The Moghul Page 30

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Prince Jadar passed the signal to the waiting guards as hestrode briskly down the stone-floored hallway and they noddedimperceptibly in acknowledgment. There was no sound in the torch-litcorridor save the pad of his leather-soled riding slippers.

  It was the beginning of the third _pahar_, midday, and he had comedirectly from the hunt when the runner brought word that Mumtaz hadentered labor. It would have been unseemly to have gone to her side, sohe had spoken briefly with the _dai_, midwife. He had overruled theHindu woman's suggestion that Mumtaz be made to give birth squatting bya bed, so that a broom could be pressed against her abdomen as themidwife rubbed her back. It was, he knew, the barbarous practice ofunbelievers, and he cursed himself for taking on the woman in the firstplace. It had been a symbolic gesture for the Hindu troops, to quellconcern that all the important details attending the birth would beMuslim. Jadar had insisted that Mumtaz be moved to a velvet mat on thefloor of her room and carefully positioned with her head north and herfeet south. In case she should die in childbirth--and he ferventlyprayed she would not--this was the position in which she would beburied, her face directed toward Mecca. He had ordered all cannon ofthe fort primed with powder, to be fired in the traditional Muslimsalute if a male child was the issue.

  Preparations also were underway for the naming ceremony. He had prayedfor many days that this time a son would be named. There were twodaughters already, and yet another would merely mean one moreintriguing woman to be locked away forever, for he knew he could neverallow a daughter to marry. The complications of yet another aspiringfamily in the palace circle were inconceivable. The scheming PersianShi'ites, like the queen and her family, who had descended on Agrawould like nothing better than another opportunity to use marriage todilute the influence of Sunni Muslims at court.

  Allah, this time it has to be a son. Hasn't everything possible beendone? And if Akman was right, that a change of residence during theterm ensures a male heir, then I'll have a son twelve times over fromthis birthing. She's been in a dozen cities. And camps. I even testedthe augury of the Hindus and had a household snake killed and tossed inthe air by one of their Brahmin unbelievers, to see how it would land.And it landed on its back, which they say augurs a boy. Also, the milksqueezed from her breasts three days ago was thin, which the Hindusbelieve foretells a son.

  Still, the omens have been mixed. _The eclipse_. Why did it come a dayearlier than the Hindu astrologers had predicted? Now I realize it wasexactly seven days before the birth. No one can recall when they failedto compute an eclipse correctly.

  What did it mean? That my line will die out? Or that a son will be bornhere who will one day overshadow me?

  Who can know the future? What Allah wills must be.

  And, he told himself, the meeting set for the third _pahar_ must stilltake place, regardless of the birth. Unless he did what he had planned,the birth would be meaningless. All the years of planning now could beforfeited in this single campaign.

  If I fail now, what will happen to the legacy of Akman, his great workto unify India? Will India return to warring fiefdoms, neighbor pittedagainst neighbor, or fall to the Shi'ites? The very air around me hintsof treachery.

  With that thought he momentarily inspected the placement of hispersonal crest on the thick wooden door of the fortress reception halland pushed it wide. A phalanx of guards trailed behind him into theroom, which he had claimed as his command post for the duration of hisstay in Burhanpur. The immense central carpet had been freshlygarlanded around the edges with flowers.

  The fortress, the only secure post remaining in the city, had beencommandeered by Jadar and his hand-picked guard. His officers had takenaccommodations in the town, and the troops had erected an enormous tentcomplex along the road leading into the city from the north. Theirwomen now swarmed over the bazaar, accumulating stores for the marchsouth. Bullock carts of fresh produce glutted the roads leading intothe city, for word had reached the surrounding villages that Burhanpurwas host to the retinue of the prince and his soldiers from the north--buyers accustomed to high northern prices. The villagers also knew fromlong experience that a wise man would strip his fields and gardens andorchards now and sell, before an army on the march simply took what itwanted.

  Rumors had already reached the city that the army of Malik Ambar,Abyssinian leader of the Deccanis, was marching north toward Burhanpurwith eighty thousand infantry and horsemen. An advance contingent wasalready encamped no more than ten _kos_ south of the city.

