Page 106 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

“He refused to obey his khan’s order as well,” Bat pointed out. “It’s more than enough to sentence him to death.”

The other khans nodded.

“And what would you like me to do?” she asked Dagar. “It was your life he tried to take.”

Dagar was silent for a long moment. “I trust your judgement to do what is right for your tribe.”

The words burned through her leaving warmth in their trail.

She turned back to Gan and was reminded of his mother and how devastated she had been when her husband had died. Shuree couldn’t take another life from her. She prayed to Qadan she wasn’t making a mistake and spoke. “Gan, you are hereby banished from this tribe. You are no longer a member of the Saltar, you may not trade with us, stay with us or receive any help from us. You have thirty minutes to say goodbye to your family and gather your things.”

Gan scowled. “I don’t need this tribe.”

Bat stepped up beside Shuree. “Gan, you are also not welcome in the Bulgat tribe.”

“Nor the Horkham tribe,” Turgen said.

“If I catch you on Kharil lands, I will behead you,” Kublai growled.

Gan’s hands shook and his eyes were wide. Any friends he had in the other tribes were no longer available to him.

Dagar hauled Gan to his feet. “If you value your life, do not come near my tribe.”

Half of Rhora was now forbidden to him. Shuree wasn’t sorry. “Let’s take him to his mother.”

* * *

After seeingGan’s mother’s tearful goodbye, Shuree wanted to close herself into her yurt and forget about the world. The woman’s grief brought back Shuree’s pain at losing her father and brothers, but Shuree was khan and she had to speak to her people about Gan’s sentence.

She joined her brother by the communal fire and stood on the platform to get everyone’s attention. “Today Gan drew a knife on our guest Dagar of the Erseg tribe and broke the truce we have in place with them. In the scuffle he stabbed my brother, Amar. As punishment he has been banished from the Saltar tribe.”

A couple of people gasped. “The other khans were upset about this breach and have similarly banished him from their lands.” Tegusken covered her mouth and others murmured. It might have been kinder to have simply killed him. “Gan was given time to gather his things and say goodbye to his family. He is no longer welcome on our lands and we will not trade or communicate with him.”

Shuree swallowed. “If anyone else does anything to threaten the peace we are trying to build, they and any co-conspirators will be beheaded. This is my only warning. You voted for peace and you each have a hand in making it a reality. If you hear of anyone unhappy with what we are trying to achieve, please speak to me.” Enough people nodded to satisfy her. “Now, let’s eat.”

* * *

The messengersthey had sent to the far west hadn’t returned by the time they had to leave for the Dragon Mountains. Shuree prayed they were safe, that the other tribes had treated them well and not killed them on sight. She chose to take only Vachir and Erhi with her, rather than an extra four warriors as was her right. It was the best way she knew how to show she trusted the other tribes and was dedicated to the peace.

With her rode the seven members of the three eastern tribes as well as Dagar and Mengu. Spirits were high as the Saltar tribe waved them off.

They crossed out of Rhora on the third day and into the land known as Chungson. Erhi and the other spiritual advisors seemed to know where they were going as they led the party through the foothills. There were no roads, no paths, few signs of civilisation. Shuree had heard from traders that most Chungson people lived in the valley between the two main mountain ranges in the area, the Dragon Mountains and the Barrier Mountains.

They camped out in the open, the warriors taking turns to stand guard. As they travelled higher, Shuree regularly turned to look back the way they had come. The view over the expansive steppes was magnificent, her home laid out before her in all its glory. But at no stage did she see the other tribes making their way to the mountains. Shuree prayed to the Gods and ancestors they would come.

They entered the forest and its shade was cool and unfamiliar. The trees towered above and clustered around them. Shuree’s muscles tightened. She was surrounded, unable to catch more than the occasional glimmer of blue sky. Perhaps the Gods were right to choose the Dragon Mountains as their gathering place. It was so foreign to them all, would leave them all discomfited and hopefully willing to negotiate quickly so they could return to their homes.

“Mengu says we should reach the meadow soon.” Dagar’s voice shocked Shuree out of her thoughts as he rode up beside her.

Her gut clenched. “I hope it is large and flat, with plenty of sky above us.”

“Me too. These trees are confining.”

She glanced at him and his smile was cautious. “You feel it too?”

He nodded.

“I’m glad I’m not the only one.” They hadn’t spoken about their kiss, and he’d made no further move to kiss her again, but it simmered unsaid between them. The more time she spent with him, the more she wished she was free to do what she wanted. “Will your father be there when we arrive?”

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