Brothers at War

would give him in return for us. For some time there was silence. But finally — two days ago according to Sultana — envoys from Sher Shah reached the outskirts of the kingdom of Marwar and sent a message to Maldeo telling him of Sher Shah’s response.What Sher Shah said. . it was terrible. . ’ For the first time her voice seemed to fail her.

Humayun caught her against him and held her close. ‘Hamida, go on. You must tell me everything. . ’

After a moment Hamida continued, face against his chest, voice muffled. ‘Sher Shah has promised Maldeo that if the raja sends him your head. . and the unborn child I am carrying. . he will reward him not only with money and jewels but with new lands and cities that he will hold independent of Sher Shah. When Sultana told me this I was sick. . for a while I couldn’t think, but I knew I must be strong. . for us and for the son I carry. . ’

As he thought of Maldeo’s smiling face, of all his smooth-tongued lies, such anger and disgust took hold of Humayun that he felt he might choke with rage. ‘Does Maldeo mean to accept Sher Shah’s offer?’ he managed to ask.

‘Sultana says the raja is cautious. That is why he has summoned the envoys to meet him in the fortress in the desert — so he can question them himself. But if he believes Sher Shah means what he says, Maldeo will not hesitate to have us killed. That is why as soon as he left this evening, Sultana found a way to come to me. . ’

‘Are you sure this Sultana is to be trusted? Why should she run such a risk for us?’

‘She hates Maldeo for his callous treatment of her. . He calls her his savage from the steppes. But her reasons go deeper than that. I saw her distress as she laid her hand on my belly. . She told me that when she bore Maldeo a son, he said the child was not worthy to be reared in the palace and he sent it away. She does not even know if he is alive. She came to me for the sake of our unborn child and for mine as a mother, I’m sure of it. She called herself my blood-sister and I believed her.’

Humayun gently released Hamida. With her anxious eyes upon him, a cold determination was replacing the heat of his rage at Maldeo’s treachery and violation of all the rules of honour and hospitality at the heart of the Rajput code. If he was to save the lives of his family and his men he must push emotion aside and focus his mind on one thing only — survival.

‘I promise you this — no harm will come to you or our child. I married you to make you my empress and that is what you will be. And our son will be emperor after me. Maldeo’s wickedness will not alter this.’

At Humayun’s words, Hamida drew herself up. ‘What must we do?’

‘Have you talked about this to anyone? Khanzada or Gulbadan?’

‘Not to anyone.’

‘What does your waiting woman Zainab know?’

‘Only that my meeting with Sultana had upset me. . ’

‘Can you summon Sultana again?’

‘Yes. Her rooms are close by and she is free to move about the palace.’

‘I must leave you for a while for appearance’s sake. Some of Maldeo’s commanders are to eat with me and my officers to discuss the campaign against Sher Shah. I must do nothing to arouse suspicion. But summon Sultana two hours from now and I will join you as soon as I can. I must see this woman for myself.’ Bending, he kissed Hamida’s full soft lips. ‘Courage,’ he whispered, ‘all will be well. . ’

As soon as he was able but a little later than he’d hoped, Humayun hurried again to his wife’s apartments. The light from hundreds of wicks burning in brass diyas and the torches in sconces on the walls softened the harsh stone outlines of the place Humayun had thought of as a refuge but — if Sultana was speaking the truth — was not only a prison but a place of execution. All during the meal — though appearing polite and attentive to Maldeo’s men — he had been turning over and over in his mind what he should do and he had formed a plan, bold and desperate. .

‘Majesty.’ The woman knelt before him as he entered Hamida’s chamber.

‘Rise.’ Humayun appraised her closely as she stood up and waited, hands folded, before him. Sultana was about thirty years old but — with her pale, high-cheekboned face, typical of the Afridi people — still beautiful and her black hair was untouched by silver. Her clear, hazel eyes were fixed anxiously on his face as if wondering whether she was standing up to his scrutiny.

‘The empress has told me your story. If it is true we owe you a great debt. . ’

‘It is true, Majesty. I swear it.’

