The Serpent's tooth eotm-5

by Alex Rutherford

  Looking round, Nicholas saw that Dara’s bodyguard and his own mercenaries were steadily pushing back Aurangzeb and Murad’s troops, several of whom lay sprawled dead or wounded, but there had also been casualties among his own men. A Burgundian who had served with him for many years was lying face down in a pool of blood with his brains spilling into his ginger hair from a great gash in his skull. Nicholas was preparing to re-join the fight, determined to avenge the waste of his comrade’s life on those who by rebelling had caused it, when he heard above the general din of battle a drumming of many fast approaching hooves behind him. Turning, he saw a group of horsemen with a green banner galloping wildly for the rear, all clearly Dara’s men. He shouted to the leading riders, ‘Why are you retreating?’ The first few who passed him were too intent on securing their safety even to respond, but one horseman, who appeared little more than a youth, reined in for a moment. ‘Prince Dara is fleeing, so we must too. So should you if you value your life.’

  ‘But the prince has not fled,’ Nicholas shouted back.

  ‘You’re wrong. We’ve seen the imperial elephant head for the rear.’

  ‘But didn’t you see the howdah was empty?’

  ‘No. But in that case the prince must be dead.’ With that and before Nicholas could utter another word the young man dug his heels into the flanks of his blowing horse and urged it after his quickly disappearing comrades. Nicholas looked round to see where Dara was but he had been carried away from him by the press of the fighting. Even as his eyes searched the heaving, sweating battle line in front of him, he heard more horses galloping behind him. Turning once more he saw the oncoming riders were also from his own side and fleeing headlong.

  ‘Prince Dara is safe! We are winning the fight!’ he yelled at them as they passed, knowing that even if he could be heard he would be unlikely to be heeded. He was right. The group passed quickly without even a glance in his direction, all except for one green-clad horseman whose mount stumbled over the body of a dead rebel and fell, throwing the man from the saddle to land in a crumpled heap. As he struggled to rise he was knocked down and trampled by the riders following, who in their fear did not even seem to attempt to avoid him.

  Dara needed to show himself and soon or it would be too late. The battle would be irretrievably lost and the road to Agra open for Aurangzeb and Murad. As Nicholas scanned the fighting he suddenly saw the black stallion with the white blaze emerge from a melee about two hundred yards away. It was limping and had a great bleeding gash in its rump but no one in its saddle. Dara must have been knocked or fallen from the animal. Nicholas urged his horse towards the place where he had first seen the stallion. Getting closer he saw three of Dara’s green and gold-clad bodyguards, still mounted, trying to protect a recumbent figure in a gold breastplate lying motionless on the ground.

  Almost immediately one of the guards dropped from his saddle, hit by a stroke from a black-clad rebel rider. Only a few moments later a second fell forward on to his horse’s neck, clearly wounded. The third fought on against four attackers. Yelling as loudly as he could for all his men to rally to him, Nicholas kicked towards the action, fearing he would be too late. Suddenly he remembered his brace of pistols. Throwing off his heavy gauntlet, he pulled one from his sash. His sweaty hand slipped on the rounded handle but he quickly restored his grip, levelled the weapon and fired. One of the rebels flung up his arms and fell from his horse, hit by what Nicholas knew was a lucky shot at a distance. As he grabbed for his other pistol, the bodyguard knocked another rebel from the saddle with a sword stroke.

  Levelling the second pistol, Nicholas fired at one of the two remaining enemy fighters but as he did so his horse skittered and he missed the rider and instead hit his horse in the rump. The rebel lost control as his frightened and wounded animal twisted and reared, running from the battle, but it only covered a short distance before collapsing, trapping the rider beneath it. That only left one man, but as Nicholas closed on him he knocked the remaining bodyguard from his horse with a stroke of his sword. By then Nicholas was up with him. The man thrust hard at Nicholas. Nicholas still had one of his pistols gripped in his hand, and he reversed the weapon and smashed its bulbous handle into the rebel’s mouth. Frothing blood and broken pieces of tooth mingled with the man’s black beard, and before he could recover Nicholas threw aside the pistol, drew his sword and with a reverse stroke slashed into the nape of his adversary’s neck just beneath his helmet, crunching into bone and sinew. The man fell.

