The Moghul, page 36
"It's all too incredible." Queen Janahara slumped onto a velvet divanand distractedly took a rolled betel leaf from the silver tray offeredby a hovering eunuch. Behind her a female _zenana _slave fanned a plumeof peacock feathers against the afternoon heat. As she spoke shebrushed back her gold-threaded scarf, revealing gleaming dark hair--thefew gray strands had been perfectly dyed--pulled back tightly againsther head and secured with a golden band. Her only jewels were in anecklace, diamonds with a massive blue sapphire that complemented herdark eyes. She was nearing fifty, but still possessed of a beauty thathad, with the years, evolved to magnificent dignity. Her face wasstatuesque and her Persian was both elegant and mellifluous. "He'sstill marching south. I think he actually enjoys living in the field,surrounded by mud and Rajputs. How much longer can he continue?"
"Be assured this time the prince will bring his own undoing." NadirSharif accepted a betel leaf from the tray, a gesture, and absentlyrolled it between his thumb and finger. He wondered nervously why shehad summoned him to the Jasmine Tower the minute he left the English_feringhi_. He normally enjoyed meeting her there, amid the marblescreens, where they could recline on the carpeted terrace and admirethe broad Jamuna. As her brother and prime minister, it was notunseemly for him to visit her in her quarters. "The campaign in theDeccan will change everything, Your Majesty. It cannot end as did thelast one, with Malik Ambar surrendering out of fright. The Abyssiniansurely suspects by now that Jadar is isolated."
Queen Janahara was no longer listening. Her thoughts were seething overthe two surprises of the day. The first was Nadir Sharif's absence fromher historic appearance at the _darshan _balcony. She had already beeninformed of his absence by four separate eunuchs. All assumed it wasdeliberate.
Nadir Sharif. My own brother. Can he be wavering? Or merely bargaining?
Why? Has something happened with Jadar? The march south should havebeen the end of him. The _mansabdars _and their troops south of theNarbada were in shambles. But somehow Jadar has managed to recallenough cavalry to continue his campaign. What is he planning?
That question called to mind the second problem of the day.
The Englishman.
She knew, as Arangbar did not, that the Englishman had already met withJadar. Why had Jadar contrived such a meeting? The prince must knowthat both she and Nadir Sharif had full support of the Viceroy of Goa.Did he also know that the Viceroy had even offered secretly to help armthe Deccanis against him, an arrangement she was now negotiating?
What of the English _feringhi_, his letter, his meeting with Jadar? Shehad studied him carefully through her screen when he appeared at theafternoon _durbar _and she had ordered a Persian translation of hisletter prepared immediately. And what she read was disturbing. TheEnglish king had, it was true, asked merely for a trading _firman_. Butwho knew what sea power waited behind the English appearance at Surat?
She knew Jadar despised Christians, but he would not scruple to usethem one against the other. Where would it lead, if Jadar could enlistEnglish sea power in the struggle that loomed ahead, and somehowneutralize the influence of the Portuguese? Maddeningly, the Moghulseemed amused by the Englishman, by his rude manner.
"Why did His Majesty invite the _feringhi _to the _Diwan-i- Khas_tonight?"
"My esteemed sister, you were at today's durbar. You know His Majesty'swhims far better than I. Perhaps he was fascinated by finding a_feringhi _who speaks his barbarous Turki. For His Majesty the new_feringhi _cannot be anything more than merely a new toy, like a newdog or horse. He will amuse himself with the _feringhi_, danglepromises before him, and wait to see if more gifts are forthcoming. Youknow he is the same with all ambassadors."
"This one I think is different. Did you see him refuse to _teslim_? Ithink His Majesty is already awed by him. I fear for India if theEnglish ever gain influence here. Do you really believe the Englishking wants nothing more than trade?" Janahara found herself searchingfor the key to Nadir Sharifs thoughts. "What do you suppose wouldhappen if these English defy the Portuguese and one day decide toblockade Surat? To allow trade only to those who have supported them atcourt." She paused as she studied him. "Could there be some herealready who are fearful enough to pretend friendship to theEnglishman?"
"Who could know these things?" Nadir Sharif walked to the white marblerailing and gazed along the side of the fort, where the Jamuna lappedgently against the thick red walls. He remembered his pigeons, and thenhe remembered the morning _darshan_ and Janahara's unprecedentedappearance.
The Englishman is hardly a problem, my dear sister. He is alreadytamed. You are the problem now. You and your newfound power. But if youfear this harmless _feringhi_ more than you fear me, then I have atlast found a way to manage you as well. At long last.
"Tonight I will drink with the English _feringhi_, and then we maylearn something useful. A man lounging with a wine cup in his handssays things he would never utter standing at _durbar_. I think HisMajesty may also be wondering about the intentions of his king."
Janahara chewed silently on the betel leaf and eyed him, knowing he hadmet that morning with the Rajput who brought the English _feringhi _toAgra and wondering why. Whatever the reason, she told herself, NadirSharif would never be so foolish as to side with Jadar. Not so long asthe prince was isolated and weak. Nadir Sharif did not gamble.
"The _feringhi _must be watched closely. Find a way. We need to knowwhat he is doing, what he is thinking. Do you understand?"
"To hear is to obey." Nadir Sharif bowed lightly.
"And you will be at _darshan _tomorrow morning. Even if you were notthere today."
"Naturally had I but known, Majesty . . ."
"Father made you prime minister. You can be just as easily removed."
"Your Majesty." Nadir Sharif bowed, and with an unseen flick sent therolled betel leaf spinning past the railing, toward the dark waters ofthe Jamuna below.