  Jadar inspected the reception room until he was certain

  it was secure, with every doorway under command of his men. Then hesignaled the leader of the Rajput guard, who relayed a message to acourier waiting outside. Finally he settled himself against an immensevelvet bolster, relishing this moment of quiet to clear his mind.

  The Deccan, the central plains of India. Will they ever be ours? Howmany more campaigns must there be?

  He recalled with chagrin all the humiliations dealt Arangbar by theDeccanis.

  When Arangbar took the throne at Akman's death, he had announced hewould continue his father's policy of military control of the Deccan. Ageneral named Ghulam Adl had requested, and received, confirmation ofhis existing post of Khan Khanan, "Khan of Khans," the supremecommander of the Moghul armies in the south. To subdue the Deccan onceand for all, Arangbar had sent an additional twelve thousand cavalrysouth and had given Ghulam Adl a million rupees to refurbish his army.But in spite of these forces, the Abyssinian Malik Ambar soon had setup a rebel capital at Ahmadnagar and declared himself prime minister.

  In disgust Arangbar had taken the command from Ghulam Adl and given itto his own son, the second oldest, Parwaz. This dissolute princemarched south with great pomp. Once there he set up an extravagantmilitary headquarters, a royal court in miniature, and spent severalyears drinking and bragging of his inevitable victory. Ghulam Adl hadwatched this with growing resentment, and finally he succumbed tobribes by Malik Ambar and retreated with his own army.

  In anger Arangbar then appointed two other generals to march on theDeccan, one from the north and one from the West, hoping to trap MalikAmbar in a pincer. But the Abyssinian deftly kept them apart, and badlydefeated each in turn. Eventually both were driven back to the north,with heavy losses.

  This time, on the advice of Queen Janahara, Arangbar transferred hisson Parwaz out of the Deccan, to Allahbad, and in his place sent PrinceJadar. The younger prince had marched on the Deccan with forty thousandadditional troops to supplement the existing forces.

  When Jadar and his massive army reached Burhanpur, Malik Ambar wiselyproposed a truce and negotiations. He returned the fort at Ahmadnagarto the Moghul and withdrew his troops. Arangbar was jubilant andrewarded Jadar with sixteen _lakhs_ of rupees and a prize diamond.Triumphant, Jadar had returned to Agra and begun to think of becomingthe next Moghul. That had been three long years ago.

  But Malik Ambar had the cunning of a jackal, and his "surrender" hadbeen merely a ruse to remove the Moghul troops again to the north. Thisyear he had waited for the monsoon, when conventional armies could notmove rapidly, and again risen in rebellion, easily driving Ghulam Adl'sarmy north from Ahmadnagar, reclaiming the city, and laying siege toits Moghul garrison. The despairing Arangbar again appealed to Jadar tolead troops south to relieve the permanent forces of Ghulam Adl. Afterdemanding and receiving a substantial increase in _mansab _rank andpersonal cavalry, Jadar had agreed.

  The wide wooden door of the reception hall opened and Ghulam Adl stroderegally into the room, wearing a gold- braided turban with a featherand a great sword at his belt. His beard was longer than Jadar hadremembered, and now it had been reddened with henna--perhaps, Jadarthought, to hide the gray. But his deep-set eyes were still haughty andself-assured, and his swagger seemed to belie reports he had barelyescaped with his life from the besieged fortress at Ahmadnagar onlyfive weeks before.

  Ghulam Adl's gaze quickly swept the room, but his eyes betrayed nonotice of the
exceptional size of Jadar's guard. With an immense showof dignity he nodded a perfunctory bow, hands clasped at the sparklingjewel of his turban.

  "Salaam, Highness. May Allah lay His hand on both our swords and temperthem once more with fire." He seated himself easily, as he might withan equal, and when no servant came forward, he poured himself a glassof wine from the decanter that waited on the carpet beside his bolster.Is there anything, he wondered, I despise more than these presumptuousyoung princes from Agra? "I rejoice your journey was swift. You'vearrived in time to witness my army savage the Abyssinian unbeliever andhis rabble."

  "How many troops are left?" Jadar seemed not to hear the boast.

  "Waiting are fifty thousand men, Highness, and twenty thousand horse,ready to tender their lives at my command." Ghulam Adl delicatelyshielded his beard as he drank off the glass of wine and--when again noservant appeared-- poured himself another.

  Jadar remained expressionless.