  As more of Nicholas’s own troops as well as of Dara’s bodyguard arrived Nicholas jumped from his horse and ran across to Dara’s motionless form. Turning the prince on to his back, Nicholas quickly examined his body. There were no obvious wounds beyond a large and swollen bruise on his forehead. Pray God he was merely knocked out. Pulling his water bottle from his belt, Nicholas unstoppered it and tipped some of its contents over the face of Dara who seemed to stir, then carefully poured a little of the liquid into the prince’s mouth. Dara began to cough.

  ‘He’s alive,’ Nicholas shouted to the men now surrounding him. ‘Whoever’s got the best horse, dismount and we’ll use it for the prince. That rider, double up with someone else. See if any of the three bodyguards have any life left in them. If so, get them on horseback too, even if you have to tie them across your saddles.’

  Grabbing the pistol he had discarded, he slipped it back into his sash with the other one and looked round. Everywhere as far as he could see through the drifts of smoke Dara’s men were retreating. That was the polite way of putting it. Most were fleeing for their lives. Nicholas knew that there was no chance to rally them with Dara at best semi-conscious. The prince’s only hope was to reach Agra and the hakims and survive to fight another day.

  ‘Mount up,’ Nicholas yelled, ‘and head for Agra as quickly as we can.’

  Chapter 20

  Alone on the sandstone battlements of the Agra fort Shah Jahan scanned the sun-scorched countryside. The dust cloud rising for the past hours on the horizon confirmed the reports brought by messengers that the two armies had engaged. If only he could be there himself, with the bitter smell of cannon smoke in his nostrils and the energy of battle in his veins. Instead his years and his health had decreed his fate was to wait for news, impotently hoping that it was good. As if his thoughts had conjured them, he began to make out riders approaching on the far side of the Jumna. As they came nearer he saw that some had other soldiers mounted behind them or what looked like badly wounded men slung across their saddles. As they forded the river and approached the fort, their dress told him they were Dara’s troops. The trickle of horsemen quickly became a steady flow. What did it mean? Had they left the battle because they needed the attention of the hakims or were Dara’s men fleeing the field?

  A coldness gripped his stomach as he made out the glittering steel breastplates of some of the imperial bodyguard. A group of about two dozen of them was slowly approaching in close formation. Among them he noticed Nicholas Ballantyne but then forgot everything else on seeing Dara at their centre, slumped forward over his saddle pommel, the reins of his horse held by a qorchi riding close beside him. Shah Jahan could wait no longer. Turning away, he hurried along the dusty battlements to a dimly lit seldom-used staircase spiralling straight down to the main courtyard. He had to brush cobwebs from his face as he descended the narrow, sharp-edged steps. He reached the courtyard just as Dara and his escort were emerging from the tall carved gateway. Seeing his father, Dara straightened himself and tried to speak, but then shook his head as if words were too much. His dazed-looking face was heavily bruised and there was congealed blood on his right temple.

  The prince dismounted slowly, and as his feet touched the ground he swayed a little. Hurrying forward, Shah Jahan put out an arm to support him. Attendants ran up to assist too but Shah Jahan waved them away. He could help his own son. Conscious of the many eyes upon them in the courtyard and anxious not to reveal his terrible anxiety about both his son and the outco
me of the battle, Shah Jahan called to a qorchi to summon his hakim. Then, an arm round Dara’s shoulders, he walked slowly with him across the courtyard towards the broad main staircase leading to the imperial apartments.

  As father and son entered, Jahanara, who had been waiting there for news, ran forward. Together she and Shah Jahan lowered Dara on to a stool. Moments later the hakim arrived. He stooped over Dara and stared hard into his eyes, examining his pupils. Then, rinsing a piece of cloth in a basin of warm water, he washed away the dried blood so he could examine his temple. At last he straightened up. ‘The wound is superficial, Majesty. The prince has suffered no lasting injury, though he seems disorientated. What happened to him?’

  Nicholas, who had followed them into the room, answered. ‘He was knocked from his horse and fell hard.’

