Malhar had set off with his men, riding the sayadri ranges down south, before they could reach Bidar, the news of their victory had reached them, the fort had already been won and the king had pledged his alliance to the Bhosle's.

Now the small convoy had rerouted and made their way towards their next destination which was Warangal.

The troop with which Malhar had been traveling had reached earlier than the entire cavalry as they would have to first account for the loot and dispatch the treasure back home before heading towards the next place.

"We should camp here." Jai said stopping a few miles from Warangal deep in the forest and Malhar nodded. The two dismounted and the other seventeen men who had come along with them got to work and set up the camp.

They tied their horses to the tree and walked towards the brook running by.

Jai dipped his hands in the cool water and cupped his fingers bringing water to his face to wash off the dirt.

"This was easier than we thought." Jai said looking at Malhar who too was busy washing his hand in the stream.

"Bidar never posed a threat or a challenge, Warangal will be fine as well, Hyderabad is my concern." Malhar said deep in thought. "I hope we haven't bitten more than what we can chew Jai."

"Rao Saheb seemed positive about our victory, you were confident till about it as well, what has changed."

"I was running behind the feeling, an inkling that we must try, now that I look into the fine prints, it could be anybody's game." Malhar sighed.

"We have blessing of Bhavani. Don't worry Malhar we can do this." Jai said placing a hand on Malhar's shoulder and gave him a tight lipped smile.

"I'll send scouts, get whatever we can about Warangal for now, once the entire army arrives, we'll dispatch spy's to take care of our concerns in Hyderabad." Jai said as the two walked back to the camp which had been set up.

A small fire lit in the centre of the camp and three tents were put up one for each other the high ranked men and one was the kitchen.

The two young men sat on the logs placed by the fire and removed their riding gears. Their squires taking them away just as quickly.

"Don't stress yourself too much, you'll grow old before time and then nobody would want to marry you." Jai joked.

"Don't worry about me." Malhar said hitting Jai on his head playfully. "I'm already engaged, you on the other hand have nobody you could possibly  start a family with."

Jai let out a chuckle.
"I don't think I'm going to have a family, I have you and that's enough for me." He said with a sincere smile.

"The day you fall in love with someone, you'll kick me out of your life and pick your woman over me." Malhar snorted.

"Trust me Malhar, I won't." Jai replied with all seriousness. "No matter how much I love her, I'll give her up for you."

"Oh boy you look like you are about to offer me your kidney." Malhar said making light of the situation.

"I'd give you my life." Jai said butting Malhar with his shoulder as the two men laughed drinking the wine they were offered.

•••

It was early in the morning, the sun had painted the horizon pink in the early minutes of dawn they all were ready, five hundred horsemen along with another two hundred foot soldiers and archers ready to cease the city.

According to their intel the gates of the city were open in the wee hours of morning to let the traders in and out before being shut.

The walls were patrolled by soldiers and archers as well, they'd have to quick and take control of the gate, once the gates were shut there was nothing they could do.

The army stood ready to charge in their platoons, waiting for their incharges to give them their order.

"We'll take the fort before midday." Jai said confidently looking at Malhar who rode the horse next to him.

"We will." Malhar replied taking his helmet from the soldier and putting it on his head. He looked at Jai from behind the helmet and nodded, the unsaid command was passed.

Jai rose his sword in air and gave the call.

"Jai Bhavani !"

Dust rose as hundreds of horses galloped out of their hiding towards the walls of Warangal. Archers had already started their work and the bodies of the patrol soldiers were falling hundreds of feet bellow down the fortresses walls.

The sounds of the warning bells echoed, the merchants were quickly rushed inside the walls and the gates were being pulled back up to shut.

"Stop them, hold the gate." Rao the army chief commanded and a small number of riders rode faster towards the gate, archers on horseback's shooting their arrows, their arrows hitting their target every time.

When Malhar reached the gates his army had already entered the walls of the city, their surprise element had worked, they were moving ahead towards the palace without much trouble.

Common men had locked themselves in their homes and watched the army march into the city through their windows. They would never be harmed by the rule of their king and Malhar's army knew to never go against their king.

They walked unhindered through the streets of Warangal, the city was small but flourishing. A number of houses lined both end of the streets with temples and markets. No living soul was there to welcome them or oppose them, they all watched the procession march into their city through their tiny windows.

As the Maratha's neared the palace doors, the doors which were shut opened and a man on a white stallion in a traditional attire stood at the date with a few girds behind them as if he was waiting for them.

"I am the prime minister of this lovely kingdom of Warangal." He said. "Are we welcoming the Maratha's into our home ?"

"I'm surprised that you call this a welcome prime minister of Warangal." Rao saheb scoffed.

"I have to choose my words correctly, I have lost a little and I have a lot at stake." He said with a small smile.

"Indeed." Malhar said galloping from behind the first line of his body guards and came forward to face his chief of army.

"Rao Saheb, this is where we rest our army, tell them to rest and refuel, we abide by the laws, we are but guests in the kingdom of Warangal."

"As you say Raje." He said with a bow.

Malhar turned towards the Prime minister of Warangal and smiled.
"You have been kind enough to offer us shelter and help, let's not keep the king of Warangal waiting any longer." Malhar said before kicking his horse in action inside the gates of the Warangal palace with Jai and his bodyguards.

He knew the king of Warangal had already submitted to his rule, he only had the last kingdom to win, the last check on his list, his last siege - Hyderabad.

AN: idk if you all like war and politics ? Lmk if you like it and what do you think comes next ? I am writing this story with a blank slate, I have no idea where this will head, a few things I know off I've left hints in the chapters so lmk if you are catching on those *wink*
The book is completely out of my comfort zone, the Marathas, the language, the culture but we're trying here !!
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