Page 76 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Shuree stared across the steppes, the final image of them riding away playing in her mind. All she could hear was Yul telling her not to worry. She would never again hear him call her ‘little dragon’. She swallowed hard, blinking away tears. She didn’t have time to grieve. She was in charge, she had to care for her people, shore up their defences and protect them. It was time for change. This grief would not happen again. She found Vachir. “Gather the elders. I want to speak to them in my yurt.”

His eyes were sympathetic. “Yes, Tribal Mother.”

The crowd had thinned out. Families who had lost warriors headed back to their homes to mourn. Shuree swallowed hard. It would be her time soon, but not yet. She spotted Erhi. “Please come to my Tribal Council.”

The spiritual advisor acknowledged her with a wave. “I’ll be right there.”

Then Shuree was alone. Darkness hid her and a tear slipped past her defences. She sniffed, wiping it away. Her father had put her in charge until he returned.

And he hadn’t returned.

* * *

Shuree litthe lamps in her yurt and filled the table with food and drink. Though she had no appetite, others might want to eat. Erhi was the first to arrive and she sat by Shuree’s side. Then Vachir walked in with the elders and Amar arrived with Jambal.

“Sit, please.”

Amar sat at the opposite end of the table to her. Everyone looked at him.

“What happened?” Shuree asked.

“They were ready for us,” Amar said. “The moment we attacked they were on us with a consolidated force, surrounding us on all sides. Our khan fought bravely, but even he knew we were outnumbered. He called the retreat and then he was shot. He fell off his horse and I couldn’t get to him.” He cleared his throat. “We rode hard to escape.”

“How many dead?” she asked.

“Twenty-three,” the senior warrior answered.

She wanted to weep. “And injured?”

“Fifty,” Amar said. “Maybe ten who might die.”

She closed her eyes briefly. They could not go on like this. She turned to Vachir. “When this council is over, ensure the healers have all the help they need. Organise a roster through the night.”

“Yes, Tribal Mother.”

“I want guards stationed all around the camp,” she said to Jambal. “We do not know whether the Erseg will attack again.”

“We must get Yesugen and Tegusken back!” he shouted.

She softened her tone. “We will. Did you see them?”

He shook his head.

“Wait a second,” Amar protested. “What gives you the right to give orders? I’m next in line.”

Shuree glared at him. “Father left me in charge until he returned. He is not back.” Her voice broke and she swallowed hard. “I am also Tribal Mother. Until we have time to arrange a ceremony, I make the decisions.” She glanced at Erhi. “Am I right?”

Erhi nodded.

“Then we need a ceremony in the morning,” Amar said. “We will discuss what to do about the Erseg afterwards.”

“We’re doing that now,” Shuree retorted. “Fighting is not the answer.”

“We have to get our people and our harvest back,” Amar protested.

“We can’t afford for anyone else to die.” She could see only one sensible option. Her pulse raced at the mere thought of what she was going to suggest, but the tiny nod the Erseg warrior had given her, gave her hope. “Tomorrow I will ride to the Erseg tribe to discuss matters. I will recover the bodies of our fallen and bring them back for burial and I will retrieve Jambal’s family.”

“They’re not going to do what you want because you ask nicely,” her brother snarled. “They’ll kill you.” Fear shone in his eyes, displacing his angry words.

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