‘What do you mean?’
Hamida came close to Humayun again. ‘I have learned that the raja has never been our friend. He has always planned to betray us. Even now he is riding to a secret meeting with envoys sent by Sher Shah from Agra at a fortress deep in the desert. His story about going to raise troops in Jaisalmer was just a blind to conceal his true purpose.’
‘But he is my ally and my host and has treated us with honour. We’ve been in his power these past two months. He could have killed us a hundred times. . ’ Humayun stared at Hamida, worried that her pregnancy had addled her wits.
‘All that has saved us so far is the raja’s greed — he has been negotiating his price. Now he has gone in person to question Sher Shah’s envoys to satisfy himself that all his demands will be met. As soon as he returns. . sooner if he sends a messenger ahead of him. . he will have us murdered.’
Hamida’s face was taut with fear though her voice was calm. He took her hand, feeling its marble coldness.
‘How do you know all this?’
‘A woman — her name is Sultana — came to me from the raja’s haram. She is one of our people — an Afridi from the mountains of Kabul. After her father was killed at Panipat, she and her mother joined a caravan returning to Kabul but as they were attempting to cross the Indus brigands attacked them. Sultana and the other young women were taken to be sold in the bazaars. She was a great beauty. One of the raja’s nobles bought her and sent her to Maldeo as a gift.’
‘What else did this woman tell you?’
‘That in his heart he despises the Moghuls. He thinks us barbarian raiders with no right to Hindustan.The story about Sher Shah wishing to marry the raja’s daughter is a lie. As soon as Maldeo knew we were definitely on our way here, he wrote to Sher Shah gloating that he would soon have us in his power and asking what Sher Shah would give him in return for us. For some time there was silence. But finally — two days ago according to Sultana — envoys from Sher Shah reached the outskirts of the kingdom of Marwar and sent a message to Maldeo telling him of Sher Shah’s response.What Sher Shah said. . it was terrible. . ’ For the first time her voice seemed to fail her.
Humayun caught her against him and held her close. ‘Hamida, go on. You must tell me everything. . ’
After a moment Hamida continued, face against his chest, voice muffled. ‘Sher Shah has promised Maldeo that if the raja sends him your head. . and the unborn child I am carrying. . he will reward him not only with money and jewels but with new lands and cities that he will hold independent of Sher Shah. When Sultana told me this I was sick. . for a while I couldn’t think, but I knew I must be strong. . for us and for the son I carry. . ’
As he thought of Maldeo’s smiling face, of all his smooth-tongued lies, such anger and disgust took hold of Humayun that he felt he might choke with rage. ‘Does Maldeo mean to accept Sher Shah’s offer?’ he managed to ask.
‘Sultana says the raja is cautious. That is why he has summoned the envoys to meet him in the fortress in the desert — so he can question them himself. But if he believes Sher Shah means what he says, Maldeo will not hesitate to have us killed. That is why as soon as he left this evening, Sultana found a way to come to me. . ’
‘Are you sure this Sultana is to be trusted? Why should she run such a risk for us?’
‘She hates Maldeo for his callous treatment of her. . He calls her his savage from the steppes. But her reasons go deeper than that. I saw her distress as she laid her hand on my belly. . She told me that when she bore Maldeo a son, he said the child was not worthy to be reared in the palace and he sent it away. She does not even know if he is alive. She came to me for the sake of our unborn child and for mine as a mother, I’m sure of it. She called herself my blood-sister and I believed her.’
Humayun gently released Hamida. With her anxious eyes upon him, a cold determination was replacing the heat of his rage at Maldeo’s treachery and violation of all the rules of honour and hospitality at the heart of the Rajput code. If he was to save the lives of his family and his men he must push emotion aside and focus his mind on one thing only — survival.
‘I promise you this — no harm will come to you or our child. I married you to make you my empress and that is what you will be. And our son will be emperor after me. Maldeo’s wickedness will not alter this.’
At Humayun’s words, Hamida drew herself up. ‘What must we do?’
‘Have you talked about this to anyone? Khanzada or Gulbadan?’
‘Not to anyone.’
‘What does your waiting woman Zainab know?’
‘Only that my meeting with Sultana had upset me. . ’
‘Can you summon Sultana again?’
‘Yes. Her rooms are close by and she is free to move about the palace.’
‘I must leave you for a while for appearance’s sake. Some of Maldeo’s commanders are to eat with me and my officers to discuss the campaign against Sher Shah. I must do nothing to arouse suspicion. But summon Sultana two hours from now and I will join you as soon as I can. I must see this woman for myself.’ Bending, he kissed Hamida’s full soft lips. ‘Courage,’ he whispered, ‘all will be well. . ’
As soon as he was able but a little later than he’d hoped, Humayun hurried again to his wife’s apartments. The light from hundreds of wicks burning in brass diyas and the torches in sconces on the walls softened the harsh stone outlines of the place Humayun had thought of as a refuge but — if Sultana was speaking the truth — was not only a prison but a place of execution. All during the meal — though appearing polite and attentive to Maldeo’s men — he had been turning over and over in his mind what he should do and he had formed a plan, bold and desperate. .
‘Majesty.’ The woman knelt before him as he entered Hamida’s chamber.
‘Rise.’ Humayun appraised her closely as she stood up and waited, hands folded, before him. Sultana was about thirty years old but — with her pale, high-cheekboned face, typical of the Afridi people — still beautiful and her black hair was untouched by silver. Her clear, hazel eyes were fixed anxiously on his face as if wondering whether she was standing up to his scrutiny.
‘The empress has told me your story. If it is true we owe you a great debt. . ’
‘It is true, Majesty. I swear it.’
‘Why should the raja have confided his plans in you?’
‘He has spoken openly of them in the haram — out of conceit and a desire to gloat. Even as you were approaching over the desert, Majesty, when he knew you had little food or water left, he said he was tempted to attack you. But it pleased him better to lure you on with soft words and fine promises. He is a master of deceit and enjoys spinning a complex web. . he wanted to make sure he had you fully in his power.’ Sultana’s voice trembled, ‘Truly, Majesty, he is a monster. . ’
The horror and revulsion that he read in Sultana’s eyes told Humayun that she was no liar.
‘God sent you here to save us,’ he said as Sultana fell silent.
‘I hope so, Majesty. I will do all I can to help you.’
‘Then let me tell you my plan. . Since I have been Maldeo’s guest I have been out hawking several times. What could be more natural than that I should wish to do so again? Tomorrow, just as dawn is breaking, I and my courtiers and commanders lodged here in the palace will dress as if for a day’s chase. I will order litters prepared for our women, saying that I wish them too to enjoy a day’s sport. They have accompanied me before so there should be nothing strange in this. Once we have descended from the fortress we will head east into the desert.
‘But of course, I also need to get my forces away. Tonight I will send my attendant Jauhar to Zahid Beg, who commands our camp outside the town below. Jauhar often carries messages from me to Zahid Beg, so again there should be nothing to rouse suspicion. He will tell Zahid Beg to say nothing to the men at present but that early tomorrow morning he must lead them out westward, making it look as if they are going on a military exercise. They will have to leave much of the camp equipment — including our cannon — behind but that cannot be helped. Once out of sight of Marwar, they are to circle round and rejoin the rest of us.’ Humayun paused. ‘What do you think, Sultana? Will the guards permit me and my entourage to ride from the fortress in Maldeo’s absence?’