  Dara himself nodded and tried to get to his feet but Shah Jahan placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. ‘Father … we were betrayed … Khalilullah Khan deserted us at the height of the battle. Our troops began to panic. I dismounted from my war elephant because I wanted to ride among them on horseback and encourage them to fight on but it was a mistake … My men didn’t understand what I was doing. When they saw I was no longer in my howdah they thought I’d been wounded or killed … even that I had fled the fighting. I could hear the panic-stricken cries all around. I tried to show I was still with them but it was too late … they were already fleeing … and then I was felled from my horse. Father, I’ve failed you … Aurangzeb and Murad can’t be far behind. It’s all over.’ Dara put his head in his hands and seemed about to weep.

  ‘Please leave us,’ Shah Jahan ordered the hakim. ‘You as well,’ he said, turning to the attendants. As soon as the doors closed, Shah Jahan knelt by his son’s side and shook him gently by the shoulders. ‘You haven’t failed me … you could never do that.’ For a moment he enfolded Dara in his arms but then rose and addressed Nicholas, who was standing near the door, unsure whether to go or stay.

  ‘What is the situation? Is the battle indeed lost as my son believes?’

  ‘Yes, Majesty, I fear so. It happened as the prince said. When we took him from the field, groups of our fighters were continuing to resist but becoming isolated and, as they were surrounded, being killed by the enemy. Many others were already dead or, I am sad to say, throwing down their weapons and fleeing for their lives. It was becoming a rout … I wish I could give you better news, but you must know the truth.’ Nicholas looked at the floor.

  Shah Jahan was silent. For the sake of them all and of the empire he realised he must think calmly and above all appear calm. ‘It’s clear we have little time,’ he said after a few moments. ‘Aurangzeb and Murad won’t delay their advance on Agra for long. The most important thing, Dara, is for you and your family to get away from here … On no account must you be taken prisoner.’

  ‘No!’ Dara said. ‘Surely enough of our men will have managed to get back to Agra to defend the fort against my brothers. We can hold out until Suleiman and his army arrive from the east …’

  ‘We’ve still had no news of Suleiman’s whereabouts and I won’t take the risk. If your brothers capture you, their position becomes almost unassailable. I won’t let you be a hostage for the second time in your life …’

  ‘But I can’t leave you, Father …’

  ‘I don’t fear Aurangzeb and Murad — my own sons. Anyway, I’m not giving you a choice. As your emperor and your father I’m commanding you to go.’ Shah Jahan turned to Jahanara, standing silent and very still by her brother’s side. ‘Go to Nadira Begum. She is with Roshanara and Gauharara. Tell her what’s happened and to prepare herself to leave Agra immediately. Have Sipihr told to ready himself too.’ As Jahanara hurried from the room, Shah Jahan turned back to his son. ‘Listen to my instructions. Gather as many of your men as you can and ride immediately for Delhi. With Suleiman still absent, the scattering of Jaswant Singh’s army at Ujjain and the defeat you have just suffered we have too few men to defend the Agra region. Our remaining strength — and it is substantial — lies in the north and the northwest. Mobilise them effectively and we will still be victorious. I will give you a letter for the Governor of Delhi ordering him to turn the imperial forces under his command over to you so you can organise the city’s defences against your brothers, who I’m certain won’t be long in following you. I will also instruct him to open the imperial treasuries to you so you can recruit more men to rebuild your army.’

  Alarmed by the doubt in his still dazed son’s eyes, Shah Jahan took Dara’s head between his hands and looked into his eyes. ‘Listen to me, Dara. You must leave Agra not only because I say so but because it is your duty to yourself and your family. You were defeated at Samugarh but that was only one battle in this war. You must not lose heart. I suffered setbacks on the battlefield but I never let them crush me. In fact, they only made me more determined that next time I would be the victor. Remember the advantages you still have over your brothers. I have proclaimed you heir to the Moghul throne. That gives you a power and an authority they don’t possess. Use it and you can still prevail.’ He was placing a mighty burden of leadership on his son, Shah Jahan thought, one from which he had shielded him so far, but now there was no choice.

