The hillmen followed on their heels, giving them no quarter, forcing them to turn and fight. A hand-to-hand battle would decide this, a clash of swords, knives and pistols. Both sides fought with fury, the battle growing fierce as the square began to fill with the dead and dying.
The rajah’s men still held the advantage, for though many soldiers had fallen, their ranks continued to swell with fresh troops rushing to aid them from every corner of the city. If the tide did not turn soon, Sandokan, Tremal-Naik and Khampur would be forced to order a retreat.
Unable to breach the enemy’s defenses, the hillmen appeared to be losing heart, but just as their attack was beginning to wane, a volley of gunfire and a few cannon blasts thundered from the far end of the square, drawing a cry of joy from Sandokan and his men.
“The Sikhs!”
The mercenaries had taken the palace and now manned the cannons before its steps, trapping the rajah’s soldiers in a crossfire.
For a moment the sepoys and Assamese froze in astonishment at that unexpected betrayal, then scattered in all directions, casting away their weapons as they fled. Three or four hundred, however, had remained in the square, lowering their rifles and scimitars in surrender.
Sandokan and Tremal-Naik rushed towards the Sikh captain who was marching at the head of his men, accompanied by a man dressed in a white flannel suit and a canvas helmet with a long blue puggaree.
“Yanez!” they cried, rushing into the Portuguese’s open arms.
“In the flesh, my friends,” laughed the former English lord. “Sorry we’re late, but we had a few things to take care of in the palace.”
“The rajah is in our hands,” said the Sikh captain.
“And the Greek?”
“He defended himself like a madman with a fistful of men, but he fell in the fight with three or four bullets in his chest.”
“Dead?”
“They whisked him off before I could make certain, but I doubt even he can survive those wounds.”
“Let’s hope it’s as you say,” said Tremal-Naik. “At least your men have been avenged.”
“The rajah must be furious,” said Sandokan.
“He’s half drunk. I don’t think he even realizes he’s lost his crown,” said Yanez. “Where’s Surama?”
“Aboard one of our ships. We’ll send word to her immediately.”
“Where on earth did you get all these people?”
“Surama’s father’s men. I’ll explain everything later.”
Khampur approached them at that moment.
“Your orders, Captain,” he said, turning toward Sandokan. “All of the rajah’s soldiers have fled or surrendered.”
“Send a large band of men to the pulwar and have them escort Surama to the palace immediately. Then send your men to occupy every fort and barracks in the city. I doubt they’ll find much resistance.”
“Yes, Captain.”
He ran off to execute the orders while the hillmen began to disarm and round up those that had surrendered.
“And now the rajah,” said Sandokan. “Take us to him, my friend. You’ve kept your word and the Rani of Assam will honour her pact.”
The jemadar led Sandokan, Yanez, Tremal-Naik and a small escort into the royal palace, the Sikh soldiers at the gates saluting as they passed.
The small band of men went up the main staircase and entered the Hall of Audiences, where the ministers and highest dignitaries of state had already gathered.
The rajah sat on his throne, eyes staring blankly before him. News of the loss of his kingdom and the death of his most trusted advisor had already taken their toll.
As Yanez entered followed by the others, he rose to his feet and stepped down from the dais, mustering what remained of his pride.
“Victory is yours, my lord,” he said hoarsely. “Have you come to kill me?”
“No, Highness,” said the Portuguese, removing his hat and bowing. “That is not our way.”
“So the British government has decided to spare me and take my riches?”
“Not quite, Highness.”
“What do you mean, my lord?”
“We’ll take your riches and your crown, but the British government had no hand in this.”
The rajah’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Who then was behind all this?”
“A young woman you once knew, Highness,” replied Yanez.
“A young woman!”
“Have you been told who your men were fighting?” asked Sandokan, coming forward.
“No.”
“Warriors from Sadiya.”
“Mahur’s men!” the rajah exclaimed.
“He’s been avenged at last,” said Sandokan.
“I had no hand in his murder!” cried the prince. “That was my brother!”
“True,” said Yanez. “But you are guilty of other crimes. Do you remember Mahur’s daughter? A young princess named Surama?”
“Surama!” stammered the rajah, angrily. “Surama!”
“Yes, Highness. I see the name rings a bell. Do you remember what you did with her?”
The rajah remained silent, his eyes fixed on Yanez.
“Allow me then to refresh your memory. Like you, Surama survived the slaughter that dreadful night that saw you ascend the throne. As daughter of a great chief, and your last remaining relative, she should have been welcomed into this palace or at least sent back to her father’s people. But you denied her her birthright; you ordered your uncle’s daughter be sold like a wretched slave to a band of Indian thugs. Do you deny this, Highness?”
The rajah remained silent. His eyes had widened more and more, and appeared on the verge of shooting from their sockets.
“We met that young woman by chance in India,” continued the Portuguese, “and freed her from her captors. When we learned her tale, we decided to right this great wrong; evil men should never be allowed to prosper. Your reign has to come to an end. As of this moment, Assam has a new rani.”
