*
Queen Janahara studied Allaudin thoughtfully as he strode toward her tent. His floral turban was set rakishly to one side in the latest style, and his purple gauze cloak was too effeminate for anyone but a eunuch or a dandy. She caught a flash from the jewel-handled katar at his waist, too ornamental ever to be used, and suddenly realized that she had never seen him actually hold a knife, or a sword. She had never seen him respond to any crisis. And Princess Layla had hinted he was not quite the husband she had envisioned, whatever that might imply.
Suddenly it all mattered. It had only been a week since Jadar's demands had been refused, and already he had taken the initiative. Now, she sighed, she would have to protect her nashudani, her "good-for-nothing" son-in-law. He could never protect himself, not from Jadar.
"Your Majesty." Allaudin salaamed formally as he dipped below the tapestried portiere of her tent, never forgetting that his new mother-in-law was also the queen. "The princess sends her wishes for your health this morning."
"Sit down." Janahara continued to examine him with her brooding dark eyes. "Where is Nadir Sharif?"
"The eunuchs said he would be a few moments late."
"He always tries to irritate me." Her voice trailed off as she watched Allaudin ensconce himself with a wide flourish against a velvet bolster. "Tell me, are you content with your bride?"
"She is very pleasing to me, Majesty."
"Are you satisfying your obligations as a husband?"
"Majesty?" Allaudin looked up at her as though not comprehending the question.
"Your duties are not merely to her. Or to me. They're also to India. Jadar has a male heir now. Such things matter in Agra, or weren't you aware?"
Allaudin giggled. "I visit her tent every night, Majesty."
"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 I 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?"
Allaudin's eyes brightened. "What rank would I have?"
"I think we can persuade His Majesty to raise your personal rank to twelve thousand zat and your horse rank to eight thousand suwar, twice what you have now."
"Then I will go." Allaudin tightened his cloak, beaming. "I'll drive the Safavid king's Persian troops back into the desert."
"You are as sensible as you are brave. I will speak to His Majesty tonight."
Allaudin grinned a parting salaam, squared his shoulders, and pushed his way through the portiere and into the sunshine. Nadir Sharif watched without a word until he had disappeared into his own tent.
"Was that entirely wise, Majesty?"
"What else do you propose we do? It will keep him in Agra. I'll see to that. You don't really think I'd allow him to leave? Anyway, it's time his rank was elevated. Now all he needs is a son."
"I'm sure he'll have one in time, Majesty. The Hindu astrologers all say Princess Layla's horoscope is favorable."
"The Hindu astrologers may have to help him do a husband's work if they want to save their reputation."
"Give him time, Majesty." Nadir Sharif smiled. "And he'll have more heirs than the Holy Prophet."
"All the Prophet's children were daughters." She took the paper, inserted it into the gold case, and began tying the string. "There are times you do not entirely amuse me."
"I'm always half distracted by worrying." Nadir Sharif followed her with his eyes. "Even now."
"What in particular worries you at the moment?" Janahara paused as she was slipping the case into her sleeve.
"I'm thinking just now about the Imperial army. The loyalty of some of the men."
"What do you mean? Inayat Latif is entirely beholden to His Majesty. He would gladly give his life for the Moghul. I've heard it from his own lips, and I know it's true."
"I've never questioned your commander's loyalty. But now you . . . His Majesty will be ordering the men to march against Jadar. Are you aware that fully a third of the army is under Rajput field commanders, officers from the northwest. Some of the rajas there still bear ill feelings toward His Majesty, because of Inayat Latifs campaign there ten years ago. These Rajputs sometimes have long memories. And who knows what Jadar could be promising them? Remember his treachery with Malik Ambar."
"What are you suggesting? That the Rajput commanders will not fight for His Majesty, the legitimate Moghul? That's absurd. No one respects authority more than the Rajput rajas."
"I'm not suggesting it at all. But I do believe the Rajputs here should be monitored closely nonetheless. Any discontent should be addressed before it grows . . . unwieldy. Perhaps their commanders should be placed under a separate authority, someone who could reason with them in His Majesty's name if there are signs of unrest. Inayat Latif is an able general, but he's no diplomat."
Janahara studied him closely. "Do you believe there would be unrest?"
"Your Majesty is perhaps not always fully informed as to the activities of some of the more militant Rajput loyalists. I have ordered them watched at all times."
"What are you suggesting then? That the Rajputs should be placed under a separate top command? Some raja whose loyalty is unquestionable?"
"I'm suggesting precisely that. If there were extensive defections, it would be demoralizing for the rest of the army, at the very least."
"Who do you propose?"
"There are any number of Rajput commanders I would trust. To a point. But it's always difficult to know where their final loyalties lie." Nadir Sharif paused, lost in thought. "Perhaps an alternate solution might be to allow someone of unquestioned loyalty to monitor the Rajput field commanders, someone experienced in handling Rajput concerns, though not necessarily a general. Then the command could remain unified, with orders passing through this other individual, who would ensure compliance."
"Again, is there someone you would recommend?"
"There are several men near His Majesty who could serve. It is, of course, essential their loyalty to you be beyond question. In a way it's a pity Prince Allaudin is not . . . older. Blood is always best."
"That leaves only you, or Father, who is far too old."
"My responsibilities here would really make it impossible for me." Nadir Sharif turned and walked again to the door of the tent, pulling back the portiere. "Certainly I could not leave His Majesty for an extended campaign."
"But if the campaign were short?"
"Perhaps for a few weeks."
Janahara studied him silently, her thoughts churning. At times even Nadir Sharif’s loyalty seemed problematical. But now there was a perfect way to test it in advance . . .
"I will advise Inayat Latif you are now in charge of the Rajput commanders."
"Your Majesty." Nadir Sharif bowed lightly. "I'm honored by your confidence."
"I'm sure it's well placed." She did not smile. "But before I make the arrangements, there's one other assignment for you. Totally confidential."
"Anything within my power." Nadir Sharif bowed elegantly.
"Tonight I want you to order the Imperial guards stationed in your compound to execute the Englishman and the woman Shirin. On your sole authority."
"Of course." Nadir Sharif’s smile did not flicker.