"I'll see you dead." He shouted over his shoulder as the men dragged him toward the door. "Within the month."
Jadar watched Ghulam Adl's turban disappear through the torchlit opening and down the corridor. His sword remained on the carpet, where it had been removed by the Rajput guards. Jadar stared at it for a moment, admiring the silver trim along the handle, and it reminded him of the silver shipment. And the Englishman.
Vasant Rao blundered badly with the English captain. He should have found a way to disarm him in advance. Always disarm a feringhi. Their instincts are too erratic. The whole scenario fell apart after he killed the headman of the dynasty. My Rajput games almost became a war.
But what happened in the village? Did the feringhi work sorcery? Why was the caravan released so suddenly? The horsemen I had massed in the valley, in case of an emergency, panicked after the eclipse began. They became just so many terrified Hindus. Then suddenly the caravan assembled 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. It seems his honor is too besmirched. He refuses even to eat with the other men.
Allah the Merciful. Rajputs and their cursed honor.
But I've learned what I need to know about the English feringhi. His nerve is astonishing. How could he dare refuse to attend my morning durbar audience in the reception room? Should I accept his claim that he's an ambassador and therefore I should come to him. Should I simply have him brought before me?
No. I have a better idea. But tomorrow. After the child is born and I've sent runners to the mansabdars . . .
A member of Mumtaz's guard burst through the doorway, then remembered himself and salaamed deeply to the prince. Guards around Jadar already had their swords half drawn.
"Forgive a fool, Highness." He fell to his knees, just in case. "I'm ordered to report that your son is born. The dai says he's perfectly formed and has the lungs of a cavalry commander."