The Slave Girl of Agra/Book 2/Chapter 6
VI. BLOOD!
It was an hour or two before dawn when Jelekha and her companion returned to the gate by which they had entered the Royal Zenana. But the gate was barred and locked and there was no guard.
"This has an object," said Jelekha to herself, "he is at work. We must scale the wall or pass out by the river gate. The latter is the best."
Noiselessly, and without asking a question, Noren followed the Tartar maid through winding passages and down many steps. They provided themselves with vessels, and unbarred the wicket gate which led to the river. In the utter darkness of the night they stood by the swift Jumna, like two women who had come to fetch water.
Noren felt the peril of his situation, but Jelekha's sudden laughter interrupted his thoughts.
"What means this unseasonable merriment, Jelekha?"
"I was wondering if thou knowest who thou art."
"I scarcely know who I am under thy strange guidance, girl. I was thy sister Sharifa, an hour ago."
"Ay, ay, but my sister Sharifa would scarcely come to fetch water at this early hour."
"I am a soldier, Jelekha, and have little talent for playing parts," said Noren, a little piqued.
"Nay, the soldier sleeps in the Guest House in the outer fort. His head would be cut off if he was found in the Royal Zenana, my friend."
"Command me then and I obey."
"Nay, sister Nasima, we are fellow-slaves, and who am I to command? I serve Queen Jodh Bai, and thou servest Begum Mihr-un-Nissa, and we have both been bidden to fetch water. Dost comprehend?"
"I do," said Noren, bursting into laughter in spite of his vexation. "And Heaven grant I may not serve as a girl again."
"Nay, but what an awkward girl thou art, sister Nasima. Why, thy hair is all coming on one side. Did not thy mother teach thee to tie thy hair knot when thou wert a child? Let me put it right—so—so—so, that is correct. And pull thy bodice down straight, it is all going into creases and scarcely hides thy bosom. What an untidy, shameless girl thou art! Balance thy water-pot on thy head, put thy left arm on thy waist, put thy left foot forward, and swing thy right arm as thou goest. Why, that is better, sister; thou wilt yet learn to be a decent palace girl if thou heedest my words, and the Begum, thy mistress, will reward thee with more rings."
Noren had half a mind to throw the water-pot on the head of the laughing girl who was tormenting him thus. Sometimes stumbling over stones, sometimes splashing in the water, he patiently followed his guide.
A guard who patrolled the river-side stopped them. "She is Nasima, slave of Begum Mihr-un-Nissa," said Jelekha, pointing to her companion, "and I am Jelekha, slave of Queen Jodh Bai."
"But she is a stranger in this palace," replied the guard, "and I know her not. I obey the orders of Musroor, and he likes not strange women passing in and out of the Zenana to-night."
Noren's heart beat violently, and his hand was already on the hilt of his sword beneath his woman's garb. But Jelekha knew better.
"Show thy mistress's ring, sister Nasima," said the Tartar slave with perfect calmness, "and the eunuch will answer to the Queen and the Begum if he disobeys the token."
Nasima shewed the ring. The guard bowed and let them pass.
Similar interruptions took place once or twice more. "He is at work," said Jelekha to herself, "and he has cast his net wide. But the fish will escape yet or I am not a Tartar woman."
Some Rajput women, belonging to the household of the Princess of Amber, had come to the river-side at this early hour, as was their wont. Their vessels were on the water-side, and the women were chatting and laughing. Their voices struck Jelekha's ears long before she saw them in the dark, and she paused and listened. She knew the voices and her plan was made.
"Why, my silly, awkward sister Nasima, thou art wet, and the water is streaming down the earthen pot. Thou hast knocked it against the wall and cracked it. Throw it away."
"Have done with this stupid joke, Jelekha. Here goes the vessel. Now tell me in plain words what I have to do. I hear the talk of some women before us, and we must avoid them."
"We must meet them, for they will help a silly girl who has not yet learnt to carry a water-pot on her head."
"Art thou mad, Jelekha? We must avoid them or we may be discovered."
"Nay, we must seek their help," repeated Jelekha. "Don't talk so much, giddy girl, and leave me to arrange everything for thee, for thou art but a poor brainless creature and a stranger in Agra."
