Princess of the dawn

Chapter 17

Battle of Mewat

Jalal woke up before dawn. Suddenly he was completely awake when he thought that he was going to fight for the first time today. He got up quickly and splashed some water on his face. Then he knelt in prayer and asked for the battle to be successful and put his life in God's hands. After his prayer he called for a servant.

"Servant! Help me put on the armor."

"Ji huzoor."

After putting on his armor, he grabbed his sword and made his way to the horses to finish off Sultan. The horse greeted him with a friendly snort and rubbed his head against his shoulder.

"Sultan, my boy. We'll ride into battle together for the first time today. Don't disappoint me," said the lad to his horse and patted his neck. The horse sensed the excitement of its young master and looked at him attentively. Jalal saddled and bridled him and swung himself into the saddle. He rode to the agreed assembly point and met Bairam Khan and Abdul there.

"Subha bakhair" he greeted.

"Subha bakhair Jalal. Are you ready?" asked Bairam Khan.

"Yes Khan Baba!" he said in a firm voice.

Drums could be heard from the opposing camp. They were answered by the Mughal drums and mingled with the clang of weapons in the camp. Horses neighed, some rose with excitement and was calmed down by her riders. Elephants trumpeted, loud sharp orders were barked. The symphony of war! Jalal turned into the ruler. He straightened up on his horse and looked around with alert eyes. The commanders gave the signal to the line-up. The troop slowly formed. Cannons were brought into position. At the top and on the flanks, the ‚alam' fluttered from afar. The golden lion and the sun on them glowed in the rising sun.

The opposite side was also preparing. The enemy camps faced each other and waited. Jalal was at the head of the right wing with Bairam Khan. Head held high he stood beside of him, Abdul at his side. For a brief moment only the howl of the wind could be heard and time seemed to stand still. Then the enemy attacked! Roaring war cries accompanied the advance. The Mughals charged forward. It seemed as if they wanted to overrun the enemy. Archers shot their arrows. The first soldiers fell hit to the ground. Bairam Khan led his squad in an arc around the enemy. Likewise the troop on the left. Before the enemy realized what was going on, he was almost locked in. The first fighters met Pir Mohammed's main squad and the clang of weapons, screams and the thunder of cannons could be heard. A bitter struggle had begun! They fought man by man. The air was filled with dust and powder smoke. The ranks of the Mughals closed in a ring. The enemy was completely kettled in! There was no escape!

The enemy soldiers encountered Bairam Khan's squad. Bairam Khan looked around for Jalal. He sat on his horse and had drawn his sword. Attentively he watched the happening. He exuded an iron determination. Jalal was prepared. Bairam Khan focused on the fight again. They were right in the middle of it. Jalal brandished his sword. Thrusted and let it swing through the air. He couldn't think of anything else than to fight. He was one with his sword and his horse. He was in a frenzy. Every thought was blanked out. There was only him and the sword. He didn't notice how he let roll heads, slashed bodies, or hacked off limbs. The carefree boy was disappeared. A warlord sat on his horse!

Same time in Amer. Jodha was sitting with Moti in her chambers. They are busy with chit chat and giggled silly. Suddenly Jodha felt a strange urgent need to take Jalal's ring out of its hiding place and a worried feeling spread out in her! „What happens with me?" Jodha thought confused.

At the battlefield the fight billowed back and forth. Abruptly a warm, soothing feeling penetrated Jalal's frenzy! But caught in the frenzy, he didn't really noticed it and he kept on fighting undeterred. The enemy briefly gained ground, was beaten back, rounded up and was finally so kettled in that he could no longer move forward or backward. The Mughals raged mercilessly among them and caused a bloodbath. Until a white flag was hoisted! The enemy surrendered. Loud cries of victory filled the air "Fatah! Fatah! Victory! Victory!" Pir Mohammed gave the signal to retreat. It was over! The survivors were taken prisoner. The retreat into the camp began. Jalal and Abdul also rode back to the camp. Jalal was still in state of intoxication! Abdul had never seen him like this before. He was shocked to see Jalal becoming a berserker on the battlefield, a ruthless fighting machine in bloodlust. At first he felt sick with fear and only over time did he become calmer and winced every time he hit an opponent. He had to pull himself together not to run away. He was glad when after what seemed like hours it was all over. He was relieved. Next to him, Jalal exuded a never known authority. They got off their horses. Abdul's knees almost buckled, so everything had finished him off. Jalal, on the other hand, walked to Bairam Khan's tent with his head held high. Pir Mohammed was already there.

