“What would you like of me?” she demanded.
At first, no one said anything. Then one by one the rebels fell to their knees. At last, one stood and addressed her personally. “Your Highness!” He raised his fist in the air, and I could see that his arm was covered with blood. I stepped closer to get a better look, and it appeared that his hair and heavy beard were matted with blood as well. “The rebellion has begun with the lives of sixty-six Englishmen! General Khan gave orders to kill them all, and we obeyed, beginning with Captain Skene.”
“Did you spare the women and children?” the rani asked. I could hear her strain to hide her disgust.
“No one was spared.” He said this with pride assuming she’d agree with General Khan’s decision. “Captain’s Browne’s sister was screaming,” he said. “Begging for her life, throwing herself into the arms of a sepoy so they would have to kill him as well as her. But he detached himself and threw her to the hungry knives. One of them called your name,” he said. “A pretty doctor’s wife. She pleaded for us to spare her husband, and when we killed him, she cast her body on top of his.”
“Then she’s—”
“Killed with the rest of them.”
I thought of Mrs. McEgan, with her pretty blond curls and sea-blue eyes, and then I imagined her covered in blood and felt sick.
“What will be done with the bodies?” the rani said. Her voice was dead, as if she’d removed herself from this reality the same way you might separate yourself from unpleasant company by going into a different room.
The man shrugged. “Let them rot. This country belongs to us!” he shouted.
The other men took up the cry.
“We are marching to Delhi,” the rebel said. “We will restore the emperor to power and strike these Englishmen where they least expect it!”
“Then Durga protect you,” the rani replied, but she might have been saying to watch out for rain for all the emotion that was in her words. The rani returned to the mahal, and we remained at the doors, trying to shut them before the mob grew violent and wanted more.
“Stand back!” Kahini snapped as the men pressed forward. “Or the rani will tell you what she truly thinks of your rebellion.”
“And what is that?” one of the men asked.
“That you are a bunch of dogs versus lions,” she accused as Arjun yanked the doors shut and lowered the bar.
“Why would you say that?” he shouted.
Kahini looked him in the eyes, and if you have ever come face-to-face with a feral animal, then you have already met her gaze.
The damage was done. Word would spread like disease through the rebel camps. And now they would believe a lie. The rani’s position was precarious. Unless she remained neutral, her life and that of her son’s would be in danger.
We didn’t tell the rani what happened, but Arjun and I kept a careful watch over Kahini after this. When evening came, I quietly followed her to Gopal’s chamber and stood outside the door while they spoke in hushed tones. “I want you to give this to my parents,” she said. “Tell them I am well, and there is nothing to worry about.”
Kahini didn’t have any parents. Her mother had died in childbirth with her, and her father had died several years later. Gopal said sternly, “I don’t see why I should give this to him.”
“Them!” she hissed. “Give them this sapphire ring. And remember our deal.”
Obviously, the ring in question wasn’t destined for her parents. But who?
“I missed you last night,” Gopal said. There was longing in his voice.
“I miss a great many things, including the Panch Mahal.” Then Kahini’s voice softened. It was like listening to another person altogether. “There are bigger things to worry over right now,” she said. “Give it time.”
“That’s what you always say.”
I heard a smacking sound, like lips on flesh, and my stomach turned.
The rani’s father believed a letter should be written to the British at once, explaining that the rani had no role whatsoever in the massacre; that, in fact, she had tried to prevent it by telling Captain Skene to leave the fortress. But most of her advisers were of the opinion that all of the letters in the world weren’t going to persuade the British that the rani hadn’t been an accomplice. And if the British were going to condemn her as a rebel, she might as well publicly join them.
It was decided she would write the letter.
She dictated what she wanted me to write, and then I translated it to English and read it back to her. When she was satisfied she had covered all of the details, she sealed it and called for Gopal.
Then there was banging at the door, and Arjun’s voice. “Your Highness, there is an army approaching!”
My fingers went at once to my bow as he burst into the room.
“The guards are saying they’re from Unao. About five kos from here. A man named Sadashiv Narayan is leading them, and says he’s come to lay claim to the throne.”