Chapter 69: Drums of War

** Borders of Rewari and Agra kingdom **

In the ancient realm of Rajputana, where the sun kissed the golden sands and the winds whispered tales of valor and honor, two kingdoms stood apart: Mewar and Marwar. Each ruled by fierce Rajput chiefs, they maintained a delicate balance of power in the region.

Marwar also known as kingdom of Jodhpur , with its formidable might, forged alliances with neighboring states, forming the North-Western Alliance,

while Mewar, nestled in the heart of the land, fostered friendships with nearby allies, creating the South-Eastern Alliance. For years, peace reigned as these alliances ensured stability and prosperity and kept a check on other.

However, when Mewar opted for trade and diplomacy over militaristic alliance with Samrajya, tensions began to erupt. The Kingdom of Marwar immediately accepted all conditions of Samrajya to counter the gains of Mewar kingdom.

The kingdoms of Marwar and Mewar eyed each other warily, their non aggression alliance with the mighty Samrajya served as a buffer and security against each other's potential conflict.

Yet, the fragile peace was shattered when the Kingdom of Amber, also known as Dhundhar, unexpectedly aligned itself with Samrajya. Marwar, already harboring ambitions of expansion, was totally dissatisfied by this new turn of events, which created a rift between their relation with Samrajya from the start.

This sparked a chain of events that would changed the intention of alliances and the will of rulers. As the winds of war began to blow, the fate of Rajputana states hung in the balance.

Just a year prior, Tejpal Singh, the current ruler of Amber, had been a member of the North-Western Alliance under the leadership of Marwar.

During his last visit to the Marwar kingdom to attend the marriage ceremony of the Marwar king's daughter, Tejpal found himself unexpectedly captivated by the princess. Despite her impending marriage with kingdom of Ajmer, they fell deeply in love.

Sensing the urgency of their feelings and the complications of the situation, they devised a plan to elope.

Tejpal disguised himself as a fake saint, claiming he needed to baptize the princess in luni river to ensure her horoscope matched that of the prince of Ajmer. With careful arrangements, they orchestrated their escape, fleeing through an underwater passage which remained a puzzle of mystery for a long time.

Months passed before they revealed their secret marriage, causing shock and outrage within the Rajput community. Despite the community's condemnation, Tejpal and the princess remained steadfast in their love and they got royally married.

However, the betrayal led to strained relations between Amber and the other Rajput states, mostly Marwar and Ajmer. This forced Tejpal Singh to request for merger with Samrajya for protection and under prince Aditya of Samrajya, the events turned more complicated.

Seeking revenge for the perceived dishonor, the kings of Marwar and Ajmer conspired against Amber as they got an opportunity presented by an invitation from the Mughal regime now called Pakistan Sultanate.

In a tent, hidden from prying eyes, they laid the groundwork for their joint attack on the now formidable Amber, who has not much strengthened under the banner of Samrajya.

In that tent, another group of unsatisfied figures lurked, harboring grievances against Samrajya. Rahimullah Khan, the nephew of Shadi Khan Kakkar, the current regent of Jaunpur, resented the recent reforms of Samrajya that had stripped him of his inheritance rights.

Despite being the apparent heir, the new law of female inheritance had quashed his hopes of ascending the throne. Rahimullah desired not just to be a regent but a full-fledged monarch, believing his late father's sacrifices in battle warranted such a position.

Discontent with Shadi Khan's tolerant liberal policies and aligning more with the orthodox principles of King Istehar Khan of Agra, Rahimullah found himself reluctantly attending the gathering in Rewari, as ordered by Shadi Khan.

However, fate seemed to offer him an unexpected opportunity when the Mughals extended an invitation to join their campaign.

Now, alongside Istehar Khan, his mentor since childhood, Rahimullah awaited the arrival of the key figures.

As the guards announced their entrance, Ansari, the current leader of the Mughal mujahideen forces, and Rao Kishan Pal, the Prime Minister of Rewari, entered the tent, their jovial demeanor and causal laughter lightened the tension that existed in tent, prior to their arrival.

With Ansari positioned at the center, it was evident who held authority. "Greetings, esteemed guests," he began." I feel honored that you've considered our suggestion carefully and honored us with your esteemed presence."

