"But for what purpose? After you're drunk and you've spent yourself
with a _nautch _dancer. Don't deny it. I know it's true. Do you forget
she has servants? There are no secrets in this camp. I think you'll
sooner sire an heir on a slave girl than on my daughter. I will not
have it."
"Majesty." Allaudin twisted uncomfortably and glanced up with relief to
see Nadir Sharif pushing aside the portiere of the tent. As he entered,
Janahara motioned toward the servants and eunuchs waiting in attendance
and in moments they had disappeared through the curtained doorways at
the rear.
"You're late."
"My sincerest apologies, Majesty. There are endless matters to attend.
You know His Majesty still holds morning _darshan _from his tent, and
has two _durbar _audiences a day. The difficulties . . ."
"Your 'difficulties' are only beginning." She was extracting a dispatch
from a gilded bamboo tube. "Read this."
Nadir Sharif took the document and moved into the light at the
entrance. He had always despised the red chintz tents of the Imperial
family, whose doorways were forever sealed with Persian hangings that
kept in all the smoke and lamp soot. As he studied the dispatch he
moved even closer to the light, astonishment growing in his eyes. He
read it through twice before turning back to Janahara.
"Has His Majesty seen this yet?"
"Of course not. But he will have to eventually."
"Who is it from?" Allaudin stared up from the bolster, his voice
uneasy.
"Your brother." Janahara studied him with eyes verging on contempt.
"Jadar has declared he is no longer under the authority of the Moghul."
She paused to make sure the news had reached Allaudin. "Do you
understand what that means? Jadar has rebelled. He's probably marching
on Agra right now with his army."
"That's impossible! As long as His Majesty lives . . ."
"Jadar has declared His Majesty is no longer fit to reign. He has
offered to assume the 'burden' himself. It's a preposterous affront to
legitimate rule."
"Then he must be brought to Agra for trial." Allaudin's voice swelled
with determination.
"Obviously." Nadir Sharif moved toward the door of the tent and stared
into the sunshine for a long moment. Then he turned to Janahara. "We
have no choice now but to send the Imperial army. Your intuition about
Jadar last week was all too correct."
"And now you agree? After a week has been lost." Janahara had followed
him with her eyes. "Now you concede that the army must move."
"There's nothing else to be done." Nadir Sharif seemed to study the
parched landscape of the valley below. "Although containing Jadar may
well be more difficult than we first assumed."
"Why should it be difficult?" Allaudin watched Nadir Sharif in
bewilderment. "His forces were very small to begin with. And after his
defeat by Malik Ambar, how many men and cavalry can he have left?"
"Perhaps you should read the dispatch." Nadir Sharif tossed the
scrolled paper into Allaudin's lap. "Jadar never engaged Malik Ambar.
Instead he forged an alliance. It would appear his 'retreat' north to
Burhanpur was merely a ruse. He never met the Maratha armies in the
first place, so he did not lose a single infantryman. Instead he
intimidated Malik Ambar and struck a truce with him. There's no knowing
how large his army is now, or even where he is. This dispatch came from
Mandu, so he's already well on his way north. I think he'll probably
lay siege to Agra within two weeks if he's not stopped."
"Merciful Allah." Allaudin's voice was suddenly tremulous. "What do we
do?" Then he looked imploringly at Janahara. "I'll lead the army myself
if you want."
Janahara seemed not to hear him as she rose and walked toward the door
of the tent. Nadir Sharif stepped aside as she shoved back the tapestry
and stared out into the valley.
"This morning I ordered Inayat Latif to mobilize and march."
"Without telling His Majesty!" Nadir Sharif stared at her
incredulously.
"I ordered it in his name. I suspected something like this might
happen, so I had him sign and stamp the order four days ago."
"Was His Majesty entirely sob . . ." Nadir Sharif hesitated. "Was he in
full understanding of what he was authorizing?"
"That hardly matters now. But you must place the seal you keep on the
order also before it's forwarded to the _wazir _to be officially
recorded." She did not shift her gaze from the sunlit valley. "It's on
the table behind you."
Nadir Sharif turned and stared down at the gold-inlaid stand. The order
was there, a single folded piece of paper inside a gilded leather
cover. The string which would secure it had not yet been tied.
"You were wise to have taken this precaution, Majesty." Nadir Sharif
glanced back at Janahara, his voice flowing with admiration. "There's
no predicting His Majesty's mind these days. Only yesterday I
discovered he had completely forgotten . . ."
"Have you stamped it?"
"My seal is not here, Majesty." He paused. "And I was wondering . . .
would it be wise to review our strategy briefly with His Majesty, lest
he become confused later and forget he authorized the order? Perhaps
even countermand it?"
"Your seal will be sufficient. It's in the pocket of your cloak where
you always carry it, the pocket on the left."
"Your Majesty's memory is astonishing sometimes." Nadir Sharif quickly
extracted the metal case, flipped off the cover, and with a flourish
imprinted the black Seal of the Realm on the top of the order, beneath
Arangbar's signature and the impression of his royal signet ring. "When
will the army be able to move?"
"Tomorrow. Most of the elephants are moving out this morning." Janahara
turned back and glanced at the paper with satisfaction. "And tomorrow
we will all return to Agra. The plague is subsiding, and I think His
Majesty should be in the fort."
"I agree entirely. Has it been ordered?"
"I will order it later today. Jadar cannot move his army that rapidly."
"I will begin preparations to go with the army." Allaudin rose and
adjusted the jeweled katar at his belt.
"You will be returning to the Red Fort, with His Majesty and with me."
Janahara did not look at him as she spoke.
"But 1 want to face Jadar. I insist." He tightened his gauze cloak. "I
will demand an audience with His Majesty if you refuse."
Janahara studied him silently for a moment. "I have an even better
idea. Since Jadar has refused to lead the army to defend the fortress
at Qandahar, how would you like to be appointed in his place?"