  ‘Majesty, I will accompany the prince to Delhi if he will permit me,’ said Nicholas.

  Dara managed a faint smile. ‘I would be glad of it. You have already saved my life today. Perhaps the time will come when I can repay you … Now I should go to Nadira and help her prepare … she will be very anxious.’

  ‘I will come with you to the haram.’ Shah Jahan helped Dara to his feet again, then led the way from the apartments. Nicholas heard the customary cries of ‘the emperor approaches’ preceding them and then slowly fade as they went through the series of doors into the haram. But for how much longer would Shah Jahan be emperor, he wondered as he mopped his brow. It seemed unthinkable that such a mighty ruler could be toppled from his throne by a single battle and yet who would ever have thought that Aurangzeb and Murad’s rebellion would get this far?

  He was about to leave the imperial apartments as well, to gather the few possessions he would take with him on the ride to Delhi, when to his surprise Jahanara returned. For a few moments they looked at one another in silence. Then Jahanara burst out, ‘Dara tells me that you have offered to go with him … Why are you so generous to us after everything that happened?’

  ‘It’s not generosity. I belong in Hindustan. I hadn’t realised that until I was about to leave. Your family has done me much kindness despite the event to which you refer …’ Nicholas’s voice trailed off for a moment, but then he continued, ‘It will be an honour to fight for Dara as I once fought for your father.’

  ‘Then on behalf of my father and Dara I thank you. But I must also ask your forgiveness. My thoughtlessness put you in terrible danger … I’m so sorry … I was only thinking of my own worries, never imagining …’

  ‘You have nothing to be sorry for,’ he interrupted her gently. ‘You were acting from the best of motives.’

  Above her filmy purple veil, Jahanara’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I have no truer friend than you and I know you will help Dara in any way you can. He is the true heir of everything our great-grandfather Akbar strove for — justice for all, regardless of their faith. Aurangzeb would only divide our people, setting Hindus against Muslims. If he ever became emperor, his intolerance would scar this land just as fire once scarred this face of mine.’ With her right hand she slowly lowered her veil to reveal her blemished cheek. For a moment Nicholas stared at the mark, then reached out very gently to touch it, his blue eyes looking deep into hers. But then from outside came a series of shrill trumpet blasts, doubtless rallying Dara’s men ready for departure.

  Nicholas’s hand dropped to his side. ‘I must go … but I will do all that I can, I promise you.’ Then without a backward glance he was gone.

  Half an hour later, Jahanara watched through a jali screen as a small body of men
began issuing from the fort. Somewhere among the riders would be her brother and Nicholas. As the column vanished into the gathering twilight she realised that she and Dara had never said goodbye.

  Three days later, Dara, with Nicholas riding at his side, urged his sweat-scummed black horse up a low ridge. As they reached the crest they saw the city of Delhi laid out before them, sun glinting on the white marble domes of mosques visible above the crenellated walls, most of which were shrouded in purple shadow.

  ‘Delhi at last,’ said Dara. ‘And no sign of any rebel troops blocking our approach.’

  ‘We have been fortunate again, Highness, as we were when skirting Mathura.’

  ‘Besides, it would take a strong force to oppose us now on open ground given the numbers of men who have joined us.’

  Nicholas nodded. Spread out behind them were nearly ten thousand men who had rallied to Dara’s flag over the past seventy-two hours. Some were elements of the imperial army defeated at Samugarh, others the garrisons of small forts along the road and yet others new recruits under local rulers responding to the urgent summons to arms issued by Shah Jahan.

  ‘Should we wait to take closer order before making our final approach to the city?’ Nicholas asked.

  ‘There is no need with no sign of opposition. Let’s hurry. Soon we’ll be relaxing with the governor in his apartments and planning how our joint forces will defeat my brothers,’ said Dara, and with a wave to his bodyguard to follow he kicked his black horse into a canter down the ridge towards the city about five miles away.

  How much Dara’s mood had improved, thought Nicholas, as he followed him. The dazed and disconsolate prince had quickly recovered his spirits as forces had joined him, seeming to grow physically as well as mentally, so much straighter was he sitting on his horse.