"Shahenshah," he said respectfully to Jalal and bent his upper body. He has already been told about Jalal's assignment. He knew the boy could handle the sword, but he hadn't expected that. He had won Pir Mohammed's recognition. He was no longer just the son of Humayun, but a worthy heir to the throne. Jalal nodded graciously to him. At that moment, Bairam Khan came back.

"Mubarak ho Jalal! Your father would be proud of you" congratulated Bairam Khan. There was no time for more words. The first hastily dispatched negotiators rode into the Mughal camp and were brought to Bairam Khan's tent, heavily guarded.

The negotiations began. Hemu's father was among the prisoners. He was offered to spare his life if he converted to Islam. But the proud older man remained true to his religion and refused. That was his death sentence. During the negotiations it was reported that some of Hemu's men had gone to the jungles of Bajwara with elephants laden with gold and other treasures. Bairam Khan gave the order to pursue them and bring the treasures back. As a reward for his dedication and as a confidante of Bairam Khan, Pir Mohammed was given control of Mewat. Jalal was present during the negotiations. His charismatic demeanor and his shrewed comments gave those present an inkling that in the foreseeable future he would be a ruler who had to be obeyed. Bairam Khan also became aware of this, and it was not the first time that he thought about his future plans.

The arguments went back and forth. In the end the parties agreed. The negotiations ended. After their return to the camp the men had only taken off their armor, but had not yet had the opportunity to change their clothes. All but Jalal had left Bairam Khan's tent. Slowly the lad's euphoria fell away and he realized how exhausted he was. He was slowly coming back to reality.

"Jalal, I am proud of you. Your first fight and you were outstanding. Your father would be proud of you. You fought like a lion."

The proud smile on Jalal's face that lit up after Bairam Khan's first words died away. The word 'lion' awakened a memory in Jalal that he would have preferred to ignore. His face closed. Half-heartedly he accepted Bairam's words with thanks and said goodbye.

"Khan Baba, I say goodbye. I am tired and would like to wash and change clothes. Khuda Hafiz ". With these words he turned around quickly and left the tent.

"Khuda hafiz, Jalal". A confused Bairam Khan remained who couldn't explain the lad's reaction.

Jalal's tent

Back in his tent, Jalal asked for water to be brought to wash away the traces of the battle. After putting on fresh clothes, he threw himself exhausted on the bed. His mind was on the fight that had taken place today. His first battle! His determination, his intoxication... He couldn't remember the details. Except that he had been wielding the sword tirelessly. Ruthless and without mercy. He had to digest this new feeling first. How different was the reality than the exercises with Khan Baba. The clink of weapons, screams of pain, biting dust, hateful, wild gazes, breaking eyes, the smell of blood... The impressions stormed on him. Thoughts of roaring cannons and flying bullets in Kabul flashed his mind. He quickly shook off the terrible memories. So that would be accompany him from now on.Then the negotiations. He had watched without emotion, agreed to decisions. Had fulfilled his duties as a ruler. For the first time he really realized what power he had. He could decide between life and death. Just him! This realization hit him like a blow and slowly seeped into his consciousness. He thought of Khan Baba, his mentor. Did he have to approve all of his decisions? Wasn't he the ruler who ultimately made the decisions? He thought of Bairam Khan's congratulations after the battle. "You fought like a lion". There he was again, the stab of disappointment. 'Lion'. He thought of Jodha's message. Why didn't she had accept the ring? He let out a deep sigh. Then, unexpected, another flash of thought came in his mind. The warm, soothing feeling that tried to penetrate his frenzy at the battlefield. What was the meaning of it? He couldn't explain it to himself. With this thoughts he slowly fell asleep and dreamed of hazel eyes that looked at him soulfully, in the depths of which he could lose himself.

To be continued