"All the more reason to attack," said Hasin Dahele. "We will lose the element of surprise if we wait much longer."
"You do not need an element of surprise, which you have lost, in any case; they know you are here," Sanat Ji Mani said. "It is a small town, the walls around it are wood, designed to keep animals out and livestock in, not to hold off armies. Your elephants would have it down in a single charge."
"Then let us charge," said the Rajput eagerly.
"Why bother? It is unnecessary," Sanat Ji Mani said, knowing his cautions were fruitless.
"Has exile taken all your spirit?" the Rajput asked. "Why should I hesitate to show my strength?"
"Because those people are weak. Do your gods require you to punish the weak in order to deserve your favor?" As he spoke, he wished he knew which of the myriad gods Hasin Dahele sought to honor, for there were many among them who were blood-thirsty.
"My men are avid for an opportunity to show their mettle," said Hasin Dahele with a hard look at Sanat Ji Mani. "And my Gods do not expect me to falter."
"Then let them prove themselves on something more worthwhile than that town; find a city that is armed that will be a suitable offering to your gods, not this gathering of farmers and workmen," said Sanat Ji Mani. "There is nothing to boast of in taking such a place. Fifty men on horseback with bows and lances could do it. You have five thousand soldiers at your back. That is many more than every man, woman, and child in that town."
"Just my point," said Hasin Dahele. "We will have an easy victory and everyone in the towns and villages in this region will know that we must be reckoned with. Others will be glad to surrender to avoid the fate of this town. We show our might here and we will not have to battle again."
Sanat Ji Mani stared at the Rajput, knowing it was an uncourteous thing to do. "You asked my advice and I have given it to you. It may not be to your liking; you may take it or not as you see fit. This is your campaign."
Hasin Dahele grinned. "So it is." He signaled for his nearest aide. "Tell my first two companies of archers to charge the fields and drive everyone back into the town; if they will not go, kill them. If there are any Untouchables, do not pollute yourselves with them. Capture what animals you can— except the cattle— and those you cannot, kill for our cooking pots." He turned to Sanat Ji Mani. "You see, I will make the most of this opportunity."
The pang that took hold of Sanat Ji Mani had little to do with the sun, or the lack of his native earth; he was sick at heart. "You are not being prudent, and that will cost you in time to come," he warned the Rajput. "This is not a crucial fight. You are risking your men unnecessarily and you are going to bring about needless destruction in a place that would serve you better as an ally than a foe."
"A town, so small— what kind of ally is a place like this? Better to subjugate the people, teach them to fear me, and let them serve as an example to the rest of the region." The Rajput lifted his hand and the first company of archers started down the hill, the men lifting their bows and notching arrows as they rode.
"The town holds the valley. You may have use of this valley, O Rajput," said Sanat Ji Mani, not wanting to watch what was happening.
"Why would I want so minor a place?" the Rajput asked. "It is a town of little worth or importance."
"If you ever have to retreat over this ground, the valley may be crucial to you and your army. It could be a haven." Sanat Ji Mani saw Hasin Dahele shake his head. "I know you do not intend to retreat, but that may not be your decision to make."
"There is no army strong enough to drive my army back," said Hasin Dahele with such arrogant confidence that Sanat Ji Mani winced. "The Gods are guiding me. No other Rajput has been favored by the Gods as I have."
"There is no army you know of, but that does not mean that another Rajput might not be planning exactly what you are attempting to do, and with a force stronger than the one you command, and believe that his gods favor him as yours favor you." It was a useless observation and Sanat Ji Mani knew it; he gestured to the valley. "Leave them in peace and they will shelter you in your hour of need. Attack them and you will never be safe here again."
"How can you, of all men, say such things to me?" The Rajput rose in his stirrups and gave a second signal that put his men into the charge. "They will have this settled by evening, and then you and I may see what we have."
"I would rather remain outside the walls," said Sanat Ji Mani. "There is more safety away from where the battle was fought than in its place." He pointedly turned away from the Rajput and the first skirmishes in the fields below.
"My spearmen," Hasin Dahele shouted. "Follow the archers! First and fourth companies!" He dropped his arm and gave a bellow of enthusiasm to send his men off. At once the spearmen set the horses plummeting down the hill; thundering down the slope, five horses
missed their footing and fell in a thrashing tangle of legs that tripped another four before the spearmen could guide their mounts around the fallen.
"Are you going to send slaves to help them?" Sanat Ji Mani asked as the horses neighed and men screamed in pain.
"I may, when all the spearmen have passed," said Hasin Dahele. He was breathing fast and his color was heightened with excitement; one of the horses collapsed and lay still. "That one will have to be pulled off to the side."
"Have the tack removed. You cannot spare the saddle and bridle any more than you can spare the horse," said Sanat Ji Mani watching the rider stumble to his feet, clearly dazed; he took a step, screamed and fell. "I fear the soldier has broken his leg."
"How can you be sure from this distance?" Hasin Dahele demanded.
"I have seen men hurt in battle, and I know how they behave," Sanat Ji Mani answered, not quite daring to go down the hill himself to see how badly the man's leg was broken, not in the open sunlight with the Rajput watching him. "If his leg is not set quickly, he will take a fever and he may die. You cannot want that to happen."
"He will have to wait until the village is in my hands," said Hasin Dahele, dismissing the whole matter with an impatient wave of his arm.
"You could stop the attack now, and demand a surrender. It would spare your soldiers more hurt. You will lose only those men injured when their horses fell," Sanat Ji Mani said, doubting that Hasin Dahele would listen to him.
