This sounded interesting, but, considering Payindah had been less than three weeks in the country, I wondered how he had contrived to get to the stage of conversation. I expect it was pretty monosyllabic. I followed up the train.
“I suppose you were thinking of seeking land here, then, and not coming back with us to the Punjab.”
“But the sahibs will not go back to the Punjab. You will stay here. Forsyth Sahib will not desire to leave the Lady Ziné, nor will the Shahzadi’s father wish to part with Wrexham Sahib, who is teaching his smiths many things. You will most certainly stay here as the sahibs settled in Hind in the days of the emperors, receiving land and great honours.”
“You seem very certain about it all, but, even if the Shahzadi’s father gets Wrexham Sahib to stop here, and Forsyth Sahib is not desirous of leaving the Lady Ziné, where do you and I come in?”
Payindah looked at me again unabashed.
“Temra and his folk took me to a wedding yesterday—one of the soldiers—and it was clear that the woman had as much voice as the man, if not more. And when it was over, we rode to the house, and upon the step was the bride’s brother armed. And he spoke to the bride as though asking her whether she desired the man or not, and only when she had indicated that she would have him did he lower his sword and allow the bridegroom to enter. It is clear that these folk are as those of the sahibs’ country, for the women speak sometimes as equals to the men but more often as superiors. So you will also remain here, for the Shahzadi will not let you go.”
“You’re a fool, Payindah. You talk about what you don’t understand at all. And, anyhow, the Shahzadi rides nearly every day with Lord Andros.”
“Then it is clear that she does not mean to marry him, for this also I saw at Béthune, where there were two French soldiers who came on leave, friends of the daughter of the house you were billeted in. And one she walked with frequently. And upon the other, with whom I talked sometimes, she looked not at all with favour. At least so it seemed. But later on, when we passed that way, he was there on leave again, and they were married.”
“That may be, but it is not so here. Anyway, it does not matter, because presently I shall be going back to England, even if you all stop here; though what you will live on I don’t know.”
“Land,” said Payindah decisively. “There is always land to get after battle, as my folk know, seeing all ours has been given us for wars. When the Shahzadi’s father has destroyed the enemy, he will give land to his army after the manner of kings when they are victorious. So that if perchance we desire it we shall get it, for we are the people who will settle the war, since we alone have rifles.”