Chapter 68: Shadows in the Fort

The cool night air clung to Fort Panhala like a shroud, filled with the lingering smell of smoke and steel from the day's battle. Vidur Pant moved quietly along the ramparts, his senses on edge. The faint glow of Mughal campfires still flickered in the distance, but there was no movement, no sign of the next attack. It felt like the calm before the storm, but Vidur sensed that this night was different.

Narayanrao, who had been patrolling the lower sections of the wall, approached Vidur with a frown etched deep into his face. "Vidur, there's something you should know," he said, his voice low and cautious. "One of the men was caught trying to leave the fort under cover of darkness. He claims innocence, but the timing feels… wrong."

Vidur's gaze hardened as he listened. A soldier trying to sneak out could mean many things—but none of them were good. "Where is he now?" Vidur asked, his voice calm but filled with tension.

"In the eastern tower, under guard," Narayanrao replied, his eyes darting to the shadowed walls as if he expected a threat to emerge at any moment.

Vidur nodded, his mind already racing. "Bring him here. I need to speak with him." If there was a traitor among them, it would explain the Mughals' relentless and precise attacks.

As Narayanrao left to fetch the soldier, Vidur's system suddenly flashed to life, the familiar glow of text appearing in his vision:

New Mission: Uncover the Traitor. Reward: +100 Points and a New Tactical Tool

The words hung in the air, making Vidur's pulse quicken. The system had been silent since the last battle, but now, with the prospect of a betrayal looming, it was reactivating. The promise of a tactical tool could change the tide of battle—but only if Vidur could complete the mission before the Mughals' next move.

Narayanrao returned shortly, leading a young soldier named Suraj. The man's face was pale, his eyes wide with fear as he was brought to stand before Vidur. He held his hands tightly behind his back, his whole body tense.

"Suraj," Vidur began, his voice calm but firm, "you were caught trying to leave the fort. Do you deny this?"

Suraj's mouth opened and closed a few times before he managed to speak, his voice trembling. "Captain, I swear, I wasn't trying to betray anyone. I only went to the edge of the fort to… to see if there were any supplies left from the previous battles."

Vidur raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. "Supplies? At night? And without telling anyone?"

Suraj swallowed hard, glancing down at his feet. "I… I thought it would be easier. The other soldiers, they… they might think I was just looking for an excuse to escape."

Vidur studied Suraj's face, searching for any hint of deceit. The system's mission weighed heavily on him, urging him to find the truth, but Suraj's nervousness could simply be fear, not guilt. Or it could be the look of a man caught in the act.

Narayanrao stepped closer, his tone edged with suspicion. "Suraj, these are serious times. If you're lying, you'll put us all at risk. Do you understand?"

Suraj nodded quickly, but his eyes darted to the side, as if searching for a way out. Vidur's gaze hardened. He's hiding something.

"You'll remain under guard until we're sure of your intentions," Vidur said, his voice sharp. "If you're innocent, you'll have nothing to fear."

Suraj's shoulders slumped, a look of defeat crossing his face. He was led away by Narayanrao, leaving Vidur alone with his thoughts. If Suraj was lying, then he was connected to the Mughals. But how deeply?

The Decision

As dawn approached, Vidur found himself standing on the walls, looking out over the landscape, lost in thought. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, the responsibility of keeping Fort Panhala secure resting heavily on his shoulders.

The system's message echoed in his mind: Uncover the Traitor. He needed to act quickly, to be certain whether Suraj was guilty, or if the real traitor was still hiding in the shadows.

His system flashed again, this time offering him a choice:

Option 1: Interrogate Suraj with Truth Detection Points - Cost: 50 Points Option 2: Release Suraj and Monitor His Movements - Cost: 0 Points

The choices hung in the air, each carrying its own risks. If Suraj was innocent, interrogating him further could alienate the men, eroding the trust they placed in him. If he was guilty, letting him go could reveal his hidden motives. Vidur's mind raced as he considered the options, weighing each outcome.

After a brief moment of deliberation, he made his decision.

Vidur chose to release Suraj, but not without caution. He instructed two trusted soldiers to shadow the young man, to observe his every movement and report back with anything suspicious. If Suraj was truly hiding something, it wouldn't be long before he gave himself away.

As the morning wore on, Vidur met with Narayanrao and Santaji in the war room. The tension was palpable as they gathered around the map, their expressions filled with concern.

"We have a possible traitor among us," Vidur began, his voice low but firm. "If we're going to face the Mughals' next attack, we need to be sure our defenses are secure from the inside."

Santaji's face darkened as he listened. "A traitor? Inside these walls? Do we know who it is?"

Vidur nodded slightly. "There's a suspicion, but we need evidence. We'll monitor the suspect closely. Meanwhile, we can't let our guard down."

Narayanrao looked thoughtful, his eyes fixed on the map in front of him. "If they have someone inside, it explains how they've known our defenses so precisely. They've hit us exactly where we're weakest, every time."

Vidur tapped a finger on the map, his gaze intense. "We'll use that to our advantage. We'll spread false information, mislead anyone who might be listening. If they act on it, we'll have our proof."

As night fell, Vidur spread word among a select group of soldiers about a false plan: a supposed weak spot on the western wall, left vulnerable due to a lack of manpower. He instructed them to discuss it casually near Suraj, making sure the information seemed authentic but not obvious.

Vidur's system flashed once more, alerting him that his mission was still active:

Mission Update: Track Suraj's Actions Following the False Information Leak.

The trap was set. All they could do now was wait and watch, hoping that their suspicions would bear fruit.

Hours passed, and the fort settled into an uneasy quiet. Vidur remained on high alert, his gaze constantly shifting to the western wall, where the false weakness had been reported. Narayanrao joined him, his face etched with anticipation.

Suddenly, a soldier appeared, his breathing labored as he reached them. "Captain, Suraj… he's gone! We found tracks leading to a secluded part of the wall. He was seen sneaking out, heading toward the Mughal camp."

Vidur's heart pounded. This was it—the proof they had been waiting for.

"Alert the guards," Vidur ordered, his voice hard. "Prepare for an attack on the western wall. They'll think we're vulnerable there."

As predicted, the Mughal forces began to mobilize in the direction of the western wall, their siege towers rumbling forward, drawn to the false information that had been planted. The Maratha soldiers, now fully aware of the trap, took up positions, their weapons at the ready, prepared to spring the counterattack as soon as the Mughals breached the line.

Vidur felt a rush of determination as he stood at the front, his sword drawn, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemy. This time, we're ready.

The Mughals reached the western wall, their soldiers scaling the walls with ladders and ropes, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. But as they reached the top, they found themselves surrounded, the Maratha soldiers closing in from all sides. Confusion spread through the enemy ranks as they realized the trap had been sprung.

"Attack!" Vidur's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

The Maratha soldiers surged forward, their swords flashing as they fought with renewed strength, their movements precise and coordinated. The Mughals, caught off guard and outnumbered, faltered, their assault crumbling under the relentless counterattack.

As the last of the Mughal forces retreated, leaving behind their fallen, Vidur felt a wave of relief wash over him. They had won this battle, but more importantly, they had exposed the traitor in their midst.

Narayanrao approached, his face alight with the thrill of victory. "We did it, Vidur. The trap worked."

Vidur nodded, his gaze distant. "Yes, but we'll need to stay vigilant. The enemy is desperate, and desperation breeds cunning."

As dawn broke over Fort Panhala, the soldiers celebrated their victory, their spirits lifted by the knowledge that they had survived another day. But Vidur knew the struggle was far from over. There would be more battles, more trials. And he would be ready.