Chapter 48: The Clash at the Wall

The eastern wall trembled under the assault of the Mughal forces, their siege ladders clattering against the stone, and the battering ram creeping ever closer. Vidur Pant's heart raced as he stood atop the ramparts, watching the enemy surge forward. This was the moment they had prepared for—the trap was set, and now, it was time to spring it.

"Hold your positions!"

Vidur's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos as the Maratha soldiers along the wall braced for the wave of Mughal soldiers climbing the ladders. The enemy thought they had the upper hand, pushing toward the wall with renewed confidence.

The Maratha infantry, as planned, had begun their strategic retreat from the wall, falling back just enough to make the enemy believe they were crumbling. From his vantage point, Vidur could see the Mughals advancing, their numbers swelling as they flooded toward the weakened section of the wall.

"They're taking the bait,"

Narayanrao said breathlessly, his sword drawn and ready. "They think we're retreating."

Vidur's gaze remained fixed on the approaching enemy, his mind sharp despite the pounding in his chest. Just a little more. Let them get closer.

The Mughal soldiers were almost at the top of the ladders now, their hands gripping the stone as they pulled themselves over the edge. Vidur could feel the tension building, every second stretching into an eternity.

"Now!" Vidur shouted, his voice echoing across the walls. "Archers, fire!"

A deadly hail of arrows flew from the Maratha archers positioned along the ramparts, their bows drawn with precision. The arrows sliced through the air, striking the first wave of Mughal soldiers as they reached the top of the ladders. The men crumpled, their bodies falling back down into the mass of soldiers below, creating chaos as the next wave struggled to climb over them.

Vidur's sword flashed as he engaged the first Mughal soldier who managed to breach the wall. Their blades clashed with a ringing sound, the force of the impact vibrating up Vidur's arm. The man's eyes widened with shock as Vidur's next strike cut through his defense, sending him crashing to the ground.

"We've slowed them down, but more are coming!"

Narayanrao called out, his voice strained as he cut down another attacker.

Vidur's eyes flicked to the battering ram, which was now dangerously close to the gate. If they break through there, all of this will be for nothing.

"We need to take out that ram!" Vidur shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Now!"

The battle along the eastern wall was fierce. The Mughal soldiers swarmed the ladders, but the Maratha defenders held their ground, pushing them back with brutal efficiency. Vidur moved swiftly through the chaos, his sword a blur as he parried strikes and countered with lethal precision. His body burned with exertion, but he pushed the fatigue aside, his focus razor-sharp.

"We're holding them here," Narayanrao called out, his voice breathless, "but that ram is getting too close!"

Vidur's mind raced. If the battering ram reaches the gate, we'll be overrun. He needed to act quickly, but the Mughal forces were relentless, pressing harder with every passing moment.

"Send a group to stop the ram," Vidur ordered, his voice firm as he turned to a nearby soldier. "Take as many men as you can spare and disable it before it reaches the gate."

The soldier nodded, rallying a small group of infantry as they prepared to break away from the wall and head toward the battering ram. Vidur's eyes followed them for a moment before returning to the fight in front of him. Every second counts.

Vidur fought with everything he had, but the Mughal forces were unrelenting. More and more soldiers swarmed the ladders, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm the defenders. Vidur's muscles screamed in protest as he swung his sword again, striking down another attacker with a swift, brutal blow.

"They're not stopping!" Narayanrao shouted, his voice filled with frustration as he struggled to keep the line from breaking. "There's too many of them!"

Vidur could feel the pressure building. The line was holding—for now—but it wouldn't last if the Mughal forces continued to pour over the wall. We need to end this before we're overrun.

"Archers!" Vidur shouted, his voice carrying above the noise of battle. "Keep them off the ladders!"

The archers obeyed, unleashing another volley of arrows that cut through the enemy ranks, but Vidur knew it was only a temporary reprieve. The Mughals were relentless, their numbers vast, and every man they cut down was replaced by two more.

While Vidur and his men fought to hold the wall, the battering ram had nearly reached the gate. The small group of Maratha soldiers Vidur had sent to stop it were locked in combat with the Mughal forces surrounding the siege weapon. The ram's massive wooden frame creaked as it inched closer, its reinforced front designed to smash through even the strongest defenses.

Vidur's heart pounded in his chest as he glanced toward the gate. If that ram breaks through, it's over.

"We have to help them!" Vidur shouted to Narayanrao. "We can't let that ram reach the gate!"

Narayanrao nodded, his face grim. "I'll hold the wall. You go."

Vidur hesitated for only a moment before turning and racing toward the gate, his sword clenched tightly in his hand. His lungs burned as he sprinted across the courtyard, dodging fallen soldiers and debris. The sound of the battering ram crashing against the gate filled his ears, a deep, resonant thud that shook the very ground beneath his feet.

When Vidur reached the gate, he saw the battle raging around the battering ram. The Maratha soldiers were doing everything they could to hold off the Mughal forces, but they were badly outnumbered. Vidur's eyes flicked to the ram—it was too close.

Without hesitating, Vidur charged into the fray, his sword slicing through the air as he cut down the first Mughal soldier he encountered. The fighting was fierce, the space tight as the two sides clashed in a desperate struggle. Vidur moved with lethal precision, cutting through the enemy with a singular focus: stopping the ram.

"We need to set it on fire!" Vidur shouted over the din of battle, his voice filled with urgency.

One of the soldiers nearby nodded, grabbing a nearby torch and dousing the base of the battering ram with oil. Vidur fought to keep the Mughal soldiers at bay, his sword flashing as he parried strikes and countered with deadly blows. We have to destroy it now, or it's over.

"Light it!" Vidur shouted, his voice hoarse from the effort.

The torch was thrown, and within moments, the base of the battering ram erupted into flames. The fire spread quickly, licking up the sides of the massive structure as the Mughal soldiers scrambled to put it out.

The flames consumed the battering ram, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. Vidur's chest heaved as he watched the fire take hold, relief washing over him even as the battle continued to rage around him.

"They're retreating!" a voice shouted from behind him.

Vidur turned to see the Mughal forces pulling back, their numbers thinning as they retreated from the gate. The flames from the battering ram had thrown their ranks into chaos, and they were falling back to regroup.

"We've done it," Narayanrao called as he reached Vidur's side, his face streaked with sweat and grime. "We stopped them."

Vidur nodded, his body trembling with exhaustion. They had won this battle—but the siege wasn't over.

The courtyard of Fort Panhala was quiet once more, the flames from the burning battering ram casting a flickering light over the stone walls. Vidur stood with Narayanrao and Santaji Ghorpade, their faces lined with fatigue but their eyes still filled with determination.

"They'll come again," Santaji said quietly, his voice steady. "They're not done yet."

Vidur's gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, where the Mughal campfires still flickered in the night. "No," he said softly. "They're not."

But for now, the fort still stood. And as long as it stood, so did hope.

Fort Panhala had survived another attack, but the battle for its survival was far from over.