Marwar King Maldeo Rathore replied arrogantly, "Let's not waste time on formalities, servant of the Mughals. We've come from far, and you've made us wait for too long."

Rahimullah Khan, angered, retorted, "Mind your words, Chief of Marwar. You're speaking to the representative of the Mughals, not some local servant of your measly neighbour kingdom."

Ajmer's king, Prithviraj Singh Rathore, defiantly responded to the Marwar chief, "Look who's talking, the son of late Azizzullah Khan Kakkar, who died fighting against the Mughals and now attends this session of kings because he didn't get the chance to become actually one.."

Istehar Khan intervened, pausing Rahimullah Khan's retort, and replied, "It's because of this arrogance that you lost your southern regions of Barmer and Jalor to Mewar and your daughter to your own ally."

As both Rajput kings scoffed, Rao Kishan Pal cleared his throat and intervened. "It's commendable to see such passion, but channeling it inward won't achieve our collective purpose for convening here," he remarked. His words had a calming effect on everyone present.

Observing the atmosphere, Ansari adopted a serious tone. "Let's be clear about the facts. I am, indeed, a servant of the Mughals, and we're not here for an etiquette training session, esteemed guests," he stated firmly.

Looking at the sprawled maps on the table, Ansari pointed out, "These are the border regions of Rewari, Marwar, and Ajmer, near Amber, where we will raid the nearby villages in disguise as Samrajya soldiers."

He paused to check for approval and continued, "And with this minimal sacrifice, you will have the justification to attack Amber."

He glanced at Rahimullah. "Half of Amber's forces are stationed in Rewari, a task Rahimullah can handle until we join later," he explained, to which Rahimullah nodded in agreement.

"You will lay siege to his capital with your alliance and convey the message of attack to Samrajya, framing it as a Rajput internal dispute," he disclosed his plan to the others.

Marwar King Maldeo Rathore raised a concern, "But what about Samrajya's response? They won't remain passive if we launch an attack on their member states."

Ansari continued, "Indeed, that's why we'll opt for a siege strategy instead of outright attack. Istehar Khan will offer his forces, initially appearing as aid from western corps of Samrajya,

but later he'll switch allegiance and assist in the siege. By the time we arrive with the cannons from the factory, the stage will be set."

Prithviraj Singh Rathore inquired, "But what if Samrajya deploys more forces against us?"

Rao Kishan Pal responded, "Samrajya will be preoccupied with Rewari, as we initiate a revolt and declare independence, eliminating every delegate at the exhibition.

After our actions, Jaunpur Kingdom, Agra Kingdom, and Rewari Kingdom will follow suit and declare independence."

Maldev Rathore voiced his concern about the size of Samrajya's army, prompting a chuckle from Ansari. "Their main army isn't formidable. With such vast territory, their soldiers are spread thin. We have solid information that they have already dispatched ten thousand soldiers to both Punjab and Kashmir, and they will also need to reserve some for the capital."

He mocked, " Moreover, the majority of their troops are newly recruited and lack the training and discipline of seasoned soldiers."

As the empire declines, they'll lose control of their western, southern, and eastern territories, and loyalty will diminish among the rulers," Ansari explained confidently.

King Maldev pondered the risk of rebellion failing, and Ansari revealed a parchment with the seal of the Mughal Empire, stating their protection and full autonomy if they merged with the Pakistan Sultanate in worst case scenario.

Rewari Prime Minister Kishan Pal chimed in, "Furthermore, I propose offering our princess of Rewari to Prince of Ajmer for an alliance, who has not been able to marry due to his bad horoscope." Hearing this, both Ajmer King and Marwar King nodded with smiles.

But Rahimullah still had doubts about when the canons and the Mujahideen forces would join them. Ansari replied with a wide grin, "Rest assured, we'll be joining you soon after taking care of someone very special."

** Hari Parbat fort, Srinagar, Kashmir **

In a dining hall of luxurious settings, Prince Zayne entered with arrogance, scoffing at the sight of Prince Asad sitting with his head down for some reason at the table.