"Why would I do that, when victory is so readily had?" He was about to signal his other two companies of spearmen when he paused. "Why do you not want me to fight for this valley?"
"I have already told you: because it is unnecessary, and because it creates enemies. You will have enough of them without adding to their numbers." Sanat Ji Mani sighed. "Also, you have just begun your campaign and this kind of battle is profligate: you will need your spears and arrows and men and horses later. Wasting them now on a needless assault is squandering, not strategic campaigning." He indicated the
town. "Those are not warriors, they are farmers and artisans. You have no reason to fight them."
"And yet you warned me against farriers, as subtle foes who could compromise an entire company of horsemen," the Rajput mused aloud. He signaled his spearmen. "They need to be tested," he said as he gestured them into motion.
The two companies pelted down the hill, taking care to dodge around the fallen men and horses, all of them raising their spears and shouting. They were an awesome sight, and the townspeople below were transfixed by the soldiers' terrifying onslaught. The first wave of archers were nearly to the town walls, the second line spreading out behind them to cross the fields to capture those working the crops. A wailing arose from the valley, the sound combining the cries of those attacked and the shouts of the soldiers.
"They are doing well," said the Rajput as he watched his soldiers' mounts turn the fields to mud and to chase down those farmers making for the town gates. "I will have slaves from this."
"And you will have enemies," said Sanat Ji Mani.
"So long as they fear me, I do not mind enemies," the Rajput countered. "You should understand how important fear is."
"No doubt," said Sanat Ji Mani, appalled by what he heard.
"My enemies will know not to expect mercy from me, and they will be wise." Hasin Dahele laid his hand on his sword. "This is the beginning of my conquest of the world."
Sanat Ji Mani stared down at the pandemonium of battle, and saw the first futile attempts at resistance; he glanced at the Rajput and read no horror in his handsome face, only glee and beneath that something more sinister— perhaps gloating— in the man's dark eyes; Hasin Dahele would not be stopped now, and Sanat Ji Mani recognized this with despair. His arm was aching and he saw that the shade from the umbrella had shifted. "I am being burned," he said.
"Tend to your duty," the Rajput snapped at the aide holding the umbrella. "This man is not to have sunlight fall on him. If you fail, you will be burned as you have allowed him to be. I will have your arm thrust in a fire."
"Do not do that," Sanat Ji Mani interceded. "It is bad enough one of us be hurt— hurting him will not make me better."
"Are you asking for mercy for him" Hasin Dahele laughed low in his throat. "For a man who has let you suffer?"
"Yes," said Sanat Ji Mani, "as I would hope he would do for me."
Hasin Dahele shrugged. "I will forgive him— this time. For your sake."
"I am grateful," said Sanat Ji Mani, managing to keep the irony out of his voice. "There will be agony enough for everyone before this campaign is done."
"Move back into the trees," Hasin Dahele ordered, without saying anything about Sanat Ji Mani's additional remark. "I will summon you when the battle is done." Saying that, he spurred his dark-bay and went cantering down the line of mounted men still waiting to enter the fray.
"We had better do as he says," the aide recommended.
Sanat Ji Mani gave a single nod. "There is nothing to see here."
The aide stared at Sanat Ji Mani, shocked. "There is the battle."
"And all battles are confusion and anguish. I do not need to watch another to know that." He swung his horse around. "I will sleep a while, for the night is going to be long, and the demands many."
"How can you be certain of that?" the aide asked, bustling to keep the umbrella in position as he and Sanat Ji Mani made for the trees.
"It is always so after a battle. The wounded and the dying will need succor and the dead will have to be given the rites of death. Why should this battle be any different." Sanat Ji Mani stopped to look toward the soldiers waiting in the cover of the trees. Most of them were edgy, anticipating their entry into the fighting. "What will become of them?" He was not aware he had spoken aloud until the aide said, "They will further the glory of the Rajput."
Ahead of them, two elephants rigged out for war loomed out of the shelter of the trees, their mahouts straddling their necks, and behind the mahouts, howdahs with three archers in each. The big animals were restless, swaying as they stood, their trunks moving as if to begin their battle now. Slowly they ambled forward, each ponderous step guided by the mahouts as they began making their way toward the village. A dozen more elephants fell into line behind them.
"The villagers will tremble," said the aide with great satisfaction.
Sanat Ji Mani shook his head. "There is no need for such measures. The town will fall without using the elephants."
"But they will destroy the walls, and it will be told everywhere that the Rajput cannot be resisted," said the aide. "That will serve Beragar well."
"It will also warn other rulers to increase their armies and strengthen their city walls, so the Rajput will not have a quick victory." Sanat Ji Mani almost smiled as he rode into the shadow of the trees; the shield they provided from the piercing rays of the sun was as welcome as nightfall. He drew in his horse, feeling a little strength returning to him. "I will go to rest for the afternoon."
"There is no camp for you to—" the aide began.
"I will find a sheltered place and that will suffice. If you will attend to my horse, I will thank you for your good service." He was already looking away from the reserve troops, trying to find a place where the leaves were the thickest and the shadows the most dense. "If the Rajput has need of me, wake me. If not, let me sleep until I rouse myself."
The aide bowed in the saddle. "I will do as you wish, Illustrious Foreigner."
Sanat Ji Mani found the title excessive but knew it would only trouble the aide if he did not accept it. "You are very good," he said as he spotted a mound of vines and trees a short distance away. "This will suit me very well."
"There may be snakes," warned the aide.
"I will be careful," Sanat Ji Mani assured him as he swung out of the saddle and handed the reins to the aide. "Come for me at day's end and I will be ready for you."
