The forest was silent again, but the tension hung thick in the air as they made their way back to the hidden temple. The successful raid had brought a sense of triumph, but that victory was fleeting. The MC could feel the weight of the reality they now faced. This first strike was just the beginning. The Mughals would soon notice the missing supplies, and when they did, their response would be swift and brutal.
The group moved swiftly through the dense undergrowth, carrying the supplies they had salvaged from the caravan. Narayanrao's scouts were efficient, trained in the art of moving through the hills without leaving a trace. Despite his racing heart and sore muscles, the MC tried to match their pace, his mind still buzzing from the adrenaline of the fight.
Narayanrao moved beside him, quiet for the most part, but his eyes remained sharp, scanning their surroundings. "The Mughals won't take long to notice this," Narayanrao said, echoing the MC's thoughts. "We've got days, maybe less, before they send larger patrols through these hills."
The MC nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Then we need to stay ahead of them. Raigad is the key. If we can gather more men there, we'll be able to launch more coordinated strikes."
Narayanrao glanced at him, his expression grim. "You're right. But we can't just walk into Raigad. Mughal spies are everywhere. Even loyalists have grown cautious. If they see you walking with Sambhaji Raje, they might hesitate to act."
The MC's stomach churned with the reminder. Even loyalty was fragile in this time. He had read about the delicate political landscape of this period, but living it—seeing it—was a different matter. Sambhaji was a king, a warrior, but he had been betrayed once. The fear of betrayal hung over them like a shadow.
"We'll need to be smart," the MC said after a pause. "If we approach too boldly, we risk alerting the wrong people. But if we sneak in, we look like we're hiding, and that might make us look weak."
Narayanrao didn't respond immediately, his eyes focused on the path ahead. "There are still men who would die for Sambhaji Maharaj," he said softly, almost to himself. "But trust… trust takes time."
They reached the temple just before dawn, the horizon tinged with the first light of day. The men moved silently, careful not to disturb Sambhaji Raje, who sat inside the temple in quiet meditation. He had spent the night gathering his strength, but the exhaustion was still etched in his features.
When the MC entered, Sambhaji looked up, his blind eyes fixed in his direction. "Did the mission go well?" he asked, his voice steady but weary.
The MC knelt beside him, his heart still pounding from the night's events. "We succeeded, Raje. We've disrupted one of the Mughal supply lines. It's a small victory, but it's a start."
Sambhaji nodded, his face unreadable. "A thousand small victories will win this war. But the road ahead is long."
The MC couldn't help but feel the weight of those words. They were just beginning, and the challenges ahead were immense. The rebellion was fragile, and every move they made from here on out had to be calculated with precision.
Narayanrao stepped forward, his voice low. "We need more men, Raje. We need Santaji and Dhanaji."
Sambhaji's face hardened. "We will find them. They will stand with us."
The MC glanced at the map in his system, his mind racing. "Raigad is close. If we move carefully, we can get inside without alerting the Mughal patrols."
Narayanrao hesitated. "The fort is still under Mughal watch. They know how important Raigad is to the Marathas. There are spies—men we don't even know are working for Aurangzeb."
The MC nodded, knowing Narayanrao was right. Even within the walls of Raigad, trust could be a deadly gamble. "Then we move in small groups," he suggested. "No more than two or three at a time. We blend in. We don't draw attention."
Sambhaji considered this for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. We'll split into groups. When we reach Raigad, we'll find the loyal men. Santaji and Dhanaji will know what to do."