Deccan to destroy me.
Jadar looked at Mumtaz and smiled. "Yes, I must do something. But right
now I'll see my _chitahs _fed." And he turned and strode briskly back
toward his tent.
A dense mantle of evening smoke enveloped the camp as the three
generals passed through the entry of the gulal bar. They advanced to
the front of the sarachah platform and halted to wait for Jadar. Each
had brought a silver cup, as Jadar had instructed.
All three were seasoned military leaders. Abdullah Khan, a young Moghul
warrior, had been promoted to a rank of three thousand _suwar _after
the successful siege at the northern fortress of Kangra. Under the
prince he had risen from the rank of foot soldier to cavalry, and now
he commanded his own division. The next was Abul Hasan, a cool-headed
Afghan strategist with rank of five thousand _suwar_, who had led
Prince Jadar to his first victory in the Deccan three years before.
Finally there was Raja Vikrama-jit, a bearded Rajput of royal blood,
who led the Hindus. He scorned matchlocks and fought only with his
sword, and he was the bravest man in battle that Jadar had ever known.
Moments later Prince Jadar emerged through the smoke, carrying his
heavy sword and accompanied by Vasant Rao. A servant trailed after them
bearing a crystal decanter of wine and two silver goblets on a tray.
The prince assumed his seat in the center of the platform and ordered
the servant to place the decanter on a small table by his side. Then he
motioned away the servant and all the surrounding guards.
"I propose we all take a glass of wine to clear our thoughts. It's
Persian, and I had it cooled in the saltpeter tent especially for this
evening."
Jadar personally poured wine for each of the men, then filled the two
goblets on the tray for Vasant Rao and for himself.
"I hereby propose a toast to Ahmadnagar, which Malik Ambar now calls
his own capital. And to its recapture within a hundred days."
The men raised their goblets and drank in silence. Skepticism filled
their eyes.
Jadar looked at them and smiled. "You do not agree? Then let me tell
you more. The situation is very bad. How bad even you do not yet know.
But battles are more than a matter of numbers. They are a test of the
will to win. That's why I called you here tonight." Jadar paused. "But
first, is the wine to your liking?"
The men nodded silent assent.
"Good. Drink deeply, for none of us will drink again until we drink in
Ahmadnagar. Now I will take your cups."
Jadar reached for each man's cup individually and placed them in a row
alongside the tray, together with his own and that of Vasant Rao. Then
he laid his own cup on its side on the tray and slowly drew his heavy
sword from its scabbard. With a fierce swing he sliced the cup in half.
Then the next cup, and the next, until all were destroyed. The men
watched him spellbound.
"Assemble your ranks in the bazaar at midnight. In full battle dress. I
will address them. And at dawn, we march."
Jadar rose and as quickly as he had come disappeared into the darkness.
Battle gear--helmets, buckles, pikes, swords, muskets-- glistened in the
torchlight as Jadar rode a fully armored war elephant slowly down the
center of the main bazaar. The bristling infantry, arrayed in rows on
either side, watched him expectantly. A midnight muster was unheard of.
But rumors had already swept the camp telling of the pending marriage
of the queen's daughter to Allaudin. All knew Jadar had been betrayed.
And with him, all of them as well.
Then they noticed carts following him, with barrels of wine from
Jadar's tent. When the prince reached the center of the bazaar, he
raised his arms for silence.
For a moment all that could be heard was the neigh of horses from the
stables, and the cries of infants in the far reaches of the camp.