Page 98 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 7

Over the next few days, Shuree was forced to calm many prickly tempers. The warriors didn’t like Dagar walking around the village, so Shuree made sure he stayed close to her. The other Erseg men had already left to take messages to the far western tribes and Mengu spent his days with Erhi. To keep Amar busy, Shuree gave him the task of arranging the supplies to trade with Bonam. She hoped it would keep him away from Gan, but every time she saw Amar, Gan was right by his side.

To counteract the hostilities, she made sure Dagar spent time with each group in the tribe so they could get to know him. This truce was far too delicate to leave to chance.

At night they sat by the communal fire and answered any questions from her tribe. Three evenings after Shuree had become khan, Maidar brought her lute out to play. Others soon joined and the music flowed around them.

“Do you play?” Shuree asked Dagar.

He shook his head. “My brother does, but I never learnt.” He was quiet a moment, watching those around the flickering firelight. “We play these songs in my tribe. I could be back home.”

She squeezed his hand briefly. “I saw so many similarities when I visited you. We are one people, simply separated into ten tribes.”

“I thank Qadan that you came to us. This,” he waved his hand at the people around the fire, “is a much nicer way to live.”

Shuree had no words as he turned his gaze back to her. An unfamiliar warmth filled her. “I thank Qadan you didn’t kill me the moment I stepped into camp,” she replied, smiling to keep the sting out of her words.

“I promised my father I would send him updates,” Dagar said. “Would one of your men take a message for me? I hope hearing from me will lessen his concerns about the khan gathering.”

“Of course. I’ll ask Vachir to take it. Send updates whenever you like.”

“Thank you.”

Around them children were dancing, pulling up a few adults to join them. Maidar’s seven-year-old granddaughter ran over to them and held out both of her hands to Dagar. “Can you dance?”

Shuree’s mouth dropped open as Dagar took the girl’s hand. “Not very well, but I will try for you.”

They joined the dancers and the other adults nodded a greeting at Dagar. He danced well, moving with grace and a hypnotic rhythm. As the beat changed, he picked up the little girl and swung her around, and her shrieks of glee were all the music Shuree needed.

She scanned those who still sat around the fire. All eyes were on Dagar as he danced and reluctant respect shone in their eyes. Maidar made a gesture towards the pair and grinned slyly at her. She had put her granddaughter up to it.

That didn’t matter. What mattered was they were making progress.

The next daywhile Shuree was introducing Dagar to the fletchers, Badma approached.

“Shuree, are you going to continue to teach us how to fight?”

Dagar glanced at Shuree in surprise. “What?”

She inwardly winced. “After the raid, the women wanted to learn how to defend themselves,” she told him. “They were upset about Yesugen and Tegusken being kidnapped and wanted to ensure they weren’t taken during the next raid.” She turned to Badma. “With the truce in place and the khan meeting only two moons away, is it necessary?”

“Yes, it gave us confidence,” she said. “The Erseg tribe isn’t the only tribe that has raided and we haven’t heard back from the others yet. We’d like to be prepared.”

Shuree couldn’t argue with that. “All right. I have some time now. Can you gather the others?”

Badma grinned. “We’ll meet you at the training grounds.” She ran off.

“Do your women not trust their men to protect them?” Dagar asked as they walked back to the khan’s tent so she could gather her weapons.

“It’s not that.” How could she explain? “Knowing I can protect myself gives me strength. I can protect my grandmother and any children nearby, freeing the warriors to fight those who attack us. I don’t like feeling helpless or reliant on others.”

“I can’t imagine you ever being helpless,” he said.

A flush of warmth spread through her. Dagar knew all the right things to say. Many of the single men in the tribe had seen her as a way to get closer to the khan, and not as a woman in her own right. Though perhaps that was Dagar’s aim too. Now she was khan, he would have a position of power as Tribal Father if she was to marry him.

Her face heated. Not that she was thinking about him in that way. He was simply an attractive man who was being kind to her. The silence grew between them and she had to say something. “Thank you.”

“Your people have a lot of faith in you. They want peace as much as you do. It surprised my father and brother to discover how many others in our tribe agreed with you.”

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