Chapter 16: The Unveiling of the Traitor

The cold stone chamber beneath Raigad felt suffocating as the MC, Narayanrao, and Vishal made their way inside. The air was heavy with tension, and the only sound was the faint shuffle of footsteps as they led Vishal toward Sambhaji Raje's private quarters. The MC's heart raced in his chest, but his face remained calm, even as he felt the weight of the discovery they were about to reveal.

Vishal, now aware that something was wrong, glanced between the two men, his face pale and drawn. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice tight with fear. "Why are you taking me here?"

Narayanrao didn't answer immediately, his expression hard. He kept his hand close to his sword, ready for any sign of trouble. The MC kept a careful distance, but his mind was racing. We need to handle this carefully. If Vishal resists, it could turn ugly fast.

"We just need to talk," Narayanrao finally said, his voice even. "There are some questions you need to answer."

Vishal's eyes flickered with panic. "Questions? About what? I've done nothing wrong!"

The MC suppressed a sigh. He had seen the fear in Vishal's eyes before, the hesitation in his actions after the raid. His instincts had been right, but now they needed confirmation. It wasn't just about what Vishal had done; it was about who he was working with.

They reached the entrance to Sambhaji's chambers, where two guards stood at attention. Narayanrao gave them a brief nod, and they stepped aside, allowing the trio to enter. Inside, Sambhaji Raje sat with Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav, their faces grim with anticipation.

Sambhaji, though blind, sensed the tension as they entered the room. "Narayanrao, who have you brought?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding.

Narayanrao stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Raje, this is Vishal. We have reason to believe he has been passing information to the Mughals. We caught him leaving a coded message in a dead drop outside the camp."

Vishal's face blanched. "No! That's not true! I—"

"Silence!" Sambhaji's voice cut through the room like a blade. Even without sight, his presence was overwhelming. The room fell into a tense silence as Sambhaji continued. "If you are innocent, you will have the chance to prove it. But if you are guilty, you will answer for your betrayal."

The MC watched as Santaji stepped forward, his sharp eyes locking onto Vishal. "Where were you the night of the raid?" Santaji asked, his voice low but filled with intensity.

Vishal hesitated, glancing between the men before finally speaking. "I… I was with the other soldiers, guarding the camp. I didn't leave."

The MC frowned, his suspicion deepening. He had noticed Vishal's absence during the aftermath of the raid, but hadn't thought much of it at the time. Now, it seemed clear that Vishal had been trying to avoid attention.

"And yet," Santaji continued, his voice cold, "Narayanrao found you sneaking out of the camp and leaving a coded message. Who were you sending it to?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Vishal stammered, his eyes wide with panic. "I would never betray Raje. You have to believe me!"

Sambhaji leaned forward, his face calm but unreadable. "Enough," he said quietly. "Narayanrao, show me the message."

Narayanrao stepped forward, handing the scrap of parchment to Dhanaji, who examined it closely. "It's written in code, just as we suspected," Dhanaji muttered. "But the fact that he hid it in a dead drop proves his guilt."

Vishal's hands trembled, his face pale as he shook his head. "I didn't! I swear, I didn't leave any message!"

The MC, watching the exchange carefully, couldn't help but feel that Vishal was lying. But there was something else—something deeper. Was he acting alone? Or was there someone else pulling the strings?

Sambhaji's voice broke the silence again. "If you truly wish to prove your innocence, you will help us decode this message. Otherwise, you will be treated as a traitor."

Vishal's breathing grew heavy, his eyes darting around the room in desperation. "I… I can't…"

Narayanrao's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. "You can't? Or you won't?"

Vishal's face twisted in panic, and for a brief moment, the MC thought he might lash out. But instead, Vishal collapsed to his knees, his voice breaking as he spoke. "I didn't want to betray you, Raje! I didn't! But they forced me! They said they'd kill my family if I didn't give them information!"

The room fell into stunned silence. Santaji and Dhanaji exchanged a sharp glance, while Sambhaji remained still, his face grim. "Who forced you?" Sambhaji asked, his voice eerily calm.

Vishal swallowed hard, his body shaking. "It was the Mughals… they've been watching us, waiting for the right moment. I… I told them about the raid, but I didn't want to! I swear, they threatened to kill my family in Aurangabad!"

Santaji's face hardened. "So you are a traitor."

"No!" Vishal cried, his voice filled with desperation. "Please, Raje, I had no choice! They would have killed them! You have to believe me!"

The MC's mind raced, trying to process the confession. Vishal wasn't working alone, but was he telling the truth about his family? Was he just another pawn in the Mughals' game?

Sambhaji took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "What you have done cannot be excused," he said quietly. "But I understand the value of family. If what you say is true, and the Mughals hold your family captive, then your life is not the only one in danger."

Vishal sobbed, his head bowed low. "Please, Raje. I will do anything to make up for what I've done. Just save my family."

Sambhaji remained silent for a long moment, considering his options. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm. "You will help us decode the message. If it leads to further information about the Mughals' plans, we will spare your life. But if you attempt to deceive us again, there will be no mercy."

Vishal nodded frantically, relief flooding his face. "Thank you, Raje. Thank you."

Santaji, his face still cold, turned to Sambhaji. "Raje, are you sure we can trust him? He's already betrayed us once."

Sambhaji's blind eyes seemed to stare straight ahead, but there was no mistaking the power behind his words. "We have no choice. If what he says is true, the Mughals are planning something far worse than what we've seen so far. We need to stay ahead of them."

Narayanrao crossed his arms, his face hard. "What if he's lying about his family? What if this is another trick?"

Sambhaji stood, his presence filling the room. "We will find out soon enough. For now, we have bigger concerns. Vishal's information may have already reached the Mughals. We need to plan our next move."

The MC nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. "We need to move quickly. If the Mughals are watching us, they'll be expecting another raid soon. We should change our tactics, hit them where they least expect it."

Sambhaji nodded. "You're right. We will not let them dictate the terms of this fight. Santaji, Dhanaji, prepare the men. We strike again at dawn, but this time, we will be ready for their response."