Page 81 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Shuree’s skin crawled. She would have to get past Dagar to leave the yurt and there were no weapons within easy reach. Talking was her best option. She heard Yul’s voice in her head. “You can do this, little dragon.” She stared at the khan, daring him to back down. “Iwillhave what I came for—these women and the bodies of our dead, so that we can send them to the afterlife.”

“And what of my men who died raiding your camp?” Ogodai demanded. “They received no such send off.”

“They did,” Shuree corrected him. “I had them buried north of our camp, facing your land. Our spiritual advisor said the rites. They shouldn’t be damned for eternity for following your orders to attack.”

Ogodai gaped at her and another man rushed into the tent—the man whose life she spared.

“Father, what’s going on?”

The khan’s son! Hope filled her as Shuree smiled. “We meet again.”

His eyes widened. “You!”

“You know this woman?” Ogodai asked.

The man looked between his father and Dagar. “I fought her during the raid.”

“And yet she survived?”

Shuree waited for him to confess. To be beaten by a woman would lose him status.

He glanced at her. “You called the retreat.”

“My khan, Shuree bested my brother. She could have killed him, but she spared his life, told him to leave and not return,” Dagar said.

He was the khan’s son as well? Perhaps she could reason with them.

“This small thing?” Ogodai was horrified.

“I am a warrior as well as a woman,” Shuree said. “Though I do not enjoy killing, I will in order to save my people. There was no need to murder your son when you were retreating.”

He pressed his lips together. “We owe you a life,” he said. “Choose one woman to take with you.”

She shook her head. “I will take both women and my dead,” she said. “Or I shall tell all who will listen that I bested the khan’s son.”

Ogodai narrowed his eyes. After a long moment he nodded once. “Very well. Your dead are piled on the steppes to the west. Speak to no one of the mercy you gave.”

Relief filled her. “Thank you, khan.” But that wasn’t all she’d come here for. “Afterwards, can we discuss peace between our tribes?”

Ogodai frowned. “I will think on it. See me before you leave.”

She inclined her head. “Thank you.”

She smiled at the two brothers and they stood aside so she could exit. She took the women’s hands and led them out of the tent.

“Are we really safe to leave?” Yesugen asked.

“It appears so.” But the khan could change his mind, so they must make haste. She strode through the camp towards the wagon. The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon and the light was fading. The same man stood guard and he scowled at her.

“The khan has given us permission to gather our dead,” she told him.

He glanced behind her. “Fine.”

Shuree looked over her shoulder. Dagar had followed them. He would ensure the khan’s wishes were carried out. She helped the women into the wagon noting her bow and quiver of arrows in the back. “I will return after I have my men.”

He shook his head. “I will show you the way.”

Her shoulders tensed. Could he be trusted? “You may ride one of our horses.”

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