Read Online Empire of the Moghul: Brothers at War by Alex Rutherford - Free Book Online Page A

Humayun made for his aunt’s apartments. He knew the details of the campaign would interest her but he also wanted her advice. As he entered, he saw that Khanzada was reading and that sitting by her side, head also deep in a book, was his eleven-year-old half-sister Gulbadan. The child’s eyes – a dark tawny like her mother Dildar’s and her brother Hindal’s – gazed up at him, bright and curious.
    Khanzada rose at once and taking him by the shoulders kissed him on both cheeks. ‘Welcome back, Humayun. You conquered as I knew you would . . . Every report of your progress filled me with pride.’
    ‘I have a gift for you.’ Humayun opened his hand and let the ruby and emerald necklace trickle through his fingers. Gulbadan edged closer for a better look, but Khanzada seemed to hesitate before taking the jewels and holding them up to the light. ‘They’re beautiful, but they’re too fine for me . . . I am no longer young. Keep them for your wife when you take one.’ She returned the necklace to Humayun, closing his fingers over it before he could argue and gestured him to sit by her. ‘Gulbadan – leave us. But come to me again tomorrow – there is a Persian poem I want to show you.’
    As the girl closed her book and walked slowly away, Khanzada looked after her. ‘I’ve grown fond of her since her mother’s death last year – she’s a clever child and notices everything.’
    ‘As you did at her age? My father often told me nothing escaped you.’
    ‘He flattered me.’
    ‘I don’t think so, and it’s for that reason that once again I come to you for advice. I learned many things during my campaign against Bahadur Shah. My victory proved to me that I can inspire men to follow me in battle and confirmed to me that I am a good warrior . . . Many more fights lie ahead of me and I don’t fear them – indeed I’m eager for them if they help me make our empire more secure . . .’
    ‘You’re right.You’ve proved you are a leader of men. That you are fearless. So what is worrying you?’
    ‘As I travelled back to Agra, I often thought to myself, when the tensions and excitement of battle are over, what then? I know how to be a warrior, but do I really understand how to govern and keep an empire? How to behave when sitting on my gilded throne, surrounded by counsellors, sycophants and suppliants, all eager for my attention to their requests or problems? Sometimes I just wish to banish them all and be with Salima or one of my other concubines, or go out hunting.’
    ‘That is only natural for a young man, but you must resist such temptations. A ruler must be alive to what is going on around him and sensitive enough to sniff out discontent before it ferments into rebellion. You will learn just as your father learned. It wasn’t easy for him either. He was much younger than you when God gave him a throne but he became a great ruler. Read his diaries – you will find what you seek in their pages, born of hard experience and blood . . .’ Khanzada paused, then smiled a little sadly. ‘If Babur were here with us now he would tell you to be vigilant about those you allow close to you at court . . . Take care to whom you give power, trust few. Always ask yourself the question why – Why is this man advising me to do this? What will he gain if I agree? What will he lose if I don’t? Will he be grateful for what he is given or think it is due to him as of right?’
    ‘I think I understand much of this. It’s almost as if a ruler’s watchword must be suspicion. It grieves me it must be so, but my half-brothers’ rebellion has taught me to be less trusting and more on guard, even with members of my close family who I thought would be my natural allies. But what about my subjects, the ordinary people I see only as suppliants or on a royal progress but whose loyalty I must have?’
    ‘You will always be remote to them. What matters is not how you really are but how they perceive you. You must appear to