"There's no need for such disdain, particularly when I've decided to bless you with my presence. It's not as though I had any alternative," he taunted.

But there was no response from Prince Asad, which made Zayne feel irritated. "You should be lucky my sister still takes you as her brother, or else you would be licking the ground outside the palace," he continued, badmouthing his elder brother.

Still receiving no response, Zayne cursed, "For Allah's sake, can't you sit proper? Your attitude is making me sick, you bastard."

Growing frustrated, he got up, took a jar of water, and dropped it on Asad's head, only to feel something amiss.

Then, he kicked Asad, only to recoil in disbelief as Asad's lifeless body fell from the chair, revealing a gruesome wound where someone had already stabbed him.

Panic-stricken and recoiling, Zayne vomited as the jar slipped from his grip, causing a loud, tumbling noise.

Royal Guards rushed in at the commotion, shocked at the sight of panicked stricken prince. "What happened, your highness?" they questioned, but their attitudes changed upon seeing the eldest prince dead, and they aimed their spears at Zayne.

One soldier even cursed, "So you actually dared to kill your own brother?"

Zayne protested, "No, it's not me. It happened before I came." Shortly after, Princess Zara arrived with General Tenzin, her face filled with worry.

"What happened?" she asked, only to let out a loud scream at the sight of her elder brother lying dead with a knife plunged into his stomach.

She cried out, "I called you both to have peace, and this is how you behave? He still agreed to make peace with you, but why couldn't you accept him?"

Falling to her knees beside her brother's corpse, she wept bitterly for her loss. Seeing himself in a dire position, Zayne attempted to explain while reaching out to her, "Believe me, Zara, I didn't kill him. I never even thought of killing him."

Zara recoiled from his touch, her voice filled with anguish and accusation, "Don't touch me, you fiend! You killed your own blood for the throne, and who knows when you might kill me as well?"

Zayne persisted, "Trust me..." but he was cut short by Tenzin, who interjected, "No need to say anything more for now, or it may go against you prince. Guards, please take the prince to the secured dungeon, and we will await the final trial."

Enraged at being ordered by a mere general, Zayne impulsively drew his knife and attempted to stab Tenzin. In response, Tenzin delivered a swift and powerful slap across Zayne's face, causing him to lose a tooth and bleed from his mouth.

Despite this, Zayne continued to protest, accusing Tenzin of framing him and conspiring against him to get closer to his sister.

Zara, with red eyes from crying, regarded her brother with disdain and rage, delivering another slap to his face. "There's a limit to insolence. Guards, throw him into the deepest dungeon until we hold the trial."

The royal guards, without hesitation, forcefully escorted Prince Zayne to the dungeon, where he continued to shout his innocence to deaf ears, ignored and uncared for as he was dragged away.

As they made their way to the dungeons, one of the guards suddenly unsheathed his sword, launching a flurry of attacks with skillful precision that left Zayne in utter disbelief.

The guard swiftly dispatched his comrades before sheathing his sword and bowing before Zayne. "I apologize, Your Highness. I couldn't help you at that time, but before I clear your doubts, we need to get out of here."

Prince Zayne nodded in agreement, and they escaped through a secret tunnel. Along the way, the guard revealed shocking information: not only was Tenzin involved in the conspiracy, but Princess Zara was as well.

Zayne was stunned by this revelation. The guard explained that he had been working undercover for another General Riaz Mirza who suspected Tenzin's sudden rise to power.

They had uncovered an illegitimate affair between Tenzin and Princess Zara, as well as a plot to assassinate both princes. Despite warnings, Prince Asad had refused to listen, blinded by his love for his sister.

Zayne was requested to flee as the arrangements are already made but he felt reluctant to leave .

With no other choice left the guard revealed that it was all staged, and Zayne was meant to be killed in the dungeons. He had witnessed Princess Zara stabbing Prince Asad when he hugged her.

Realizing the danger he was in, Zayne agreed to flee to the Pakistan Sultanate for asylum

At the end of the tunnel, two horses awaited them, carrying Zayne and the guard on their route to safety in Pakistan, while also opening an opportunity for Pakistan to intervene in the affairs of the mountainous lands, unfolding new events of dispute.

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//Author's note:

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