“A rani!” exclaimed the rajah, his voice rising in a frightening peal of laughter that filled the immense hall. “Where is she? Where is she?… I’ll marry her!… My robes!… My robes!… My robes of state!… Where is she? Bring me the rani!”
Yanez, Sandokan and Tremal-Naik exchanged looks.
“He’s gone mad,” said the Portuguese.
“Bah! Send him off to an asylum in Calcutta,” replied the Tiger of Malaysia. “Surama can give him a princely pension if she desires.”
They walked out of the throne room in silence, the large hall still echoing with the rajah’s shrill cries and laughter.
***
Ten days later, after the rajah had been sent to Calcutta, under guard, to be admitted into one of the city’s leading medical establishments and after every town and village in Assam had pledged their loyalty to the new rani, the beautiful Surama wed her beloved white sahib and gave him half her crown.
“Here’s to your future happiness,” said Sandokan, that evening as a boisterous crowd cheered their new sovereigns and a shower of fireworks lit up the sky above. “Soon it will be my turn to reclaim the crown of my ancestors.”
“And when will that day be, little brother?” asked Yanez. “You know you can count on my arm. Say the word and I’ll be at your side with an army of Sikhs.”
“There are a few things I must arrange,” replied Sandokan. “In the meantime, enjoy your honeymoon and get to know your new kingdom and its people. In a few days I’ll set sail for Borneo with my men, and once all is in place, you’ll receive word from me.”
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The adventure continues in:
The Reckoning
It’s time for payback…
Malaysia, 1869. Thirty years have passed since Sandokan was forced from his throne. The day of reckoning has come at last, t
he day he will avenge his family and reclaim the crown of his ancestors. But an unexpected foe appears, a man with a score to settle and determined to take his revenge.
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How far would you go for revenge?
The Caribbean; 17th century. An Italian nobleman turns pirate to avenge the murder of his brothers. His foe: an old Flemish army officer named Van Guld, now the Governor of Maracaibo. The Corsair is relentless, vowing never to rest until he has killed the traitor and all those that bear his name. To help him in his quest, the Black Corsair enlists the greatest pirates of his time: L’Ollonais, Michael the Basque, and a young Welshman named Henry Morgan...
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* * *
[1] Bandyman: Cart driver
[2] Tiffin: A light meal of meat, vegetables and beer
[3] Languti: loincloth
[4] Bagla: a large rice boat
[5] Ghee: clarified butter
[6] Hindus, like many other ancient cultures, also remember the Great Flood.
[7] Goonch catfish: Bagarius yarrelli
[8] Puggaree: A thin muslin scarf tied around a helmet to shield the wearer from the sun
[9] Mohr: A gold coin worth about 16 rupees
[10] Shikari: hunting guide
[11] Mindi: Melia azedarach, also known as syringa berrytree or Indian lilac.
[12] Palash trees: Butea monosperma also known as ‘Flame of the Forest’.
[13] Elephant cattail: Typha elephantina, also known as elephant grass or corn dog grass
[14] Bighana: wolf
[15] Axis: White spotted deer
[16] Kalij pheasant: Also known as the black-backed kaleeche
[17] Sutradhara: ‘thread-holder’. Director, stage manager, producer and actor in a theatre troupe.
[18] Dhol: a barrel-shaped drum with skins on both sides
[19] Sarangi: a bowed, short-necked string instrument
[20] Naan: Flat bread
[21] Bhang: A concoction made of opium and hemp seed
[22] Nahor: Also known as Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut, or Cobra’s saffron
[23] Kush: Imperata cylindrica, also known as sword grass, spear grass, cogon grass and kunai grass.
[24] Rudiramandali: Also known as daboia or Russel’s viper
[25] Mahwa trees: Madhuca longifolia also known as honey trees, or butter trees.
Content
The Sandokan Series
Contents
Chapter 1 Lord Yanez
Chapter 2 The Kidnapping
Chapter 3 In the Tiger’s Den
Chapter 4 The Shaligram
Chapter 5 Tigers
Chapter 6 On the Brahmaputra
Chapter 7 The Rajah of Assam
Chapter 8 The Black Tiger
Chapter 9 The Hunt
Chapter 10 The Rajah’s Court
Chapter 11 The Play
Chapter 12 The Duel
Chapter 13 Surama’s Abduction
Chapter 14 Sandokan to the Rescue
Chapter 15 The Attack
Chapter 16 Panthers
Chapter 17 The Fakir’s Confession
Chapter 18 The Servant
Chapter 19 The Rescue
Chapter 20 On the River
Chapter 21 The Hunt
Chapter 22 The Trial
Chapter 23 The Greek’s Revelations
Chapter 24 The Battle
Chapter 25 The Tiger’s Retreat
Chapter 26 Trapped
Chapter 27 The Bhainsa
Chapter 28 The Sadiya Hillmen
Chapter 29 On the Brahmaputra
Chapter 30 The Attack on Guwahati
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The Reckoning
Our Other Pirate Series
The Black Corsair & The Queen of the Caribbean
Sandokan: Quest for a Throne (The Sandokan Series Book 6) Page 32
