set.
The piles of papers disappeared.
Documents were stored away.
Maps were rolled back up.
For the first time all day—
the ministry became quiet.
The group stepped outside together.
The streets of the capital glowed beneath the orange light of evening.
Merchants prepared to close their shops.
Workers returned home.
The city slowly began to rest.
Tara stretched her arms.
Tara:
"I think I understand now why senior ministers constantly look exhausted."
Aryav:
"Because they spend entire days listening to Dev."
Dev looked offended.
Dev:
"I contribute greatly to this ministry."
Kavya:
"You spent twenty minutes arguing that mountains should be flattened."
Dev:
"Mountains are inefficient."
Malini suddenly looked toward Tara.
Malini:
"Speaking of inefficiency."
Tara became nervous immediately.
Tara:
"...Yes?"
Malini:
"You have not purchased your winter clothes yet, have you?"
Silence.
Aryav slowly turned toward Tara.
Kavya slowly turned toward Tara.
Yash slowly turned toward Tara.
Even Dev turned toward Tara.
Tara:
"..."
Aryav:
"...Tara."
Tara:
"In my defense, organizing an international diplomatic mission involving three ministries is slightly time consuming."
Kavya:
"So that's a no."
Tara:
"That is a no."
Tara rubbed her eyes.
Tara:
"I'm too exhausted for today to go shopping."
Kavya nodded.
Kavya:
"That's understandable."
Tara:
"Alright then."
"I'll go tomorrow."
Malini answered immediately.
Malini:
"I'll come with you."
Dev looked confused.
Dev:
"Why are you going with her?"
"If you stay with us, we can continue preparations."
Malini looked toward him.
Malini:
"Dev."
Dev:
"Yes?"
Malini:
"If I leave Minister Tara alone in the market..."
"...there is a very real possibility she returns with horses instead of winter clothing."
Tara gasped.
Tara:
"I would never do that."
Aryav:
"She absolutely would."
Kavya:
"Without hesitation."
Malini nodded.
Malini:
"Possibly multiple horses."
Tara folded her arms.
Tara:
"That happened once."
Aryav:
"It happened twice."
Tara:
"The second horse was heavily discounted."
Dev slowly looked toward Malini.
Dev:
"Is she actually that childish?"
Malini considered the question carefully.
Malini:
"She is simultaneously one of the smartest and one of the least trustworthy people I know when left alone with money."
Dev frowned.
Dev:
"That doesn't really make sense."
Aryav:
"It makes perfect sense once you know her."
The group eventually separated for the evening.
Some returned home.
Others returned to their duties.
Tomorrow would bring another day of preparations.
Another day closer to departure.
Another day closer to the mountains.
Not far away—
inside one of the palace corridors—
Chandraveer and Nayan happened to be walking past after concluding discussions with several ministers.
Completely unrelated to Tara.
Entirely coincidental.
Chandraveer slowed slightly.
Nayan noticed immediately.
Nayan:
"Your Majesty?"
Chandraveer looked toward the departing group.
Chandraveer:
"...Did Minister Tara say she intends to visit the market tomorrow?"
Nayan lowered his eyes slightly.
Nayan:
"I believe so."
They continued walking.
For approximately ten seconds.
Chandraveer:
"Nayan."
Nayan:
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
Chandraveer:
"As Emperor, do you think it is important to understand current market conditions and prices?"
Nayan already knew where this was going.
Nayan:
"Very important."
Chandraveer nodded seriously.
Chandraveer:
"Excellent."
"Then tomorrow we shall conduct an inspection of the markets."
Nayan:
"In disguise."
Chandraveer:
"Naturally."
Nayan:
"On the exact same day Minister Tara plans to go shopping."
Silence.
Chandraveer:
"A remarkable coincidence."
Nayan stared at him.
Chandraveer:
"The capital is a large city."
Nayan:
"Indeed."
Chandraveer:
"The chances of meeting Minister Tara are incredibly low."
Nayan:
"Certainly."
Chandraveer:
"And if such an encounter somehow occurs..."
"...it will obviously be accidental."
Nayan nodded slowly.
Nayan:
"Naturally."
After several moments—
Nayan:
"Would it not be easier to simply ask Minister Tara if you may accompany her?"
Chandraveer looked genuinely confused.
Chandraveer:
"That would be strange."
Nayan:
"Following her through the city while disguised as a commoner is apparently normal."
Chandraveer considered this carefully.
Chandraveer:
"Significantly more normal."
Nayan sighed.
Nayan:
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Somewhere in the capital—
completely unaware that an imperial surveillance operation had just been approved—
Tara was probably already asleep.
Tomorrow would certainly be interesting.
For everyone involved.
End of Chapter 2