"With a very clear demarcation of forest on each side, which helps keep your army grouped."
"Correct. And, also, the sun would not be in my men's eyes if I hit you from the east."
Jadar stopped and looked at him. "So that is precisely what you would do? Attack at dawn on the eastern perimeter. And lead with a front line of war elephants?"
"With the biggest and best I had."
Jadar sighed. "You know, it troubles me that a feringhi would conclude the same thing I have. But I think it's a classic problem. And that will dictate a classic solution in the mind of Inayat Latif, whose alleged brilliance does not include a flair for originality. He'll have to mount a conventional attack. What's more, because of the restricted terrain, he'll have no room to split his army into a right wing and a left wing. They'll have to be a single phalanx. That's dangerous if you ever need to retreat, but he'll not even consider that possibility. And you say you also believe he'll hold his cavalry for the third wave." Jadar paused. "That's more important here than you probably realize. Everything else depends on it. The cavalry must attack last."
"It seems best. And his cavalry is mainly Rajput. He'll not risk cutting up his finest troops by sending them in the first attack wave, when your artillery is still in place." Hawksworth hesitated, then continued bitterly. "Or should be."
Jadar laughed and looked at Hawksworth, then at his bottle.
"What's that in your hand. Captain?"
"A bottle of brandy. Spanish, I'm ashamed to admit, but it's still the best."
"May I try it?"