Kashmir border, captured fort in Kohala Valley, morning of April 22, 1557
In the small, sunlit room of the wooden chamber, Faujdar Phula Singh sat upright on a plush cushion.
His body was wrapped in bandages, and his left arm was gone, yet his posture remained straight which showed no indication of weakness.
Sunlight poured into the room where he and the seven sardars gathered around, wearing their chainmail armors. Of the original ten, only these seven had survived to stand with their commander.
News had just arrived that enemy scouts had been spotted below. With reinforcements yet to arrive before evening they faced a significant challenge to hold off the ladakhi forces that threatened their newly captured fort.
Finally, Phula Singh broke the silence.
"Sardar Bhola," he commanded, "report on our current situation."
