summer palace.'
As Batu turned to go, Pe began to speak. 'Gener-'
Batu shook his head, then nodded at the emperor's frowning figure.
Pe glanced at the Divine One, then preceded his question with a title that would not offend the Son of Heaven. 'My friend, where are you going?'
Batu shrugged. 'Who knows?'
Escorted by six guards, the renegade walked toward the gate. As he left, the emperor turned away and fixed his gaze on the headless body still kneeling at the executioner's block. The two disgraced mandarins watched Batu leave, one with an expression of sad regret and the other with an expression of spiteful retribution. Pe raised a hand in farewell.
Koja bowed to the emperor. 'I will leave tomorrow to inform the khahan of your decision.'
Without waiting for a dismissal, the lama turned and scurried after Batu, catching the renegade just as he stepped out of the gate. 'If you truly have no plans,' Koja said, 'I know someone who always has need of fighting men, someone who truly admires your skill.'
17
After an uneventful but rigorous five-day ride from the summer palace to Shou Kuan, Batu now stood in a courtyard that had once belonged to the besieged city's prefect. Along with Koja and Ju-Hai Chou, he was awaiting his turn to meet the khahan of the Tuigan.
Half an inch of autumn snow covered the stone pavement, and a chilly wind whipped over the brick-faced walls, but the prematurely bleak weather did not bother Batu's hosts. The khahan and his officers had dragged a dozen rolled rugs from the prefect's mansion and were using them as cushions. They now sat in a rough semicircle, exposed to the elements and drinking fermented mare's milk from gold and silver goblets.
The Tuigan wore grimy trousers and filthy silk tunics called kalats. Precious stones glittered from gold settings on their fingers, around their necks, and in their scabbards. The khahan's feet rested on an open chest filled with delicate jade figurines, endless strings of pearls, carved ivory, and other priceless treasures. The emperor of Shou Lung had sent the chest with Koja as a peace gift.
In the center of the barbarians' semicircle, Kwan Chan Sen lay spread-eagled on the ground, bound by his wrists and ankles to four heavy stones. For the last hour and a half, he had been screaming horribly. Considering what the Tuigan had put him through, it was no wonder. Two barbarians were still torturing him while the others watched. The khahan occasionally shouted advice or made wagers on how long the old man would survive.
Batu watched the scene with cool detachment. He felt no delight in watching his nemesis die so horribly, yet he experienced no pity. Kwan's agony seemed remote and unreal, as if the event were being reported by a messenger. Even considering the hatred between the two men, his lack of emotion did not surprise Batu. Nothing had stirred his feelings since the morning of Ting's execution. It was an emotional state well-suited to a renegade soldier.
The horrible sound coming from Kwan's throat changed into barely discernible words. 'Cut my liver!' he gasped. 'Please-I'm protected by magic. It's the only way I can die.'
A swell of laughter surged through the ring of barbarians, and several began arguing as to how this revelation should affect their wagers.
Koja turned to Ju-Hai, his face a sickly shade of yellow. 'For your sake,' he said sympathetically, 'I hope all Shou mandarins are not protected by such magic.'
Ju-Hai shook his head. He was biting his lip, and his face was as pale as snow. Still, he was struggling to maintain his composure. Ripping his eyes away from Kwan, the ex-minister answered Koja. 'No. I didn't even know Kwan had such protection. I have often wondered why such an old man seemed so hardy.'
Batu had wondered the same thing many times, especially during the journey of the past week. With their horses well-fed and rested, the Tuigan army had ridden like the wind. Even for a man as battle-hardened as Batu, the pace had been strenuous, and the renegade general had often expected to find Kwan dead in the saddle. The old man had endured amazingly well, riding from dawn until past dusk, eating on the move and stopping to rest only when it grew so dark that the horses stumbled.
Covering up to a hundred miles a day, the Tuigan had quickly left their Shou escorts behind. The rapid pace had made Batu suspect treachery, but Koja had assured him that such travel rates were not unusual for the barbarians. They were simply rushing back to tell their commander the good news. The procession had stopped only once during daylight hours, when, on Koja's recommendation, Batu paused in a village to buy a personal gift for the khahan.
Finally, the small army had reached Shou Kuan. Batu and Ju-Hai had visited the general from Wak'an to deliver a letter from the emperor. The letter placed the astonished general in charge of all the provincial armies, and informed him of the emperor's acceptance of the peace terms. After an awkward farewell, Batu had accompanied the barbarians into the city.
That had been over two hours ago, and Batu still had not been formally introduced to Yamun Khahan. As soon as Koja had arrived and announced that the peace proposal had been accepted, the Tuigan ruler had ordered Kwan's death in celebration. Batu had not anticipated such a long wait, but he now guessed the khahan would be in good humor when Koja finally presented him.
As Batu watched the barbarians inflict yet more pain on Kwan, he realized that Koja's words in Tai Tung had been true. The Tuigan universally delighted in suffering, and Batu knew that even at his cruelest, he could never have matched the punishment the barbarians inflicted on the former Minister of War.
The contrast reminded the renegade Shou that though he shared some of their blood, he shared nothing of the horse-warriors' culture. He suddenly realized how alone he would be when Ju-Hai died. For a moment, he doubted the wisdom of his decision to leave Shou Lung, but the feeling passed as he tried to think of what remained for him there. With the Tuigan, at least, he would have his fill of fighting.
The two torturers finished their latest procedure and Kwan, protected by his magic, continued to beg for death. For several minutes, the Tuigan discussed new ways to amuse themselves with his pain. Finally, the khahan raised his hand to demand silence.
'We have had fun enough this day,' he said in the thick, guttural language of the Tuigan. The khahan motioned to end the prisoner's misery.
One of Kwan's tormentors plunged a knife into the old man's liver. After the last scream died away, the khahan continued. 'We have serious things to consider. The mares have stopped giving milk, and we have drank so much stallion blood that we should change our name to 'People of the Leech.''
A chorus of raucous laughter rounded the circle of barbarians.
The khahan turned his golden goblet upside down. A few curdled drops of milk slid out of the cup. 'This is the last of the kumiss,' he said. 'In another week, we will be reduced to drinking water and eating our friends.'
Batu thought that Yamun was making another joke, but no one laughed.
The khahan looked toward Koja. 'It is good, then, that Koja, my anda, returns from his mission successfully.'
Koja bowed, then said, 'It was the light of your wisdom and the fear of your wrath that persuaded the ruler of Shou Lung to accept our terms,' he said. 'I was only the humble vessel of your message.'
'No doubt,' the khahan replied. Looking in Batu's direction, he said, 'I see you have brought a guest.'
Taking Batu by the arm, Koja walked into the middle of the Tuigan circle. Remembering the elaborate security precautions surrounding his own emperor, Batu was surprised to see that no one took his sword.
Though the barbarians were seated outside, the air was ripe with the fetid smell of old sweat and fermented milk. Fortunately, Batu had grown accustomed to the odor of unbathed soldiers on the trail. He showed no outward sign of his disgust.
After guiding Batu into a kneeling position, Koja said, 'Illustrious Emperor, I present Batu Min Ho, the commander of the Shou armies who opposed your mighty will.'