  "My reports give you only five thousand men left, most _chelas_.Chelas, from the Hindu slang for "slave," was a reference to themercenary troops, taken in childhood and raised in the camp, thatcommanders maintained as a kernel of their forces. Unlike soldiers fromthe villages, they were loyal even in misfortune, because theyliterally had no place to return to. "What troops do you have from the_mansabdars_, who've been granted stipends from their _jagir_ estaterevenue to maintain men and horse?"

  "Those were the ones I mean, Highness." Ghulam Adl's hand trembledslightly as he again lifted the wineglass. "The _mansabdars_ haveassured me we have only to sound the call, and their men will muster.In due time."

  "Then pay is not in arrears for their men and cavalry."

  "Highness, it's well known pay must always be in arrears. How else aremen's loyalties to be guaranteed? A commander foolish enough to pay histroops on time will lose them at the slightest setback, since they haveno reason to remain with him in adversity." Ghulam Adl eased hiswineglass on the carpet and bent forward. "I concede some of the_mansabdars_ may have allowed matters of pay to slip longer than iswise. But they assure me that when the time is right their men willmuster nonetheless."

  "Then why not call the muster? In another twenty days Ambar's troopswill be encamped at our doorstep. He could well control all lands southof the Narbada River."

  And that, Ghulam Adl smiled to himself, is precisely the plan.

  He thought of the arrangement that had been worked out. Jadar was to bekept in Burhanpur for another three weeks, delayed by any meanspossible. By then Malik Ambar would have the city surrounded, allaccess cut off. The Imperial troops would be isolated and demoralized.No troops would be forthcoming from the _mansabdars_. Only promises oftroops. Cut off from Agra and provisions, Jadar would have no choicebut to sign a treaty. The paper had already been prepared. Malik Ambarwould rule the Deccan from his new capital at Ahmadnagar, and GhulamAdl would be appointed governor of all provinces north from Ahmadnagarto the Narbada River. With their combined troops holding the borders,no Moghul army could ever again challenge the Deccan. Ghulam Adl knewthe _mansabdars_ would support him, because he had offered to cut theirtaxes in half. He had neglected to specify for how long.

  "I respectfully submit the time for muster is premature, Highness.Crops are not yet in. The revenues of the _mansabdars'_ _jagir_ estateswill suffer if men are called now." Ghulam Adl shifted uncomfortably.

  "They'll have no revenues at all if they don't muster immediately. I'llconfiscate the _jagir_ of any _mansabdar_ who has not mustered his menand cavalry within seven days." Jadar watched Ghulam Adl's throatmuscles tense, and he asked himself if a _jagir_ granted by the Moghulcould be legally confiscated. Probably not. But the threat would serveto reveal loyalties, and reveal them quickly.

  "But there's no possible way to pay the men now, Highness." Ghulam Adleasily retained his poise. Hold firm and this aspiring young upstartwill waver and then agree. Give him numbers. First make it soundhopeless, then show him a way he can still win. "There's not enoughsilver in all the Deccan. Let me give you some idea of the problem.Assume it would require a year's back pay to muster the troops, notunreasonable since most of the _mansabdars_ are at least two yearsbehind now. The usual yearly allowance for cavalry here is threehundred rupees for a Muslim and two hundred and forty for a Hindu. Youwill certainly need to raise a minimum of thirty thousand men from the_mansabdars_. Assuming some loyal troops might possibly muster on notesof promise, you'd still need almost fifty _lakhs_ of rupees. Animpossible sum. It's clear the _mansabdars_ won't have the revenues topay their men until the fall crops are harvested."

  "Then I'll confiscate their _jagirs_ now and pay the troops myself. Anddeduct the sum from their next revenues."

  "That's impossible. The money is nowhere to be found." Ghulam Adlrealized with relief that Jadar was bluffing; the prince could notpossibly raise the money needed. He shifted closer and smiled warmly."But listen carefully. If we wait but two months, everything will bechanged. Then it'll be simple to squeeze the revenue from the_mansabdars_, and we can pay the men ourselves if we need. Until thenwe can easily contain the Abyssinian and his rabble. Perhaps we couldraise a few men and horse from the _mansabdars_ now, but frankly Iadvise against it. Why trouble them yet? With the troops we have we cankeep Malik Ambar diverted for weeks, months even. Then when the time isright we sound the call, march south with our combined forces, anddrive him into the southern jungles forever."

