"Her Majesty suggested it. And it amuses me." Arangbar seemed to dismiss Allaudin's question. "He will not have a weapon. All he'll do is watch."
As servants rushed forward to begin fitting the leather armor, Hawksworth saw the queen's elephant approach. This was the closest he had ever been to her, and still he could not see her. Her howdah was completely enclosed with curtains, which now flapped lightly in the midday breeze.
"Her Majesty, Queen Janahara, will be going into the hunting circle." Nadir Sharifs voice was discreet as he spoke to Hawksworth. "She rarely joins in shikar, but she is an excellent shot. This is a rare honor for you, Ambassador."
Hawksworth studied the closed howdah and wondered why the "honor" seemed to leave him with such an uneasy feeling.
The waiting nobles formed a line with their elephants as the Imperial entourage moved past. Armed guards followed on horseback at a distance. Leather padding had been fitted over the face and shanks of Hawksworth's and Nadir Sharif’s elephants, and they joined the end of the procession.
Hawksworth held firmly to the side of the howdah as his elephant rocked along, with only occasional instructions from her mahout. Now they followed a winding road, which was surrounded on either side by tall, brown grass. He warily studied every sway of the grass, imagining tigers waiting to spring.
"Why don't we have guns?" He turned to Nadir Sharif, who rode alongside, rocking placidly in his swaying howdah.
"There's no need, Ambassador. I told you the tiger will not be killed with guns today. Of course, His Majesty and Prince Allaudin have guns, but they're merely for protection, in case there's some minor difficulty."
"Minor difficulty? What are we supposed to do if there's a 'minor difficulty'?"
"The army will be there, men with half-pikes." He smiled easily. "You're in no danger."