Page 113 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Surely the scouts had made it back by now. Dagar wiped his face with his hands. “Can we speak with the khans?”

“I’m under orders not to let you leave the tent,” the guard said.

She closed her eyes.Ghalin, any news?

Silence.

Ghalin?

Still no response. Had he been punished for telling her as much as he had, or was he still asleep?

Outside were the sounds of people moving, a clank of a sabre, the rattle of a quiver. People were armed and preparing for battle. She glanced at Dagar and read the same concern on his face.

Suddenly the tent flap lifted and Kublai walked in. “Ogodai has arrived with the Tungat khan. They have nine warriors between them.”

Relief filled Shuree and her body went limp. “May we greet him?”

Kublai nodded. “This way.”

They joined the other khans who were lined up under the pavilion. Across the meadow stood a small group of a dozen people. The sun painted the ground in a dawn light and she picked Ogodai at the front, his posture erect. Next to him rode the man she assumed was the Tungat khan, and behind them were the rest of their men.

The group slowly made their way across the meadow, tension in their muscles, constantly scanning the surroundings as if expecting attack.

“May I go out to greet them, as I did with you?” she asked the other khans.

“Yes,” Bat answered.

She stepped out from the pavilion and raised a hand in greeting, walking across the field towards them. When she was close, she called, “Greetings. I am pleased you could come. You are the last to arrive.”

“Where is my son?” Ogodai asked.

“With the other khans under the pavilion,” Shuree said. “When you have set up camp, we will meet there. You can choose to camp at any spot in the meadow, however the other khans have chosen to camp near us.”

“They’re really all here?” Ogodai asked.

She nodded. “They all want peace like we do.”

He frowned. “Then how do you explain your scout?” He gestured and one of his men rode forward, pulling something behind him.

Gan stumbled into view, his face bruised and bloodied, defiance in every pore. “Shuree, the men are ready to attack when you give the signal.”

Shuree gaped at him and then horror filled her at his words. “Gan is no scout of mine,” she assured Ogodai, her pulse racing. “He was banished from my tribe for trying to kill Dagar.”

Ogodai’s expression darkened and he took the rope holding Gan from the warrior, jerking Gan towards him. “He said his name was Amar. He told me you’ve been forcing Dagar to write fake updates to make me lower my guard.”

Gan smirked at her.

Shuree clenched her teeth. “Gan lies. Dagar can confirm it.”

Ogodai glanced at the pavilion. “I want to see my son.”

Shuree turned back to the pavilion and picked out Dagar next to Kublai. “He’s the third man from the left.” She waved the men forward and Dagar stepped into the dawn light.

Ogodai grunted. “I figured the scout was lying and now I know his name, it makes more sense. Dagar told me all about him.” Ogodai drew his sabre and before Shuree could blink, he chopped off Gan’s head.

Shuree gasped as blood flew into the air and Gan’s body crumpled to the ground. She clenched her teeth to keep the bile at bay and stepped aside, a little dizzy, as Ogodai and his men rode past.

Justice was swift.

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