Narses did not bow his head, this time, so much as lower it. A gesture not of respect so much as defeat.
“WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, THEN. AND NOW, I HAVE A TASK FOR YOU.”
The voice changed, in that instant, back to the voice of Great Lady Sati. And in that voice it remained, for the following minutes, as it explained to Narses the nature of his new assignment.
* * *
After Great Lady Sati finished, Narses immediately shook his head.
“It is a bad plan. Unworkable. Rana Sanga will not believe it for a moment.”
Nanda Lal began to speak, then glanced apprehensively at Sati. She raised her hand in a stilling gesture. But the motion conveyed no threat. Simply an admonition to listen, before advancing an argument.
“Continue, Narses,” she commanded.
“He has met Belisarius in person, Great Lady Sati. Indeed, he has spent many hours in his company. No matter what evidence I leave, he will not believe for an instant that the Roman general ordered the death of his family. Instead, his suspicion will rest upon the Malwa dynasty. And become confirmed, the moment you advance the proposal of marriage. Trust me in this, if nothing else. The plan—as conceived—is unworkable.”
Silence. Then:
“You have an alternative, I see. What is it?”
Narses shrugged. “For your purpose, there is no need to make Sanga suspect Belisarius directly. Simply to arouse his anger and rage at the chaos which the war has brought. India is in turmoil now, nowhere more so than the western borderlands. Summon Rana Sanga’s family to Kausambi, at the emperor’s command. Hostages themselves, to assure Sanga’s loyalty along with Damodara’s. Send a small force from the emperor’s Ye-tai bodyguard battalions to escort them. Perhaps a dozen men. Then, along the route—while they are still in Rajputana—”
“Yes!” exclaimed Nanda Lal. His earlier anger at Narses vanished, in the excitement of the scheme. “Yes. That will be perfect. The caravan is attacked by brigands.”
“Better, I think.” Narses cocked his head, thinking. “Kushan brigands. As the loyalty of the Kushans unravels, due as much as anything to Belisarius’ cunning, many of them have turned to banditry. And Kushan deserters make ferocious bandits. Far more believable that they would attack such a caravan than any common dacoits. Not to mention succeed in the attack. The treasure looted, Sanga’s wife hideously abused, herself and the children slain afterward. Their bodies left for carrion eaters, mingled with the butchered corpses of their Ye-tai guards.”
Narses shrugged. It was a small, modest gesture. “I imagine I can probably even find one or two deserters from the Roman army to include in the bandit force. Just enough—there will be eyewitnesses to the attack, of course—to weight Sanga’s anger even further.”
“He will be angry at us as well,” opined Nanda Lal, pursing his lips. “After all, had we not summoned his family out of the safety of his palace . . .”
“That is meaningless,” stated Great Lady Sati. “Sanga’s resentment we can tolerate. So long as his rage remains unfocused, it will channel itself into the war and his oath. When the time comes, he will accept the marriage.”
The slim young-woman’s hands made a small curling gesture, indicating the entire body to which they belonged. “He will feel no sentiment toward this sheath. But we do not need his sentiment. The sheath is well-shaped, and has been well trained. It will arouse his lust, when the time comes. And when the children arrive, soon enough thereafter, his sentiment will have another place to become attached. That is sufficient for the purpose.”
Great Lady Sati stared at Narses for a moment. Then: “Do it, traitor. And remember my hostage.”
Narses arose and bowed deeply from the waist. After straightening, he looked at Nanda Lal.
“The Ye-tai general Toramana, as I’m sure you know, is the commander of the troop which escorted me here. I saw to that. I suggest this would be a good time for you to interview him. There are . . . excellent possibilities there, I think.”
Nanda Lal nodded. Narses’ lips twisted into a bitter little smile.
“You’ll have spies on me also, of course. So let’s save some time. I need to pay a visit on Lady Damodara in any event, to give her a parcel from her husband. Beyond that—”