'That is why you have renounced your duty to your master?' the khahan asked. 'Because he allowed your household to die?'
Batu nodded, uneasy about revealing this weakness.
'That is no reason!' Chanar said. 'An honorable soldier does not place his family above his commander!'
Chanar had barely finished the sentence before Batu stepped toward him, placing a hand on his sword hilt. As the Tuigan saw the Shou's intention, his jaw went slack and his eyes opened wide in surprise. He quickly rose to his feet and gripped the hilt of his own weapon.
'Apologize!' Batu hissed.
'I will not,' Chanar responded, regaining his composure. 'You must see that you'll be killed the instant you draw your weapon.'
As if to emphasize the point, a dozen Tuigan stepped toward Batu.
The ronin paid them no attention. 'Where or when I die does not matter,' Batu said, stepping closer to the object of his wrath. 'Apologize!'
Chanar looked to the khahan. 'Let me kill this insolent mongrel,' he said.
'Leave your blade in its sheath,' the khahan replied, his voice perfectly calm. 'Batu is a guest in my camp, and I will not be dishonored by having his blood spilled-especially when it is your own dull wit and sharp tongue that provoked him. Batu warned you not to insult his honor.'
Chanar's face reddened, but he left his weapon in its sheath. Glaring at Batu, he said, 'I meant no disrespect, renegade. I apologize.'
'For now, that will do,' Batu responded. He took his hand off his weapon. Chanar returned to his seat, staring at the Shou with undisguised hatred.
Yamun addressed Batu. 'The next time you threaten one of my officers, you had best be prepared to use your weapon.'
'I was prepared,' Batu responded, bowing to show that he meant no disrespect to the khahan.
The Tuigan's eyes narrowed. 'Yes-I suppose you were.'
Yamun took a long pull from his goblet, his brow furrowed in reflection. Finally, he lowered the cup and said, 'I will consider your request, General Batu. Until I decide, you shall remain a welcome guest in my camp.' He looked at his officers to be certain they had heard and understood his words, pausing for special emphasis at Chanar.
A moment later, the khahan turned his gaze back to Batu. 'You have given me a gift and I must give you a better one. Is there anything in this camp you want?'
Batu studied the courtyard carefully. Though there was enough wealth in it to ransom a lord, Batu was not interested in gold. His eyes came to rest on Ju-Hai Chou, the one man in the government whom he had been justified in trusting.
'Great Khahan,' Batu answered, 'when a man goes too long without wine, it becomes more valuable than gold, does it not?'
The khahan scowled, but he said, 'This is true. No man can drink gold.'
'Then, in all of your camps, there is only one gift equal to the wine I brought,' Batu replied, pointing at Ju- Hai. 'Him.'
Koja quickly grasped Batu's arm. 'No!' the lama hissed. 'He tried to kill the khahan, so he must die. If you try to save him, you will perish with him.'
Batu shook the man off and pointed at Ju-Hai again. 'Him,' he repeated.
'What Koja says is true,' the khahan warned. 'Ju-Hai Chou must die.'
Ju-Hai could not understand the Tuigan language, but he clearly knew he was being discussed. He looked at Batu with a hopeful expression, though his complexion remained pale.
'I know,' Batu answered. 'I merely ask for the privilege of killing him.'
The khahan smiled. 'What you ask is a great gift, but I am a man of honor and will keep my word. Bring the prisoner forward.'
Two officers rose and led Ju-Hai into the center of the circle. Batu drew his sword. 'Minister Ju-Hai, please turn around,' he said, speaking Shou.
'What are you going to do?' the ex-mandarin demanded, his voice trembling.
Ju-Hai had ridden all the way from Tai Tung to Shou Kuan with his head held high, but the renegade general did not blame him for being frightened now.
'Turn around,' Batu repeated. 'It will be quicker and less painful.'
As he realized that his friend had not saved him, Ju-Hai began to shake. Nevertheless, he did as instructed. 'I understand,' he began. 'My grat-'
Batu swung. The sword bit into the back of Ju-Hai's neck, killing him instantly and mercifully.
'What do you mean by that?' Chanar demanded. Even before Ju-Hai's body had hit the snowy cobblestones, the Tuigan had risen to his feet and pointed an angry finger at Batu.
'This man was a friend,' Batu responded simply, cleaning his blade on Ju-Hai's samfu. 'I did not want to see him die like an animal.'
'You've insulted the khahan!' Chanar insisted.
'I will decide when I have been insulted,' Yamun responded. 'The prisoner's death was Batu's gift. If he wished to waste it, that is his privilege. Now sit down, Chanar, We have much to discuss.'
After Chanar returned to his rug, the khahan turned to Batu. 'Your loyalty to your friend is impressive, and I no longer doubt your motivations. If you are going to fight in my army, you must learn that I am the Illustrious Emperor of All Peoples. Obviously, this other emperor, the one who allowed your wife and children to die under his protection, must be an impostor. Is this not so?'
'Clearly, you are correct, Mighty One,' Batu said, bowing. He could not help but compare the magnificence of the summer palace to the disorder of the khahan's besieged court, but he also knew there was more to being an emperor than the trappings of priceless and pointless luxury.
'You swear allegiance to me?' Yamun asked.
'For as long as you feed and pay me,' Batu replied.
The khahan grinned. 'Honestly spoken,' he said. 'Sit down.' The khahan waved Batu to his side.
'I am honored,' the Shou said, taking the seat to the khahan's right. 'I look forward to fighting at your side.'
After Batu was seated, the khahan began a general discussion about where his armies should attack next. Chanar favored breaking their word and riding on the Shou capitol. Another officer wanted to invade Tabot, the mountain kingdom on Shou Lung's southwestern border. One man, clearly a fool in Batu's opinion, even suggested capturing a fleet and sailing against the islands of Wa.
After listening patiently to each recommendation, the khahan turned to Batu. 'You know this land better than any of us,' he said. 'Which option do you recommend?'
Batu did not even have to consider his answer. 'None,' he said. 'You know less about sailing than Shou do about horsemanship, so I would not recommend attacking the Wa Islands. In the high mountains of Tabot, horses would prove more of a hindrance than an advantage, so attacking there would be bad judgment.'
'And what about the Shou capitol?' the khahan asked, studying Batu with a raised eyebrow.
'You have made a peace agreement with Shou Lung,' Batu responded, meeting Yamun's gaze with an intentionally blank expression.
'As you have said, in war, there are no rules,' the khahan countered.
'True,' the Shou replied cautiously. 'In war, there are no rules. In personal conduct, however, there are. You have given your word, and I cannot recommend that you break it.'
Batu paused, studying the khahan. The ruler's expression was unreadable, but he did not doubt the man was seriously considering riding against Shou Lung once more.
But to his surprise, the Tuigan ruler said, 'What you say is wise, Batu. A man should keep his word.' The khahan studied the faces of his officers for a moment, then returned to the Shou and asked, 'So, where do we go?'
'If you cannot go east, north, or south, there is only one direction left,' Batu answered. 'West.'
