Journey to the City of Six Gates

By Graeme MacQueen

Princess Mati awakens from a troubled sleep to find that her life has changed overnight: enemies have invaded the Land of Gold and abducted her parents, the King and Queen. Fourteen-year-old Mati and her twelve-year-old brother, Satya, are secretly spirited away by the loyal Jaya Prabhasa, the most accomplished warrior in the land. As they journey through a world they have never known in their sheltered existence, and are put to the test by an eccentric flying sage, Mati and Satya acquire extraordinary skills to survive mysterious forests and perilous swamps. But are these sufficient to help the three companions evade marauding armies and rescue their parents?

This adventure fantasy set in ancient India, long before the region acquired the name, is written in the engaging style of a historical thriller. Its heroes must discover how to deal with injustice without descending to the level of their violent persecutors. Through contemplative poetic incantation and robust, uncluttered prose, it also weaves into its fabric issues such as the status of women and care for the forests.

Reading Corner Book Review points granted 5 out of 5.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BBSkyline
• Release date: Dec 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781778275524

Graeme MacQueen

Graeme MacQueen was born and raised in Canada. He was trained as an expert in Indian religion and in the mid-1990s, when Griffin Ondaatje decided to bring out a book of stories from ancient India re-told by contemporary authors, he asked MacQueen to contribute. So he contributed four stories to The Monkey King & Other Stories, which was published in 1995 by HarperCollins. In the year 2000, Orient Longman chose one of MacQueen’s stories for its GulMohar English reader. This made the story, “Brighter Still,” available to 100,000 young people each year in India. (He was asked again in 2014 if the story could be included in Orient BlackSwan's 8th edition of the GulMohar reader.) MacQueen also worked with several Afghan organizations in a peace-making project. Two of MacQueen’s original stories were published in Afghanistan, and translated into Dari and Pashto, by UNICEF. MacQueen was then asked to write an original book-length story for young readers. The result was Journey to the City of Six Gates.

Book preview

Chapter 1

F ingers and rice! Fingers and rice! cried the street vendor. Come taste the enemies of the king!

The air was thick with oily smoke. Mati stumbled when the crowd pushed her from behind. She felt her knees weaken. Above her a flock of crows was passing, and she strained her ears to hear what they were saying to her.

Mati woke up with a jolt. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows of her room and gleaming on the gold covers of her books.

Already her dream was beginning to fade. Crows...what was it the crows had been trying to say to her?

In the distance, she heard cawing. She rose slowly from her bed, dragged a chair to her window and looked out. A great flock of crows cast a shadow over the southern quarter of the City of Gold. As they swept by, the early sunlight glared on the rain-washed marble of the city. Half-blinded, Mati stepped down from the window and sat on her bed. She rubbed her face and tried to shake off her dream.

The last week had been terrible. Messengers coming and going, officers and ministers holding urgent conferences with her father, men working frantically on the city walls. A complete uproar. She knew her parents were worried but they would not tell her what was going on.

Mati was angry. She was a woman, fourteen years old. What right did they have to keep things from her? How could she study, how could she do her mathematics in the middle of such confusion?

Hearing a soft rustle, Mati turned her head in surprise. Now what? Her maid had entered the room and was standing there shivering without saying a word. She was looking at Mati, her eyes wide. 

What is it? asked Mati. But the woman said nothing.

What is it? asked Mati more loudly as a spark of fear entered her.

We must not panic, said the maid with a quiver in her voice. We must not panic.

Mati stood up and shouted, What are you talking about?

Princess, said the maid, trying hard to pull herself together. The enemy is at the south gate.

DOWN THE LONG HALL rushed Mati and her maid—past crystal light-stands, jewel trees, and the glass pond where opal swans swam in tight circles. From below them, on the ground floor of the women’s palace, came the sound of urgent voices.

Mati had insisted on taking her measuring string with her. She was not only a princess, she was a mathematician, and no enemy was going to change that. Now, as she ran down the stairs to the main floor, she wound the measuring string around her wrist, finding its tightness comforting.

There was chaos! Cooks, servants and guards rushed everywhere, so distracted they even forgot to bow to Mati.

Mati could see the fear in everyone‛s eyes. Soon they would be pushing and clawing to escape the city! But her maid had regained her courage, and now she took Mati firmly by the arm and led her away from the main entrance and deep into the palace. Through a dark kitchen they went, and then through the cook’s quarters and along narrow winding corridors Mati had never seen before. An escort of four guards with drawn swords joined them.

Suddenly, ahead of them, shone the light of outdoors. Beside the open door of a back entrance of the palace, a group of Mati’s servants stood, their cheeks wet with tears. Mati’s old nurse, Devi, tried to speak but was too full of emotion. She pressed her palms together, her tears dripping onto the floor. The sight of Devi crying was almost too much for Mati, and she herself began to tremble. 

I am a Princess, she reminded herself.  She took a breath, stood taller, and prepared to say goodbye to the servants. But before she could say a thing her maid pulled her through the door and into the sunlight where a chariot with two men in it was waiting. Giving Mati a desperate embrace, her maid, weeping, pushed her in.

