Page 79 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 3

The sun was a hint on the horizon when Shuree gathered her bow and arrows, and her sabre to wear at her side. Amar joined her as she left the tent and they travelled across to the horses in silence. No one else was awake. Her muscles tightened as she fetched the wagon horse and hitched it up while her brother saddled two more horses for Yesugen and Tegusken. After she freed them, they could ride ahead and bring word to the tribe of Shuree’s success.

The land was taking shape in the sun’s early rays as they finished and Erhi approached them. “I have consulted with the Gods,” she said. “Qadan be with you.”

Some of Shuree’s tension lessened. It was more than her father had had. “Thank you, Erhi.” She hugged the older woman and then noticed Nergui coming their way. Shuree wanted to be gone before she had to say goodbye to too many people. She hugged her grandmother tightly. “I will return within a few days.” It would take longer to reach the tribe with the wagon and she wasn’t certain how long it would take to negotiate with the Erseg.

“May the ancestors ride with you.”

Shuree turned to her brother. “Take care of our people.”

“I will.” He hugged her hard. “Be safe, little dragon.”

She nodded and climbed into the wagon, trying to portray an image of confidence. The smooth leather reins were comforting in her hands, though the hard wagon seat was uncomfortable. With a flick of the reins, she was on her way. She didn’t look back, even though she knew it might be the last time she saw her family. She needed to be a vision of courage and strength.

But she prayed to Qadan she would return.

* * *

Late in the day,the Erseg camp loomed ahead of Shuree. From a distance, it looked exactly like her own camp, white yurts arranged in rows, with horses penned on the outskirts. Smoke wafted from the apex of the tents. Women would be preparing dinner for their families. So normal.

Shuree had had time to consider the best way of approaching them and decided to be upfront and honest. Guards stood at the edge of the camp and behind them people went about their daily business. She stopped her wagon in front of the nearest warrior, a middle-aged man with thick, muscled arms and legs and a derisive expression on his face.

“What do you want?” he demanded.

Smiling, she said, “I am Shuree from the Saltar tribe. I have come to gather the bodies of our dead and to retrieve the women you kidnapped.”

The man laughed and withdrew his sabre. “You and who else?”

“No one. I wish to negotiate with your khan.”

“He won’t want to speak to you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You presume to know the wishes of your khan? You must be very close to him.” Some of the tribe members watched her warily, others scanned the steppes behind her, and a teenaged boy ran further into the camp, possibly to fetch someone.

The guard glowered at her.

“Please direct me to his tent.” She flicked the reins to nudge the horse forward.

He grabbed the horse’s harness. “You’re not going anywhere.”

A woman’s scream split the air.

Shuree’s heart leapt. That was Jambal’s wife. She reacted before she could consider the consequences and leapt from the wagon, grabbing her sabre from her belt. The guard lifted his weapon and she swatted it aside and ran towards the yurt the scream had come from. She burst through the door to find a man towering over Jambal’s naked wife, his pants around his ankles, his pale hairy bottom facing Shuree. He spun at the interruption and Shuree shoved him back, getting between him and Yesugen and Tegusken who was cowering behind her mother. She raised her sabre. “These women are not yours.”

“Shuree!” Yesugen cried.

“Get dressed,” Shuree ordered, her eyes not leaving the man’s. “We’re going.”

The guard from outside stormed in brandishing his sabre.

“Lower your weapon,” Shuree said. “I want no trouble here. I have come for my people.”

Jambal’s family were on their feet behind her, Yesugen pulling on her dress.

“Then you should not have drawn your sabre,” the guard said. The other man picked up his weapon from across the room.

The guard stood between them and the door. She didn’t want to fight her way out. “Take us to your khan.”

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