"Have a care, ye unknown wayfarers, have a care," said one of the Rajput women. "Mind our water vessels."
"I know thee, sister, and thy comrades, and shall be careful," replied Jelekha in her gentlest voice. "Ye belong to the household of the Princess of Amber, whom all Queens respect. And knowest thou not me by my voice?"
"Ay, ay, I know thee now. Thou art Jelekha, slave of the Jodhpur Princess."
"So I am; and this woman is Nasima, slave of Begum Mihr-un-Nissa, who has lately come to Agra."
"Ay, ay, and has she come to fetch water with thee? But methinks ye have walked far from your own water gate."
"Nay, she has been sent by Queen Rakiya Begum to obtain news of the wounded Chief from the East who lies sick in the outer fort. But the silly girl says the gates to the outer fort are locked to-night, and she has come out by the river gate."
"Ay, but that is true, Jelekha, all the gates are locked to-night. Knowest thou not that Prince Selim's armed eunuchs have been captured, and the Prince himself is in danger? And they say a spy, sent in disguise by the Prince, stole into Begum Mihr-un-Nissa's rooms. Hast heard nothing of this?"
"I heard a noise of scuffle, sister, but it ill befits a poor Tartar slave like myself to inquire."
"That is true, Jelekha, but the news came to my mistress, the Amber Queen, when I was attending on her. And the grim Musroor has sworn that he will capture the spy yet before the sun is in the east."
"I hope he will, sister," said Jelekha, with a smile on her lips.
"But whither goes thy companion? She will never reach the outer fort the way she is going."
"So I told her, sister. But she is a Persian, and scarcely understands me! The slaves of Begum Mihr-un-Nissa are always losing their way here, the idiots!"
"Nay, the Persian woman may not be such an idiot, Jelekha, as she looks. She may have come to the riverside at this hour on some other errand, and may have some sweet secret of her own!"
A general outburst of laughter followed the witty remark.
"May be so, sister," replied Jelekha. "We Tartars do not half trust these Persian women who play on their lute and sing of their lovers! They have not the discretion or the virtue of the women of Rajasthan, and much I suspect this giddy creature has been captivated by a pair of dark Persian eyes she may have seen to-night. What sayst thou, Nasima?"
Noren bit his lip in vexation at the cool impertinence of the irrepressible Jelekha. But he was forced to hold his tongue.
"The idiot speaks nothing," continued Jelekha. "She has lately come from Persia and scarcely understands our tongue."
"Nay, the Persian girl understands thee, Jelekha, but knows how to keep her secret. Methinks the love-lorn Radhika has come in quest of her Krishna on the banks of the Jumna in this silent hour."
"She may whistle for her Krishna," replied Jelekha, "but he knows better than to come after such a tall, ungainly creature!"
A peal of laughter arose at the expense of Noren, who was getting wild with impatience.
"Tell me, sister, hast thou heard anything of the Chief from the Far East who lies wounded in the outer fort?"
"Ay, I have, Jelekha, for he lodges in the Amber Guest House and is treated by my mistress's physicians. But he is quite recovered now and leaves the fort in the morning. Such was the message sent by Raja Man Singh to his aunt last night."
"Haste, then, kind sister, and help this silly girl to have an interview with the Chief before he leaves. The Begum, who is going to the East, has some commands for the Eastern Chief which she sends by the Persian girl, if I understand her correctly. And the girl will have to answer with her life if she fails to do the Begum's bidding to-night."
"I like not these stranger-girls in Agra, Jelekha, but I will help her for thy sake."
"Thou hast a kind heart, sister. Thou standest high in the favour of thy mistress the Queen, and every door unlocks at thy bidding."
"Thou sayest truly, Jelekha, I have keys to unlock our door. I will take this Persian to the passage leading to the Amber Guest House, and she can then find her way, I trust."
"That she will, and I thank thee, sister, for thy kindness. A Rajput heart is ever kind and true. My mistress, the Jodhpur Queen, sends her greetings to thy mistress, the Amber Queen."
Quick as thought, Jelekha came to Noren's side and whispered, "Follow that Rajputnee. Wait in the dark passage for me."
The Rajput girl led, and Noren followed, through many intricate passages to the palace of the Amber Queen for her orders. But the Queen had retired and the palace was dark.