Mati was caught roughly by a royal bodyguard while the tall young man handling the vehicle bowed to her formally. Then he spoke to the horses, and they were off!

Ahead in the distance Mati saw another chariot carrying her twelve-year old brother, Satya, to the north gate. Like her, Satya was trying to hold himself tall, playing the part of royalty, but she could tell he was as afraid as she was.

In the next few moments, forty of her father‛s war chariots pulled up around the two light chariots bearing Satya and Mati. The men controlled their horses expertly. There was no neighing, no rearing or shying. The escape from the north gate would be silent.

Suddenly, Mati thought of her parents. She turned abruptly to her driver. Where are the King and Queen?

Princess, they are doing their duty. And I must do mine.

Chapter 2

When the forty-two chariots of the Land of Gold rounded a bend in the highway Satya noticed lights in the distance. Little points of light, many of them. With a sick feeling, he realized it was sunlight gleaming on helmets and spears. Now he could make them out: foot soldiers, filling the highway and overflowing onto the fields.

Whose army was it? The banners were too far away to recognize. For one brief moment he thought it might be a friendly army coming to the rescue, but a glance at the face of his charioteer told him all he needed to know: this was the enemy. Satya did not know who the enemy was, but whoever they were they had anticipated the escape through the north gate, and they were trying to intercept the chariots. The City of Gold was being surrounded.

Satya turned his head and looked across at his sister Mati's chariot. He had recognized her driver as soon as he had seen him. It was Jaya Prabhasa, whose name meant Light of Victory. The warrior was only nineteen years old, but already he was the most famous in the Land of Gold. Some people said he was the best bowman in the kingdom. All kinds of stories were told about him.

As the charioteers saw the enemy's army they looked to Jaya Prabhasa for orders. Without hesitation, he gave a great shout and urged them into battle. The horses leapt forward, and soon the chariots were rushing like the wind toward the opposing army.

Satya understood the plan at once. Halfway between the chariots of his father's army and the approaching soldiers was a narrow, little used road that met the main highway down which they were now travelling. If Jaya could get his forces to the little road first, he could escape down it with Satya and Mati while his men held off the enemy.

At that moment the sea of foot soldiers in the distance parted and the enemy’s chariots rushed through the opening. There was a sound, faint at first but rapidly growing. The shouting of men and the thunder of chariots. It was a race to the crossroads!

The jolting of the chariot and the beating of his heart made it impossible for Satya to think clearly. He remembered that he was supposed to be brave, but he could not remember what it felt like to be brave.

The chariots rushing toward them loomed larger every second. Now Satya saw that Jaya was holding back the chariots with Satya and Mati, while he urged the heavy war chariots to charge full speed into the enemy.

Shattering of wood! Screaming of men and horses! Satya hunched down in his chariot like a cat in a rainstorm. Arrows were flying everywhere. As his chariot swerved off the main highway onto the little road, he lost his footing completely. His guard fell on top of him and pinned him down. When at last Satya was able to push the man aside, he saw that he was dead, pierced with many arrows.

Satya struggled to his feet and peered over the edge of the chariot. He saw Mati's chariot right behind. An arrow was sticking out of her guard's shoulder. Back at the crossroads, which already seemed far away, his father’s men fought on bravely, but, even as Satya watched, the enemy’s foot soldiers reached the area of battle and swarmed everywhere. His father’s men were doomed! But what would happen to the Land of Gold? Its beautiful capital, the City of Gold? What would happen to his father, King Hiranya, and to his mother, Sundari? And to Mati and himself?

Chapter 3

It was almost dusk . Mati and Satya sat by a small fire with Jaya under the forest canopy. It was the end of their first day as fugitives. By now the road they were following had become a poor, winding thing heading east. Sometimes it threatened to disappear completely into the trees. The travellers were covered with dust.

The enemy had followed them, and twice they had been forced to fight. Jaya was a deadly shot. He fired so rapidly it seemed as though ten men were shooting, and each arrow found its mark. Satya watched helplessly. He had no weapons, and even if he had he was not sure if he could have used them. The fights were terrible. One moment he was impressed by Jaya's skill and the next moment he was horrified by its results.

Now Satya was falling asleep in the glow of the fire. Mati sat stiffly and said nothing. She had her measuring string wrapped around her wrist and every few minutes she would unwind it and rewind it again.

Jaya spoke. Prince. Princess. You must eat. I know the fare is rough, but our escape will require all of our energy. We must contend with two of the most evil kings in the world, Puti Mamsa and Bala Raja. They have come from distant places, joining forces to attack your father and steal the riches of his kingdom.

Satya came awake with a start. Puti Mamsa? King Rotten Meat?

Yes, Prince.

He's a real person? I thought mothers made him up. 'If you don't go to bed right now I'll tell King Rotten Meat!'

