The Far Pavilions - Mary Margaret Kaye [282]
Ash, replying on behalf of Karidkote, pointed out that all this had been discussed in full over a year ago. Nothing had been concealed, and the settlement that had been reached had been declared satisfactory by both sides. Were they then to conclude that the Rana's emissaries had not, after all, been empowered to speak for him? If so, why had they been sent? And if it was being claimed that they had exceeded their instructions, surely it would have been a simple matter for the Rana, on their return, to arrange for a tar (telegram) to be dispatched to Karidkote, breaking off the negotiations until someone more competent to carry out his wishes could be sent to re-open the discussions? – or at the very least, to halt the bridal train before they had travelled too far from the borders of their own state, instead of allowing them to complete the journey. Such conduct, implied Ash, was not compatible with either the dignity or the honour of a prince, and as the expense of the journey had been heavy, there could be no question of waiving the other half of the Princess Shushila's dowry, or of adding anything to the sum already paid on behalf of her half-sister, Anjuli-Bai.
The Diwan replied that he would relay these views to his master, and was sure that the matter would eventually be settled to everyone's satisfaction. And on that all-too-familiar note, the meeting ended.
‘I wonder how long they will keep it up?’ remarked Ash as they rode back to the camp.
Mulraj shrugged and said morosely: ‘Until we give in.’
‘Then it looks as though we are going to be here for a long time, because I-do not intend to be blackmailed, and the sooner they realize that the better.’
‘But what else can we do?’ wailed Kaka-ji. ‘Perhaps if we were to offer him-’
‘Not one anna,’ cut in Ash, brusquely interrupting the old man. ‘Not one pi. The Rana is going to pay all that he owes. And more – much more.’
Mulraj grinned and said: ‘Shabash, Sahib. Bravely spoken! But may one ask how you mean to bring this about? It is not he, but we who are in a trap. And we cannot rush those forts, even by night.’
‘I don't intend to rush anything – least of all the forts. Or my fences,’ added Ash bitterly. ‘No one is going to be able to say that I have acted precipitately or been too impatient. I mean to give the Rana all the time he wants, and see whose patience wears out first: his or mine. Or Bhithor's.’
‘Bhithor's?’
‘Certainly. Are we not all guests of the state? And as such, why should we pay for our keep? That is surely the privilege of a host. Presently the shopkeepers and the farmers and the cowherds, and all those who supply us with food and fuel and fodder, will demand payment. And they will not get it from us, that I promise you. The Rana and his councillors will soon find that it is costing them far more to keep us here than they bargained for, and after a time they may decide that it would be cheaper to make concessions.’
Mulraj laughed for the first time in several weeks, and the faces of the others cleared.
‘Arré, that is true,’ said Mulraj. ‘I had not thought of it. Why, if we stay here long enough, those swindling sons of faithless mothers may even pay us to go away.’
‘Or take what they want by force?’ suggested Kaka-ji with a pessimistic nod in the direction of the nearest fort. ‘Ah yes, Sahib' – here he shook his head at Ash - ‘I know that you think otherwise, and I wish that I was of your mind. But I cannot feel sure that the Rana will abstain from using violence once he finds that he cannot get what he desires by more peaceful means.’
‘By blackmail and bluff, you mean,’ retorted Ash. ‘But bluff, my father, is a game that two can play at, which is something that these faithless apes have failed to take into account.