They went then through other passages to the wall which screened the Zenana from the outer fort. The Rajput woman unlocked a gate, led her companion across the paved courtyard, and reached the entrance of the dark passage.
"Follow this passage, stranger," said the guide, "and it will lead thee to the room where the Bengal Chief sleeps. Thou canst understand me so far?"
Noren nodded assent and salaamed to express his gratitude. The Rajput girl smiled and went away, singing some old ballad of her own land.
Long, long did Noren wait in that utter darkness. He saw nothing and heard nothing, and his heart sometimes failed him as the thoughts of Jelekha's risks and dangers came to his mind. The cold wind of the winter night whistled, and Noren shivered as he stood.
A gentle touch. Jelekha was standing by him. "Didst hear that sound?" she asked.
"I heard nothing save the whistle of the wind."
But once more there was a sound. It was not the whistle of the wind, but muffled, demoniac laughter. Jelekha, that strong girl of tempered steel, shook like an aspen leaf in Noren's arms.
"Alla, save us!" she whispered.
"But I carry the Persian Lady's ring, and surely that will save us, Jelekha."
"The great Emperor's ring will not save us if it be discovered that a man was inside the Royal Zenana! Happily thou camest with the Rajput woman, and no one suspected. I am watched, and the guards on the riverside had their instructions. My movements are known, and my footsteps are dogged!"
"Give not way to a false alarm, brave girl. Why should they watch thee?"
"Because it is suspected I took a spy to the Zenana to-night."
"Come away, we shall soon be in our room, and safe," said Noren.
"That will lead to discovery and to death—to thee and to me. We shall be followed."
"But who will follow? Who watches thee?"
"He whose eye never closes, and whose cruelty never sleeps."
"Who is he?"
No answer came.
Another long waiting. A heavy tread was heard approaching the place where they stood. Quick as lightning Jelekha made up her mind.
"Go, go to thy room. We must not be seen together or we die. I will see thee again ere the morning dawns. Meanwhile I must meet my—lover!"
Another silent laughter on the pale lips of the trembling girl and she had disappeared.
For once Noren disobeyed her instructions. He stood inside the passage, completely hidden in the darkness, to wait results. He would not retire into his room; he watched and his hand was on his hilt.
The footsteps were heard no longer. The guard must have gone to a further distance. Jelekha must have followed. Half an hour passed. Nothing more was seen or heard.
Far off a faint sound of muffled voices was heard. Noren was startled. He drew closer to the door. The voices rose to eager supplication—to angry words—to piercing shrieks—and then died away.
Once more a faint cry from the distance, a low, long shriek. Noren could stand it no longer. He issued out and looked around, but an impenetrable darkness was before him, and there was no sound to guide his steps.
Once more a stifled groan, a thud, and then silence!
A slight touch! Jelekha caught him by the arm and led him hurriedly to his room.
A ringing laughter burst on Noren's ears as Jelekha and he burst into the room, but a strange sight he saw before him in the light of the lamp. Jelekha's dress was in wild disorder, her locks were dishevelled, and a dark red spot was on her brow.
Noren shrank from her as from a maniac. "This is no time for laughter, Jelekha," said Noren, gently. "Something has happened in yonder paved courtyard which I would fain know from thee, something that thou wouldst in vain conceal from me."
"Something indeed has occurred which I would fain conceal from my jealous young soldier! The palace has its secrets, and a maiden sometimes meets with adventures which she need not disclose!"
"Come, gentle Jelekha, thou hast been more than a friend to me. I would fain be thy friend now if I could help thee in aught. Thy slender frame trembles yet with a terror which comes not from love adventures."
"Thou hast a keen eye, gay youth, for a maiden's weaknesses! But pardon me if I look a little bewildered. Need a maiden confess her tremor after—after—a secret kiss?"
"Thou losest valuable time by this ill-seasoned joke, Jelekha. The morning is nigh, and we both may be in peril. I heard a shriek from afar which was not a cry of love, and a hollow groan which was not the sound of a lover's kiss."
"Ah! thou hast been a listener too! But thou art a novice yet in this palace. Many are the meetings from which lovers part not again. Many are the embraces which last till the Judgment Day!"
