Jadar watched as the maharana leaped from the boat almost before it touched the marble dock. The women around Mumtaz fled the courtyard, and now the eunuchs pressed forward to bow and welcome him. He brushed them aside as he moved quickly through the garden and into the lower arcade of the palace. Jadar stood listening expectantly to the quick pad of his footsteps on the stone stairs, then walked inside to greet him.
"Nimaste, my friend. You've already missed the best part of the sunset, but I'll have more sharbat sent."
The maharana glanced in surprise at Hawksworth and Shirin for a second, then turned and bowed quickly to Jadar.
"The news is very bad, Highness."
"Then we'll sweeten it with sharbat."
"There is no time, Highness."
"There's always time for sharbat. This has been a special afternoon for me."
"Highness, I came to tell you Arangbar is dead. The Moghul of India joined the immortals two days ago."
Jadar examined him a moment almost as though not comprehending. Then he turned and stared out through the balcony doorway, past Hawksworth and Shirin. "I would not have wished it. I sincerely would not have wished it." He turned back to Karan Singh. "How did he die? Did Janahara murder my father, as she's killed so many others?"
"No, Highness. It almost seems as though he deemed it his time to die. Two weeks ago he was hunting and saw a beater stumble and fall over a ledge, killing himself. His Majesty grew despondent, saying he had caused the man's death. Next he began to declare it an omen of his own death. He refused food and drink. Finally even the physicians despaired. He died in his bed. Word was given out that he was still hunting, so the news was carefully kept from all of Agra until the very end."