  But that call will raise no men, Ghulam Adl told himself, not a singlewagon driver. It has been agreed. "We'll wait a few weeks until Ambarhas his supply lines extended. Then we'll begin to harass him. In notime he'll begin to fall back to Ahmadnagar to wait for winter. And bythat time we'll have our full strength. We'll march in force and crushhim. I'll lead the men personally. You need never leave Burhanpur,Highness." He took another sip of wine. "Though I daresay its pleasuresmust seem rustic for one accustomed to the more luxurious diversions ofAgra."

  Jadar examined the commander and a slight, knowing smile played acrosshis lips. "Let me propose a slight alternative." He began evenly. "Iwill lead the army this time, and you will remain here at the fortress.I called you here today to notify you that as of this moment you arerelieved of your command and confined to the fort." Jadar watchedGhulam Adl stiffen and his sly grin freeze on his face. "I willassemble the army myself and march south in ten days."

  "This is a weak jest, Highness." Ghulam Adl tried to laugh. "No oneknows the Deccan the way I and my commanders know it. The terrain istreacherous."

  "Your knowledge of the terrain admittedly is excellent. You and yourcommanders have retreated the length of the Deccan year after year.This time I will use my own generals. Abdullah Khan will command theadvance guard, with three thousand horse from our own troops. AbulHasan will take the left flank, and Raja Vikramajit the right. I willpersonally command the center." Jadar fixed Ghulam Adl squarely. "Youwill be confined to the fort, where you'll send no ciphers to Ambar.Your remaining troops will be divided and put under our command. Youwill order it in writing today and I will send the dispatches."

  "For your sake I trust this is a jest, Highness. You dare not carry itout." Ghulam Adl slammed his glass onto the carpet, spilling his wine.The Rajputs around Jadar stiffened but made no move. "I have the fullsupport of the Moghul himself. Your current position in Agra is alreadytalked about here in the south. Do you think we're so far away we hearnothing? Your return this time, if you are allowed to return, will benothing like the grand celebrations three years ago. If I were you, I'dbe marching back now. Leave the Deccan to those who know it."

  "You're right about Agra on one point. It is far away. And thiscampaign is mine, not the Moghul's."

  "You'll never raise the troops, young prince: Only I can induce the_mansabdars_ to muster."

  "I'll muster the men. With full pay."

  "You'll muster nothing, Highness. You'll be Ambar's prisoner inside amonth. I can swear it. If you are still alive." Ghulam Adl bowed lowand his hand shot for his sword. By the
time it touched the handle theRajputs were there. He was circled by drawn blades. Jadar watchedimpassively for a moment, and then signaled the guards to escort GhulamAdl from the audience room.

  "I'll see you dead." He shouted over his shoulder as the men draggedhim toward the door. "Within the month."

  Jadar watched Ghulam Adl's turban disappear through the torchlitopening and down the corridor. His sword remained on the carpet, whereit had been removed by the Rajput guards. Jadar stared at it for amoment, admiring the silver trim along the handle, and it reminded himof the silver shipment. And the Englishman.

  Vasant Rao blundered badly with the English captain. He should havefound a way to disarm him in advance. Always disarm a _feringhi_. Theirinstincts are too erratic. The whole scenario fell apart after hekilled the headman of the dynasty. My Rajput games almost became a war.

  But what happened in the village? Did the _feringhi_ work sorcery? Whywas the caravan released so suddenly? The horsemen I had massed in thevalley, in case of an emergency, panicked after the eclipse began. Theybecame just so many terrified Hindus. Then suddenly the caravanassembled and left, with Rajputs from the village riding guard,escorting them all the way back to the river.

  And even now Vasant Rao refuses to talk about what really happened. Itseems his honor is too besmirched. He refuses even to eat with theother men.

  Allah the Merciful. Rajputs and their cursed honor.

  But I've learned what I need to know about the English _feringhi_. Hisnerve is astonishing. How could he dare refuse to attend my morningdurbar audience in the reception room? Should I accept his claim thathe's an ambassador and therefore I should come to him. Should I simplyhave him brought before me?

