Chapter Thirteen.
With the onslaught of the victorious English, the Rani took flight from the fort, on the back of her beloved horse with her son at her back. They jumped into the unknown, the Rani and her son surviving but the horse did not. With an escort of trusted men, they stole away from the fort whose guns were soon quietened. With Gobinder, Deewan and a ragtag collection of cavalrymen, fled into the night.
The English stormed the fort under shot and shell and overcame it. There was no booty to be had in the fortress, just death, no women were found alive, and the defenders fought with a hopelessness and ferocity that cost the attackers dearly. Governor Rose surveyed the burning fort and ordered that patrols were to be formed and search for the Rani,
"She is the most personable, clever and beautiful of nobles and now the most dangerous of all Indian leaders," He ordered an intensive search to the made. The Grey brothers were immediately ordered to take a regiment of horse and ascertain if the Rani and Tatya Tope would join forces and if so, report back. Charles, still smarting from his elder brother's refusal to share the lovely Nisha, was sullen.
"Harry, I cannot understand why you behave like this," Their horses were now packed and as they gathered their personal effects, tempers boiled and bubbled. Harry looked at his brother,
"Charles, you have enough money for any whore and as soon as this campaign is over, we will resign our commissions and settle in this country. There are thousands of women, but this one is mine!"
"Damn you, and damn that bitch! You mark my words, Harry, you'd better come to your senses soon!" Charles was unable to comprehend his brother's change of heart over a native woman, but he'd show him that blood was of greater import than some lowly dark bitch. Taking the 8
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Hussars, the brothers split the men into squadrons and ordered a wide sweep of the area thought to have been taken by the Rani and what remained of her forces. Harry cantered through the camp, swelled with injured and exhausted soldiers and found Mulal and Nisha, packed up and ready to travel.
"You will be safe enough in the baggage wagon, Nisha and when we make camp, Mulal will secret you away. Do not fret my honey-coloured woman, I will see you this evening," Mulal saluted and tucked the canvas sheet over Nisha, "stay with the waggon, I fear my brother's chagrin has yet to fade. Once we make camp, make sure you put my tent up away from the others. I want my beauty safe from prying eyes,"
"Yes Sahib," Once she was out of sight, Mulal watched as the elder Grey brother set off. Once out of sight, he walked back around the baggage train and saw the chestnut mount of the younger brother, Charles,
"Is the girl in the waggon?" He asked quietly, looking out for any eavesdroppers and wandering soldiers. Mulal nodded and Charles lifted a small leather purse from his belt and dropped it not the hands of the sergeant, "My squadron leaves in a couple of hours, so I have time to teach that little bitch the meaning of brotherhood. Get her and bring her to the palace courtyard, I think it fitting her ravishment should be conducted in her old home, don't you think?" Mulal smiled thinly and went off to fetch the girl. Tied to the English bothered Mulal, their perversions troubled him and now being in the pay of the younger brother, against the elder was fraught with peril. By aligning himself with Charles Grey, he was making an enemy and this girl would be the tinder on which the brothers would fan the flames of their dispute. Instinctively, he felt for the leather purse of small gems, prised from the Rani's throne and pondered how he might extricate himself from this mess.
As he reached the waggon and pulled away the canvas cover, the girl jumped in fright.
"Come, you cannot stay in the waggon," He reached out and pulled her, "We will hide in the palace courtyard until it is time to move and then we will catch up," The girl simply followed meekly, trusting the arrangements and the affections of the elder Grey brother. As she trailed behind Mulal, she saw the troops march out and horse artillery, and cavalry kicking up huge choking dust clouds and soon found herself in the courtyard of the palace. There, to her surprise was a large canvas tent and a chestnut horse tethered to a lancer's weapon. She glanced at Mulal and then back to the tent, something felt wrong.