1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

92
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
Food was distributed, and the soldiers seemed altogether more active
and busy about their arms and accoutrements.
“The Commedan has awakened and will be round to see the prisoners
almost directly,” somebod y whispered, and soon the fact was loudly
discussed on all sides, and all sorts of speculations raised.
After a while a soldier came round and picked out about twenty girls or
so, among whom were both Shereen and Gul Begum, and told them to
smooth their hair and make themselves lo ok as tidy as they could. The
Commedan was coming, and was going to choose some half-dozen of
them for himself. Some of the girls took the news placidly enough, and
even began giggling and nudging one another in the usual Hazara st yle,
when anything in the shape of marriage is in the air; but Gul Begum
was most indignant.
“If I am a slave at all,” she protested loudly, “I am the Ameer’s slave,
and must be assigned my place by him, not by any stra y Commedan or
Captain who may chance to crop up.” But the soldiers took no notice of
her.
“Most probably he will not choo se you at all,” one of the girls
remarked, nudging her neighbour meaningly. “There are twent y of us
here, and he only wants six. Why should he choose you? I would be
quite willing to be one of the six, I’m sure, if only it meant an end to
all this marching and driving across deserts.”
When the time came, however, the willing victim was not selected, and
neither was Shereen. Gul Begum was.
As the Commedan marched off, having made his choice known to his
subordinate, a sudden inspiration seemed to come to Gul Begum.
“Sahib,” she said – he turned – “Sahib, I understand that I am one of
the girls you have selected for your own househo ld.” He was going to
pass on, but something in her carriage and bearing struck him, and he
paused.
“Well, what of that?” he asked.
“I thought I had better let you know at once, and before matters
proceed further, that your taking me may get you into trouble which
you would rather avoid. I am Gul Begum, the Vizier’s daughter, the
chosen of Colonel Ferad Shah.”
“Ferad Shah?” the Commedan said, almost below his breath. “Is that
true? Do you soldiers know anything of this?”
“Heard nothing of it before.” One of those standing next him answered
wonderingly. “We heard she was the wife of that spy of ours, Mohamed