"Compose thyself, Jelekha, thou art talking wildly."
"Ay! if the palace walls could speak," continued Jelekha, speaking to herself rather than to Noren. "Begums are but women of flesh and blood, and many a court lady knows the dark passages of the Zenana. Fair slaves, who look so demure with their eyes bent on the floor, have their secrets; and black eunuchs pursue them with a man's lust, and drink their blood with a tiger's thirst!"
"Hush, hush, Jelekha. Thou art talking like one demented. Listen to one who is thy true friend. Sit thee down by me and place thy trembling hands in mine. Thou hast often tended me in my illness. I would fain solace thee in thy distress. For thy eye is troubled, Jelekha, and the smile on thy lips is not the smile that I have seen before."
Jelekha slowly yielded. She allowed Noren to take her hand and sat by him, and her wild looks softened as she looked silently on that kind-hearted soldier who shared her peril and solaced her fears.
"I like to see thee thus, Jelekha," said Noren. "Be composed and listen. I wish not to pry into thy secrets to-night, but methinks a common danger unites us. Confide in me if thou wishest, or keep thy secret if thou likest, but if a friendless soldier can ever be of any help to thee, demand it of him and he will keep his faith."
Was it a reaction from the excitement which Jelekha had recently passed through, or was it something in Noren's words which affected this wild Tartar? She listened, subdued and submissive, as she had never listened to man before, and simply said, "Speak on."
"Little more have I to speak, Jelekha, for little do I know of what has taken place. But I have known thee in thy kindness, and I have seen thy daring; thou art a true woman and a brave woman in spite of thy wild nature and thy life as a palace slave. Trust a true man and he will not be false to thee."
For the first time Noren saw Jelekha softened even into weakness, and two silent tears rolled down the ivory cheeks of that strange creature of supple steel. Noren would have been more or less than a man if he had not drawn that suffering woman closer to him—if he had not placed his lips on her marble brow and dishevelled tresses.
Jelekha shivered at that touch and murmured to herself, as in a dream, "Men have charms too, as women have. A warrior can work a spell as well as a Tartar girl."
"Thy spell, Jelekha," replied Noren, softly, "is the strongest that woman can work on man, it is a woman's kind and loving tendance. My spell is to dry thy tears and to help thee. But speak and tell me all, for time presses."
"Undo these fastenings then, if thou must know my secret."
Noren gently undid the fastenings of the thick velvet bodice, cut and torn in many places as if in a recent struggle. A cry of pain escaped him as he saw the inner cotton vestment streaked with blood. Slowly moving the cotton garb he shuddered to see a deep cut just above her bosom and still bleeding. The poniard had just missed the heart.
"What means all this, Jelekha?" Noren asked in his terror.
"It is the mark of my lover's embrace," said Jelekha, smiling, "but my lover sleeps. A Tartar maiden's kisses have lulled him for a time."
"Speak not in riddles for Heaven's sake, let me know all," said Noren in his impatience.
"For Heaven's sake leave this room and this fort," said Jelekha, rising on her feet. "In an hour the gates of the fort will be closed, a search will be made, and royal bloodhounds will follow the smell of blood."
"I will not leave this room and this fort and leave thee thus I will stay and help thee."
"Great Alla! hast Thou made man so dull of comprehension? Madman! wouldst thou help me to my death? I thought thou wert gentle to me, and felt for me as no man had felt since I left my mother's home."
"Trust me, dear girl," replied Noren, "I feel for thee, and would risk much to be of help to thee."
"Be of help to me then by leaving this fort. With thee in the fort, discovery is certain, and death is swift. Without thee, the risk is slight; Tartar girls and black eunuchs have fallen out before, and a scuffle in the Zenana is soon forgotten."
"I will do as thou biddest, Jelekha, for thou knowest best. But tell me where I may meet thee again. I would not part thus from my friend, my benefactress, without one more interview, if only to assure her of my gratitude and my faith."
"Meet me then at the outer gate of this fort this day a month hence at the stroke of midnight. Maybe, soldier," said Jelekha, her voice quavering a little, "our next interview will be long and perilous. But I trust thee, friend, for I have seen that in thy eye which I have seen in no other man's since I left my mother's home. Thou art the man I have long waited for."
Jelekha had vanished.