The drumming increased in volume, and all eyes were on the long ridge where the 113th stood guard. Two horsemen appeared from the north, one carrying a fringed green banner. From this distance, Jack could not make out who the men were as they rode slowly across the face of the ridge and then headed towards him.
“Awalmir,” Batoor said quietly, reaching for his sword.
Jack felt his heart sink. “Dear God in heaven,” he said.
More men emerged from behind the ridge, a small group that followed Awalmir, with two of them beating the sinister tabla drums. More riders appeared in a steady stream that became a flood of Pashtun riders under their green banner, with the drums hammering their challenge.
“Shall I order the bugler to alert the artillery, sahib?” Hassan hinted.
“No, Hassan,” Jack dec
