Page 92 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Shuree continued the introductions. “Next to Amar is our spiritual advisor, Erhi.”

Erhi stood and walked over, greeting the newcomers with outstretched hands. “Welcome. I am pleased to meet you finally.” She smiled at Mengu. “Would you like refreshments first, or would you like to see where we buried your dead?”

“Refreshments would be appreciated,” Mengu replied.

Shuree gathered the weapons the warriors had discarded and placed them in a pile out of reach of the table. While she did so, Erhi made the council shift to make room for them.

Shuree gestured for Dagar and Mengu to sit either side of her. “We have much to discuss,” she began. “As you will know from Yesugen’s and Tegusken’s safe arrival home, the Erseg tribe were willing to negotiate with me.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Jambal said. “I did not think I would see them again.”

She smiled. “Vachir tells me our warriors have been buried.”

“Yesterday,” Amar answered. “We gave Father and all our warriors a proper send off.” The look he gave Dagar suggested he wanted to send him to the other side as well.

Her chest squeezed. She would have liked to have been able to say her goodbyes to her family. She swallowed.

“It truly pained me to discover what someone did to your khan,” Dagar spoke, his tone low. “Please know it is not the normal way for my tribe. My father is investigating it.”

Clearing the lump from her throat, Shuree continued. “I have discussed our circumstances with Ogodai Khan and we have come to a temporary truce. Dagar has come to help me implement it.”

His brother frowned. “And if we don’t like it?”

“You don’t have to like it, you just need to obey it.” Shuree’s tone was hard. She hadn’t risked her life and come this far for her brother to mess it up.

“Tomorrow I will be khan.”

Several men nodded in agreement.

Erhi cleared her throat. “That is not necessarily the case.”

Shuree jolted and everyone turned to the spiritual advisor.

“The law states a khan’s child must be the next khan, but it doesn’t state whether that child be first born, or male, or female.” Her expression was slightly apologetic. “If there is a disagreement on who rules, the tribe may vote.”

Shuree sat back, her mind whirling. She’d never even considered it. “I don’t want to be khan.”

Amar unclenched his fists. “Then we don’t have a problem.”

Beside her Dagar shifted and he looked deeply uncomfortable. If Amar didn’t agree with her proposal, he could ruin everything. “The agreement with the Erseg tribe is contingent on all the tribes of Rhora.”

A few men gaped at her and one said, “You can’t decide that.”

She held up a hand to stop the murmuring. “No. That is why the truce holds until after the gathering of all Rhoran khans in two moons’ time.” She explained the terms. “We both hope to set up trade and better relations between the tribes.”

Amar glared at her. “It would never work. They are likely to attack us the moment our backs are turned.”

“My father has given his word,” Dagar growled. “He will not go back on it.”

“Says you. All we know of him is he attacks us, mutilates the dead, and steals our women.”

Shuree spoke before Dagar could retort. “That is why it is so important we hold this gathering.” She glanced at Erhi. “Mengu says the Gods have chosen the Dragon Mountains as the meeting place.”

Erhi inclined her head. “A good choice.”

“We won’t have to worry about the dragons?” Jambal asked.

Shuree looked at Erhi to answer. “I believe they reside in the upper reaches of the mountains. They should have no interest in what we do.”

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