Unfortunately, Prince, he is real. Jaya stretched out his arm and handed Satya a piece of burnt venison. You will need your strength tomorrow. There will be no more riding in chariots.

Satya took the meat and tried to chew it. What do you mean? Why would we walk along the road when we can ride?

Prince, the horses are exhausted. They cannot go much further. The driver of your chariot and the guard from your royal sister’s chariot will leave us. They will continue as far as the horses can manage, having piled logs in the chariots so there will be no change in the depth of the tracks. In this way they will fool the enemy, and in the meantime I will lead you and the Princess on foot eastward into the Forest of Many Trees.

But we'll get lost! People say it has no end!

Everything has an end, Prince.

It does, does it, warrior? Mati's voice was harsh. You are an expert in beginnings and endings?

Jaya was silent.

And what is the logic behind going east? Mati continued. If I am not mistaken both of these kings live in the east.

Princess, our only hope is to reach King Nanda. He lives in the east. He will give us refuge.

How far is it to Nanda? asked Satya.

Jaya stirred the fire. I cannot say, Prince. I am afraid by the route we are going it will take—some months.

Months! How can we live in the forest for months?

Mati was watching Jaya carefully. She said, The word 'some' is imprecise, warrior. I'm sure you can give us a better estimate.

Jaya kept his gaze down as he replied. Perhaps, Princess, it will be many months.

Or many years?

Satya cried, What are you talking about? Nobody can live that long in the forest!

Jaya paused. Not far away his men could be heard feeding the horses. Prince, he said slowly, you are the heir to the throne of one of the world's richest kingdoms. We have been taken by surprise and are on the run. Our enemies will try very hard to capture you.

And what about me? said Mati. What is the price of a princess these days?

Price, Princess?

What will I be worth in the royal market place? I can produce sons of royal blood. They might get a dozen or so out of me if they start right away.

Jaya's expression was grim. They will not have that opportunity, Princess.

How do you know?

Because they will have to deal with me first.

At that moment the two men who had been feeding the horses approached and indicated that they needed to speak to Jaya. He rose and walked off some distance with them. Satya chewed his food and complained of a stomach ache. Mati turned her back to Satya and faced the dark forest alone.

When Jaya returned, Satya said to him, Why would anybody keep such a stupid name as Rotten Meat, anyway? If it was my name I'd change it.

Puti Mamsa means Many Meats in the eastern dialect. He is proud of the name.

Many Meats, repeated Mati, still facing the forest. And his city is called The City of A Thousand Signs, is it not?

Even more signs than that, Princess. A Hundred Thousand Signs.

And what are these signs?

I do not know.

What about our other enemy, Bala Raja? Does his city have signs?

Princess, I know only that Bala Raja is said to be even more dangerous than Puti Mamsa. And that his city is called The City of Six Gates.

JAYA WAS SQUATTING with the men next to the horses, talking softly. He had prepared beds of leaves and branches for Mati and Satya, and he had urged them to get some rest. But they were still sitting by the fire, silent.

The breeze was beginning to get cool, and the sunset was spectacular. The sun seemed to stretch out red-gold all along the western horizon.

Mati turned abruptly to Satya, who was beginning to doze again. What do you think of the sunset, little brother?

Satya raised his weary head and looked at it.

Isn't it beautiful? Mati prodded.

I guess so.

No, but isn't it really and truly beautiful? she asked fiercely.

Satya lost his temper. Yes, I said it was beautiful! Beautiful, beautiful, really beautiful! The most beautiful thing I've ever seen! Are you happy?

Mati laughed a short, bitter laugh.

Chapter 4

The next morning, even the sun seemed reluctant to get out of bed. The sky was overcast and there was a taste of smoke in the air.

Satya shivered and coughed. For a fire that's too small to keep a person warm, it certainly gives off a lot of smoke.

No one replied.

Breakfast consisted of tough, tasteless leaves. Mati and Satya ate little. After the two men staying behind with the chariots had bowed to the Prince and Princess, Jaya led the way into the dark forest.

Stupid, stupid, fire! coughed Satya.

Mati was walking ahead of him. She turned. What are you complaining about now?

The smoke! Why's it so smoky?

Try using your head for once.

What's the matter with you? yelled Satya. Did you eat a snake for breakfast?

Mati stopped walking and glared at Satya. Her voice was low but full of anger. The most beautiful sunset you've ever seen? That was no sunset, you idiot. It was our city burning to the ground. This smoke is probably from the ashes of your own bedroom!

And she stalked off into the forest.

Satya stood still, unable to move. He could neither think nor speak. Silently, he watched Jaya come toward him. Jaya put his hand on Satya's shoulder.

Prince, it is bad but it is not the end. We must continue to hope that your parents have escaped harm. Now, I must ask you to stay here while I find the Princess.

Satya felt his knees wobble. He sat down hard on the forest floor.

MATI HAD OUT HER MEASURING string and was moving from fallen branch to fallen branch, tree stump to tree stump. She would wrap the string around the tree or branch and then she would measure its thickness. Then she would pause and reflect.