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‘C an he do that?’ Jai demanded, his voice barely audible above the burgeoning chaos.

‘I don’t know if we can stop him,’ Feng shouted back.

With a commanding whistle, Teji summoned his staunchest allies, men and women dressed in the most regal of finery, whose loyalties must lie more in gold than in blood.

As one, they followed Teji as he stomped towards the tent’s exit, clearly well prepared for what was about to take place. Contingencies in contingencies...

Nazeem flashed Jai a sly smile as he caught his gaze, following Teji’s procession out of the room. Jai knew this could not have been planned in a day. This was what had awaited Arjun had he lived to return.

The vizier was a cunning schemer.

Still more followed Teji, leaving their places like soldiers routing from battle. At the sight of the exodus, nobility formed clusters around their peers, raising their banners and roaring commands. Voices escalated to shouts, and shouting devolved into skirmishes, fists flying. Had weapons been allowed, it might have become a bloodbath.

‘Winter!’ Jai called, leaping onto the throne. ‘Now!’

Winter’s chest expanded as she drew a deep breath... and then she let it out in an earth-shattering roar, one that quietened the room, save for the few men and women still wrestling upon the ground.

‘Do the Kidara forget their oaths so swiftly?’ Jai shamed. ‘Let the traitors leave. We are all the stronger without them.’

‘They will take their leave and more besides!’ a noble shouted. ‘Teji and his loyalists own at least half the khiroi! What chance have we against a legion without them?’

‘We will find more,’ Jai called out, even as voices were raised once more. ‘I swear it. We are the Kidara. We will endure, and we will overcome.’

His words echoed in the tent, and still they stared at him. By now, the scuffles had ended, leaving several with bloody noses, shaking themselves free of the hands that sought to keep them there. Their resentment was evident in the flare of their nostrils and the glare in their eyes. Jai took his place on the throne, feeling the cool press of the large horns against his back.

He knew he could not keep them here. They would steal away in the night, and take more than their belongings with them.

‘Anyone who wishes to leave is free to do so. No one will stop you,’ Jai said, his voice clear and cold. ‘But know this – by leaving, you betray your tribe and join a traitor. You, and all those who follow Teji, will be branded oath breakers, traitors and cowards. All the Sithia will know what your new tribe stands for.’

His proclamation was met with a stunned silence, followed by a flurry of movement as several tore away from their peers and stormed out of the tent. Their departure thinned the crowd, leaving the final count less than half as full than when the council had begun.

Feng stood, and cleared his throat.

‘All hail, Jai, son of Rohan, khan of the Kidara, first of his name!’

‘Hail!’ came the resounding reply.

Feng lifted the crown from where it lay, and lowered it onto Jai’s head. It was heavy, a reminder of the responsibility now bestowed upon him. Jai knew this night was not done yet. He surveyed those that remained.

Among them, he recognised Harleen, Gurveer and others. His remaining supporters were mainly the elderly and the young, their attire less ostentatious than those who had departed.

They were waiting. Waiting for his command.

‘Go, protect your khiroi!’ Jai ordered. ‘Make sure Teji takes only what is his. Avoid bloodshed wherever possible, but keep what is ours!’

Harleen gave a deep bow, then addressed the others.

‘Gurveer, lead our warriors and secure our khiroi in the plaza. They’ll have difficulty seizing them there. Everyone else, gather what’s left and join us. If they intend to plunder us, there will be blood. My lads, stay outside the tent. Protect your khan.’

She turned to Jai, and bowed once more.

‘With your permission, my king.’

‘Go,’ he said. With that, Jai gave a small nod, triggering a flurry of action as his followers rushed out of the tent. He moved to join them, but Harleen subtly motioned him to wait, until it was only the two of them left. Outside, the air was filled with the noise of raised voices but no screams of battle – at least, not yet. Jai itched to go and observe, but for now, Harleen had something to share.

‘Please,’ she said. ‘Let your warriors do their work. You are far easier to protect here. Out there, you will be too great a distraction.’

Jai acquiesced, settling back into his chair. She then went to take her leave, but faltered in her step.

‘Tell me,’ Jai said, raising his hand. ‘What’s on your mind?’

‘You did well,’ she said, her head still bowed. ‘But know, we have hard days ahead.’

Jai nodded gravely, and summoned her closer with a beckoning hand.

‘I will not pretend to know our tribe as you do, or what must be done. I appoint Feng as my vizier for his wisdom and loyalty. And you, Harleen, will serve as my steward.’

Harleen bowed deeply.

‘I thank you. But that is not what I have stayed to discuss.’

‘Then speak freely,’ Jai said. ‘And you can look me in the eye, Harleen. I will not stand on ceremony in my court.’

She hesitated, then straightened.

‘I will be frank. We walk a razor’s edge. Teji is correct – by our laws, a royal’s sibling has every right to leave this tribe and form his own. The stink of this betrayal will follow his lackeys, for they have broken our laws – Teji’s attempt to usurp the crown precludes his right to form his own tribe. I have long suspected they were planning this for when Arjun returned from exile. But I had thought I had years left to prepare for it. You were right to let them leave. Had you not... the tribe would have torn itself apart this very night – and on a night they seem to have us at a disadvantage.’

Jai nodded, feeling some relief. He had not been sure of the decision.

‘But it is not tonight that concerns me. It is in the days to come.’

She looked behind her, checking for eavesdroppers, and approached the throne.

‘By our laws, there is an amnesty when a tribe divides. But three days hence, Teji may treat us as any other tribe. And to keep this pretence of lawfulness, of following the Pact... he will wait.’

Jai stared at her, trying to understand.

So she explained. ‘He will come for us in three days. To take back what he left behind, and return his followers’ honour.’

Jai felt his palms grow slick with sweat. There was so much about this world he did not know.

‘Thank you for your stewardship,’ Jai said, trying hard, but failing ever so slightly, to keep his voice steady. ‘Please, tell me what course you would advise me take?’

She gathered herself, turning away from him.

‘Tomorrow,’ she said, ‘we run.’