Page 20 of The Tainted Khan (The Soulbound Saga #2)

T hey waited in awkward silence, neither party speaking, even among themselves. Just the clinking of metal, the creak of leather and the soughing of the breeze. The uneasy quiet stretched like a spider’s thread, threatening to snap at any moment.

It was not long before there was a blot along the horizon, and later, a procession of young does led by a single scout.

Jai realised now, his tribe had held these back. Even among the Kidara, khiroi were favoured above all other commodities.

‘Fifteen by my count,’ Sindri scoffed, sitting upright in her saddle. ‘Not nearly enough.’

Yet Jai discerned the bluster behind her words. The Valor possessed no more than fifty adult khiroi, plenty of which had long since seen their prime. These does held the promise of calves of their own someday too. This was their entire tribe’s future, and she knew it.

The Kidaran’s lip twitched, and a muscle in his jaw tightened. There was rage there. Controlled. Calculated.

‘Greed will cost you,’ he said. ‘The more we give, the more worth hunting you down in the days to come. At the moment, we are not insulted, and fifteen is not worth the hunt. Do not push it.’

Still, Sindri held firm. She sensed a weakness, Jai could tell, though he saw none.

‘Blades,’ she said.

‘No,’ the man snapped back.

‘Nazeem,’ one of the Kidaran women whispered. ‘Do you—?’

‘No blades,’ Nazeem said firmly, nodding to the bag of coins. ‘You could keep that. Trade for them elsewhere. But—’

‘With who?’ Zayn muttered under his breath, earning himself a look from Sindri. ‘It’s hard enough to trade with you.’

Jai yearned for her to accept. But was it enough? Their plan was going perfectly, but greed could scupper it all.

Nazeem held up a finger, silencing the murmurs.

‘Jai,’ he addressed him, his voice changed. Kinder. Slower. ‘Have they anything of yours?’

Jai’s eyes found Navi and Feng. Feng met his gaze, his face inscrutable. Yet Jai pointed, his voice strained as Zayn pressed the blade against his throat.

‘I want Feng and his sister.’

Sindri cursed.

‘We need him,’ she stated, crossing her arms.

‘He’s served his purpose – let them have the runt,’ Zayn snarled. ‘And the brat. Doing us a favour.’

Nazeem hesitated, surprised at the request.

‘If he is willing?’ Nazeem asked.

‘I am,’ Feng called.

Sindri’s shoulders slumped, imperceptibly. Zayn had sealed it. She made a show of pouring the coins into her palm, a mix of gold and silver, many in currencies Jai did not recognise. She hissed through her teeth, then nodded, once.

‘I agree to your terms,’ Feng said swiftly, keeping up the charade of acting as intermediary. ‘Both of yours.’

‘Release them,’ Sindri ordered.

Finally, the blade retreated from Jai’s throat, and Zayn shoved him from the saddle into the dirt. Sindri’s gaze met Jai’s for a fleeting moment before she stuffed the diary into Jai’s satchel, tossing it to him. Sum ran to Feng’s side as the khiroi does were led by the Kidaran squire, their horns bound by ropes. At the same time, Kiran attached the lead doe to her saddle.

‘We ride!’ Sindri commanded.

The Valor surged forward, the earth trembling beneath their hooves. None spared Jai a second glance.

Only Zayn remained, his blade outstretched, baring his teeth at the Kidara. Giving his people a head start, in case of pursuit – his Alkhara would soon catch up. Jai dared not step out of the blade’s reach.

Minutes ticked by. Finally, Zayn leaned out, and unlocked the shackles around Winter’s neck. She raced over to Jai, standing between the Alkhara and him.

Zayn spat, giving Jai a scornful look.

‘Good luck,’ he said. ‘You’ll need it.’

And with that... he too was gone.

JAI STOOD THERE, IN the dirt, massaging his neck. It was strangely silent.

‘Vizier, do we follow? We could have them by dusk,’ asked one of the Kidaran knights.

Nazeem flapped a hand, giving Jai a wild smile.

‘No need,’ he said. ‘We got the better of that deal. Let us not sully this joyous occasion.’

Jai returned the smile, even as Winter nuzzled up to him. He scratched her under her chin.

‘Come, my boy,’ Nazeem said, not unkindly. ‘Sit behind me.’

Jai’s heart thundered in his chest, the words of the tense exchange still ringing in his ears. He sought solace in the eyes of Feng, who was clutching his sister in front of him in the saddle as if she might suddenly fly into the sky.

Jai strode towards Nazeem, who extended a hand and stirruped foot to help him onto the khiro.

As Jai found his seat behind the portly man, the Kidaran nobles burst into jubilant cheers, blades rattling from scabbards as they held them high in the air, whooping and hollering.

Winter, her shackles a memory, bellowed a triumphant roar, joining the cacophony of celebration. The primal sound quelled the noise, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake. The Kidaran warriors traded uncertain glances, some breaking into a nervous laughter, staring at the creature they had just welcomed into their ranks.

Nazeem clucked, nudging his Alkhara’s sides with his feet and wheeling it about. Jai felt tall, up there on the enormous beast.

Sum clung to her brother upon Navi’s back, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the vast expanse of the world beyond the Valor camp. The sight of her joy and curiosity warmed Jai’s heart, a small flame against the chill of his recent ordeal.

He gave one glance back, seeing the fading shapes of the Valor khiroi in the distance. He would miss the Valor, in his own way.

And then... they were flying. Hurtling across the steppe, Jai’s world scored by the hiss of grass and clomping of khiroi. Winter leaped and bounded beside them, uttering yelps of joy. She sensed Jai’s relief. Felt it too.

It flooded him. Like a great weight had lifted from his shoulders, even as he rode into the unknown. For he was with his people. People who wanted him. Who would sacrifice great treasures, just to get him back.

He was back with his people. His family.

Jai was home.