the way clear for me to bring my own men down from the hills and offer Kamran an alliance. . ’
‘You are suggesting I abandon the siege after so many weeks, just when I might at last be tightening the screw on Kamran?’
‘You must. My plan can’t work if you are still encamped anywhere near Kabul. Kamran must believe you’ve given up.’
‘You ask too much. For all I know you’ve already made your peace with Kamran and he’s sent you here to try and trick me.’
‘I am ready to swear on our father’s memory that this is no subterfuge. . ’ Hindal’s tawny eyes returned Humayun’s gaze unflinchingly.
‘Very well — assuming I do as you suggest, what happens then?’
‘Kamran will think he’s got the better of you. In his elation he will be all the more ready to accept my story — that since not even you have been able to overcome him, I am ready to acknowledge and serve him as our father’s true heir.’
‘You really think he will believe you?’
‘Don’t underestimate his conceit. After all, why shouldn’t he believe me? Why shouldn’t I wish to exchange the life of a renegade in the hills for a share of the reflected glory of a Moghul prince whose star is rising as yours wanes? And he will be glad of the extra men I can bring him. Then once inside the citadel I will find a way of smuggling Akbar out of Kabul. . but it will take time. Not only must I win Kamran’s trust but I must also find the right opportunity. . ’
‘What about Kamran’s mother Gulrukh? She’s as shrewd as — probably shrewder than — her son. If she is with him she won’t be easy to deceive.’
Hindal looked surprised. ‘Gulrukh’s dead.The bullock cart in which she was travelling from Kandahar to Kabul fell into a ravine. I thought you would have heard.’
‘No.’ Humayun digested the news. He could feel little sorrow for the woman who had tempted him with her potions of opium and wine to further her sons’ ambitions. ‘Even so, you would be putting yourself at great risk. Just assuming you succeeded, what would you want from me?’
‘Nothing. You have taken everything I wanted and you cannot give it back. . ’
For a moment they looked at one another in silence. Now that he was face to face with Hindal again, Humayun realised how much he wanted to say — about his guilt, his regret at having wounded him. But his half- brother wouldn’t believe him and anyway nothing could alter the facts — Humayun loved Hamida with a passion he’d never known for any other woman. If he had his time again, he would be just as ruthless in his determination to have her.
All the time Hindal’s eyes had never left Humayun’s face. ‘Well, what is your answer? I must know before I leave your camp — assuming you are prepared to let me go — and I must be gone before it gets light. There are enough men here who know me and there may be spies among them. If word of my presence reached Kamran any chances of my plan succeeding would be over. . ’
‘I need time to think. I will ask Zahid Beg to take you to his tent and to stay with you until I come. It is some three hours before dawn.You will have your answer in two.’
After Hindal had gone, Humayun paced up and down, oblivious of the cold. Hindal’s plan was bold and brave but if he agreed to it, he must take so much on trust. How many times had his faith in members of his own family been betrayed since he had become emperor?. . Yet every inflection of Hindal’s voice, every gesture, had carried conviction. Whatever his own views, he could not take the decision without talking to Hamida, who would be wondering why he had been gone so long.
He was right. When he returned to their tent he found that she had risen and was waiting for him, her dark hair, still dishevelled by sleep, tumbling around her shoulders and her expression anxious. ‘The man who rode into the camp during the night — it was Hindal,’ he said before she could speak.
‘Hindal?’
‘Yes. He offers us his help in rescuing Akbar. If I pretend to raise the siege and march away, he will ride to the citadel and offer Kamran an alliance. Once in Kamran’s confidence he will seek a way of smuggling Akbar out of Kabul.’
‘Could he really bring back our son to us. .?’
Humayun could see the hope beginning to take hold of her.‘Well, perhaps. . but the problem is can we trust Hindal?’
Hamida’s hopeful expression faltered. ‘Hindal took a big risk riding alone into your encampment in the dark. He might have been killed. And it would have taken courage to face you again too.’
‘True, but if he is playing a double game he might have reckoned the possible rewards worth the risk. Though he swears he is not in league with Kamran, this might be a trick either to induce me to abandon the siege or just to enable Hindal and his men to get into Kabul to join Kamran.’ The only sound was of the wind beating against the hide walls of the tent as Humayun and Hamida looked at one another. ‘If I make the wrong decision, Kamran’s position will be strengthened and our chances of defeating him and regaining our son will fade,’ Humayun said at last.
Hamida pushed her hair back from her face with a weary gesture. ‘You are right to be cautious. After all, why should Hindal want to help us?’
‘Exactly what I asked. He says that by threatening a child, Kamran has shamed our family. . ’
‘Does family honour really mean so much to him?’
‘Perhaps it does. But then he told me of another, perhaps more potent reason. It is you, not me, he wishes to help. He knows that you are suffering and wants to end your pain. . ’
As she took in the implication of Humayun’s words, Hamida coloured and looked down. She and Humayun had never spoken openly of Hindal’s feelings for her but of course she knew. For a few moments she paced about, just as Humayun had done in the cold night air, but then she turned to him, her face resolute. ‘I believe Hindal is sincere. After all, he has no reason to love Kamran who held him captive. . We should trust him. If he betrays us he would be as guilty as Kamran of exploiting our fears for the life of our child. I believe he is too honourable for that. Please, Humayun, let us seize this chance.’
Humayun took her in his arms and held her close against him, breathing in the familiar sandalwood scent of her. He must not be swayed either by his love for her or by her eagerness to believe in Hindal. This was one of the most important decisions he would ever make. But as he went over and over the arguments in his mind, something deeper, more instinctive than logic told him Hamida was right — Hindal meant what he said and they should trust him. That didn’t mean Hindal would succeed. His strategy was a dangerous one, but if everyone played their part it might, just might, work.
‘Very well,’ Humayun said at last. ‘I will tell Hindal we accept his offer — that you are placing the life of your child in his hands.’
‘Tell him to bring Maham Anga and her son too. They would be in terrible danger once Kamran found Akbar gone.’
Humayun nodded. ‘There are many things I must discuss with him — like how far I should take the army away from Kabul. He must know where to find us when the moment comes.’ He bent and kissed her. ‘Hamida, tell no one of this. If this plan is to work, our men must truly believe we are abandoning Kabul to Kamran.’
As Humayun stepped once more into the night, some words from his father’s memoirs came into his mind.
Chapter 19
The winter sun was already low on the horizon when Humayun, well swathed in a sheepskin-lined coat against the bite of the cold wind blowing down the steep pass he and his army were descending on their march
