"Naturally." Nadir Sharif cleared his throat. "But enough
of affairs. Permit me to toast your arrival. When your request for a safe-conduct pass arrived from Surat, we all wondered if a feringhi new to India could successfully travel our bandit-infested roads, even with the Moghul’s pass." He took a delicate sip of the beverage. "I trust your journey was without mishap."
"For the most part."
"A diplomatic answer. But you seem to have survived all parts well enough. Did you take the Burhanpur road?"
"I did."
"Ah, then perhaps you passed Prince Jadar. I understand he was there recently." Nadir Sharif smiled disarmingly. "I always welcome news of him. You may know he's married to my first daughter, Mumtaz. I hear she just presented him with his first son."
"He was in Burhanpur when I arrived. But I was only there for three days."
"Not a very interesting city, I'm told. But they say the Deccan itself is quite beautiful in harvest. I envy you your trip. I, alas, rarely can escape Agra, except when His Majesty goes to Kashmir in the heat of summer." Nadir Sharif signaled the eunuch to refill Hawksworth's cup. The sarangi player had been joined by a drummer, who took up a slow, even rhythm. "Did I understand you to say you met the prince while you were there?"
Hawksworth hesitated and studied Nadir Sharif, not remembering he had mentioned meeting Jadar. "Actually I did see him briefly once. He was in the fortress, where I stayed."
"Ah yes, the fortress. That was wise of you, considering the situation now. I'm pleased he invited you to join him."