‘Why should the raja have confided his plans in you?’

‘He has spoken openly of them in the haram — out of conceit and a desire to gloat. Even as you were approaching over the desert, Majesty, when he knew you had little food or water left, he said he was tempted to attack you. But it pleased him better to lure you on with soft words and fine promises. He is a master of deceit and enjoys spinning a complex web. . he wanted to make sure he had you fully in his power.’ Sultana’s voice trembled, ‘Truly, Majesty, he is a monster. . ’

The horror and revulsion that he read in Sultana’s eyes told Humayun that she was no liar.

‘God sent you here to save us,’ he said as Sultana fell silent.

‘I hope so, Majesty. I will do all I can to help you.’

‘Then let me tell you my plan. . Since I have been Maldeo’s guest I have been out hawking several times. What could be more natural than that I should wish to do so again? Tomorrow, just as dawn is breaking, I and my courtiers and commanders lodged here in the palace will dress as if for a day’s chase. I will order litters prepared for our women, saying that I wish them too to enjoy a day’s sport. They have accompanied me before so there should be nothing strange in this. Once we have descended from the fortress we will head east into the desert.

‘But of course, I also need to get my forces away. Tonight I will send my attendant Jauhar to Zahid Beg, who commands our camp outside the town below. Jauhar often carries messages from me to Zahid Beg, so again there should be nothing to rouse suspicion. He will tell Zahid Beg to say nothing to the men at present but that early tomorrow morning he must lead them out westward, making it look as if they are going on a military exercise. They will have to leave much of the camp equipment — including our cannon — behind but that cannot be helped. Once out of sight of Marwar, they are to circle round and rejoin the rest of us.’ Humayun paused. ‘What do you think, Sultana? Will the guards permit me and my entourage to ride from the fortress in Maldeo’s absence?’

‘If it looks as if you are going hunting, they can have no reason to prevent you. As far as I know, Maldeo has given no orders for you to be kept within the fortress — he would not wish to do anything to make you suspect.’

‘But you, Sultana?’ Hamida touched the woman’s arm. ‘You must come with us. . it would be dangerous for you to remain. Maldeo will guess what you have done. . ’

To Humayun’s surprise, Sultana shook her head.

‘But this is your chance to rejoin your own people. . ’

‘After what has happened to me here at the hands of Maldeo, I can never go back. . That part of my life is over. But when I see his ambition, his greed thwarted, that will be my reward. . ’ A sad but also triumphant smile briefly lit her face. ‘And I doubt he will suspect me. . he does not think I have the brains or the courage to do what I have done. . ’

‘I will never forget you, my blood-sister. And when I am empress in Agra, I will send for you. . and if you wish to come you will be treated with the greatest honour.’ Hamida kissed Sultana’s cheek. ‘May God protect you.’

The sky was only just paling to the east when Humayun, dressed in hunting clothes like those around him, rode slowly through the concentric walls towards the gatehouse that was the only exit from the fortress. A fine black hawk given him by Maldeo was on his wrist, bright eyes concealed beneath a jewelled and tufted cap of yellow leather. Behind him, surrounded by Kasim and his other courtiers and commanders, were the litters carrying Hamida, Khanzada, Gulbadan and the rest of the women. After leaving Hamida last night he had gone straight to his aunt and his sister to tell them of the peril and of what they must do. True Moghul princesses, they had at once grasped the situation and obeyed him calmly and unquestioningly.

Humayun’s blood was pumping as hard as if he was riding into battle as he led his party nearer to the gatehouse. In the soft morning light he could see that the metal grille was still lowered. His eyes flicked left and right, seeking any sign of an ambush. Though he had believed every word Sultana had said, he had been deceived before in this place. Also, Sultana herself might have been betrayed, perhaps by an enemy within the haram curious about her meetings with the Moghul empress. But all seemed as it should be. No arrow tip, no musket protruding from a slit in the gatehouse. Just the usual guards.With seeming casualness,