Then, having given Agathius the wherewithal to study the siege methods of the future, Belisarius had set him to work on designing, with the vast knowledge Agathius had gained from his long work as Belisarius’ chief of logistics, the best methods to counter those fortresses.
Belisarius had no doubt at all that Link would distill the wisdom of Europe’s best military architects in the first centuries of gunpowder warfare as it created Malwa’s fortresses in the Indus valley. Of course, Belisarius would counter that with his own knowledge of history, given to him by Aide. Most of all, though, he would counter it with the keen brain of Agathius. As canny and meticulous a man as Belisarius had ever met in his life. And one whose own origins were as humble as Maurice’s. Which, for Belisarius at least, added a certain zest to the whole affair.
“And how does that work go, then?” he demanded.
Agathius fluttered his hand vaguely. “Well enough. Given, at least, that Maurice picks holes in all my finest schemes. Pessimistic grouch, he is. ‘If anything can do wrong, it will.’ The usual.”
Maurice was still half glaring at Belisarius. “Hate riding in this thing, myself. Give me a horse any day.”
Kurush and Sittas immediately responded to that disclaimer with a variety of scoffing jests. Belisarius smiled, but said nothing.
As it happened, he didn’t really doubt Maurice’s claim. But even Maurice, as conservative as he was, had bowed to the inevitable.
The Roman army, throughout the centuries, had never favored the war elephants which so many of their opponents had treasured. True, the monsters could be ferocious in battle. But they could often wreak as much havoc in their own army as in the enemy’s. Still, Belisarius had brought a number of the great beasts with him on this expedition. He had no intention of actually using them in combat. But the elephants could bear officers in howdahs, after all, along with the maps and charts and documents needed for the huge army’s staff. Why waste the mind of a man like Agathius by perching him on a saddle for weeks? When the same man, even though crippled, could spend those weeks of marching engaged in the same crucial work he had overseen for months?
So, Belisarius did not join in the badinage. After a few seconds, he blocked it out of his mind entirely and returned to his study of the army passing before him.
What a hodge-podge! he thought, half-ruefully and half-cheerfully. War elephants from ancient armies, plodding alongside men armed with our version of the Sharps rifle of the American Civil War. And look over there, Aide—a mitrailleuse in a chariot! I swear they found that relic in some Sumerian vault.
It’ll work, came the serene thought in reply. You’ll make it work.
Chapter 12
AJMER
Summer, 533 a.d.
“Be careful,” murmured Kujulo. “This city has changed.”
Valentinian and Anastasius swept the streets of Ajmer with their eyes, shielded under lowered helmets. Neither of them had ever been in the largest city in Rajputana, so they had no basis for comparison.
“What’s different?” asked Valentinian softly. He reached up his hand and scratched the back of his neck idly. The casual gesture exuded the weariness of a caravan guard finally reaching his destination after a long and arduous trek. Meanwhile, not casually at all, his eyes kept scouring the vicinity.
“This is not a Rajput city any longer,” replied Kujulo. “Not really. Look there, for instance—down the street, to the left.”
Without moving their heads, Valentinian and Anastasius looked in that direction. Valentinian couldn’t really see much, since he was riding at the head of the caravan to Kujulo’s right. But Anastasius, riding to the Kushan’s left, had a clear view into the street in question—which was really more in the way of an alley.
“Mangy pack of dogs,” he muttered. “But a big pack, too.” A moment later, yawning, he added: “And you’re right about that much. If any of those sorry bastards are Rajputs, I’d be astonished. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Rajput with as much filth all over him—not even after a battle—as any of that lot have on their feet alone.”