  No. I have a better idea. But tomorrow. After the child is born andI've sent runners to the _mansabdars_ . . .

  A member of Mumtaz's guard burst through the doorway, then rememberedhimself and salaamed deeply to the prince. Guards around Jadar alreadyhad their swords half drawn.

  "Forgive a fool, Highness." He fell to his knees, just in case. "I'mordered to report that your son is born. The _dai_ says he's perfectlyformed and has the lungs of a cavalry commander."

  Cheers swept the room, and the air blossomed with flying turbans. Jadarmotioned the terrified man closer and he nervously knelt again, thistime directly before Jadar.

  "The _dai_ respectfully asks if it would please Your Highness towitness the cord-cutting ceremony. She suggests a gold knife, insteadof the usual silver."

  Jadar barely heard the words, but he did recall that tradition allowedthe midwife to keep the knife.

  "She can have her knife of gold, and you are granted a thousand gold_mohurs_. But the cord will be cut with a string." This ceremony mustbe a signal to all India, Jadar told himself, and he tried to recallexactly the tradition started by Akman for newborn Moghul princes. Thebirth cord of all Akman's three sons was cut with a silken string, thenplaced in a velvet bag with writings from the Quran, and kept under thenew child's pillow for forty days.

  The guard salaamed once more, his face in the carpet, and then scurriedtoward the door, praising Allah. As Jadar rose and made his way towardthe corridor, a chant of "Jadar-o-Akbar," "Jadar is Great," rose fromthe cheering Rajputs. Every man knew that with an heir, the prince wasat last ready to claim his birthright. And they would fight beside himfor it.

  Mumtaz lay against a bolster, a fresh scarf tied around her head and aroller bound about her abdomen, taking a draft of strong, garlic-scented asafetida gum as Jadar came into the room. He immediately knewshe was well, for this anti-cold precaution was taken only after theplacenta was expelled and the mother's well-being assured. Next to herside was a box of betel leaves, rolled especially with myrrh to purgethe taste of the asafetida.

  "My congratulations, Highness." The _dai_ salaamed awkwardly from thebedside. "May it please you to know the child is blind of an eye."

  Jadar stared at her dumbfounded, then remembered she was a local Hindumidwife, from Gujarat province, where the birth of a boy is neverspoken of, lest the gods grow jealous of the parents' good fortune andloose the Evil Eye. Instead, boys were announced by declaring the childblind in one eye. No precautions against divine jealousy were thoughtnecessary for a girl child, a financial liability no plausible godwould covet.

  The _dai_ returned to washing Mumtaz's breasts, stroking them carefullywith wet blades of grass. Jadar knew this local ritual was believed toensure fortune for the child and he did not interrupt. He merelyreturned Mumtaz's weak smile and strode to the silver basin resting bythe bedside, where another midwife was washing his new son in a murkymixture of gram flour and water.

  The frightened woman dried off the child, brushed his head withperfumed oil, and placed him on a thin pillow of quilted calico forJadar to see. He was red and wrinkled and his dark eyes were startled.But he was a prince.

  Jadar touched the infant's warm hand as he examined him forimperfections. There were none.

  Someday, my first son, you may rule India as Moghul. If we both livethat long.

  "Is he well?" Mumtaz spoke at last, her normally shrill voice nowscarcely above a whisper. "Are you pleased?"

  "He'll do for now." Jadar smiled as he examined her tired face. She hadnever seemed as beautiful as she did at this moment. He knew there wasno way he could ever show his great love for her, but he knew sheunderstood. And returned it. "Do these unbelievers know enough tofollow Muslim tradition?"

  "Yes. A mullah has been summoned to sound the _azan_, the call toprayer, in his ear."

  "But a male child must first be announced with artillery. So he'llnever be afraid to fight." Jadar wasn't sure how much belief he put inall these Muslim traditions, but the troops expected it and everyceremony for this prince had to be observed. Lest superstitions beginthat he was somehow ill-fated. Superstitions are impossible to bury."This one is a prince. He will be greeted with cannon. Then I'llimmediately have his horoscope cast--for the Hindu troops--and schedulehis naming ceremony--for the Believers."

  "What will you name him?"

  "His first name will be Nushirvan. You can pick the others."

  "Nushirvan was a haughty Persian king. And it's an ugly name."

  "It's the name I've chosen." Jadar smiled wickedly, still mulling overwhat name he would eventually pick.

  Mumtaz did not argue. She had already selected the name Salaman, thehandsome young man Persian legends said was once created by a wisemagician. Salaman was an ideal lover. Whatever name Jadar chose,Salaman would be his second name. And the one she would call him allthe coming years in the _zenana_, when he would creep into her bedafter Jadar had departed for his own quarters.

  And we'll see what name he answers to seven years hence, on hiscircumcision day.

  The _dai _was busy spooning a mixture of honey, ghee, and opium intothe child's mouth. Then a drop of milk was pressed from Mumtaz's breastand rubbed on the breast of the wet nurse. Jadar watched the ritualwith approval. Now for the most important tradition, the one begun byAkman.

  "Is the wrap ready?"

  Akman had believed that the first clothes a Moghul prince wore shouldbe fashioned from an old garment of a Muslim holy man, and he hadrequested a garment from the revered Sayyid Ali Shjirazi for his firstson. The custom had become fixed for the royal family.

  "It's here. The woman in Surat heard a child was due and had this sentto me in Agra before we left." She pointed to a folded loincloth, whichhad been washed to a perfect white. "It was once worn by that Sufi youadore, Samad."

  "Good. I'm glad it's from Samad. But what woman in Surat do you mean?"

  "You know who she is." Mumtaz looked around the crowded room, andswitched from Turki to Persian. "She sent the weekly reports ofMukarrab Khan's affairs, and handled all the payments to those whocollected information in Surat."

  Jadar nodded almost imperceptibly. "That one. Of course I remember her.Her reports were always more reliable than the Shahbandar's. I find Ican never trust any number that thief gives me. I always have to
askmyself what he would wish it to be, and then adjust. But what happenedto her? I learned a month ago that Mukarrab Khan was being sent to Goa.I think a certain woman of power in Agra finally realized I waslearning everything that went on at the port before she was, andthought Mukarrab Khan had betrayed her."

  "The Surat woman didn't go to Goa with Mukarrab Khan. She made himdivorce her. It was a scandal." Mumtaz smiled mysteriously. "You shouldcome to the women's quarters more often, and learn the news."

  "But what happened to her?"

  "There's a rumor in Surat that the Shahbandar, Mirza Nuruddin, ishiding her in the women's quarters of his estate house. But actuallyshe left for Agra the next day, by the northern road. I'm very worriedwhat may happen to her there."

  "How do you know all this? It sounds like bazaar gossip."

  "It's all true enough. She sent a pigeon, to the fortress here. Themessage was waiting when we arrived."

  "It's good she's out of Surat. With Mukarrab Khan gone, she's no longerany help there. But I've always wanted to thank her somehow. She's oneof the best. And our only woman. I don't think anyone ever guessed whatshe really did."

  "I will thank her for you. Her message was a request. Something only Icould arrange. A favor for a favor."

  "And what was that?"

  "Just something between women, my love. Nothing to do with armies andwars." Mumtaz shifted on the bolster and took a perfumed pan. "Allah,I'm tired."

  Jadar studied her face again, marveling as always how it seemed toattest to her spirit.

  "Then rest. I hope the cannon won't disturb you."

  "It should have been another girl. Then there'd be no cannon."

  "And no heir." Jadar turned to leave and Mumtaz eased herself back onthe bolster. Then she lifted herself again and called Jadar.

  "Who is escorting the English _feringhi_ to Agra?"

  "Unfortunately it's Vasant Rao. And just when I need him. But hedemanded to do it personally."

  "I'm glad." Mumtaz smiled weakly. "Have him see one of my servantsbefore they leave."

  "Why should I bother him with that?"

  "To humor me." She paused. "Is this _feringhi_ handsome?"

  "Why do you ask?"

  "A woman's curiosity."

  "I haven't seen him yet. I do suspect he's quick. Perhaps too quick.But I'll find out more tomorrow. And then I'll decide what I have todo." Jadar paused at the doorway, while the dai pulled aside thecurtains that had been newly hung. "Sleep. And watch over my newprince. He's our first victory in the Deccan. I pray to Allah he's notour last."

  He turned and was gone. Minutes later the cannon salutes began.