Page 33 of The Tainted Khan (The Soulbound Saga #2)

J ai ached as the sun began to set, so he allowed some mana to leak from his core, letting the golden light soothe his pains. He was even tempted to form a healing spell, but knew it was not worth the mana. He had so little to spare, and his brief bursts of soulbreathing in his tent that day had not filled the well.

Now he sat upon his throne, as groomsmen and servants scurried to create a partitioned bedchamber within the back confines of the royal tent. Jai rested his elbows upon a round table of heat-flattened bamboo, one that spanned half the room.

Set around this imposing centrepiece were twelve vacant cushions, each silently awaiting the presence of their intended occupants. The seats were reserved for the leading figures of the Kidara’s most esteemed houses. As Jai watched the transformation of his quarters, the tent began to resemble a powerful council chamber.

It had been a hard day’s ride, and he was glad to see it draw to an end. Harleen had urged him to maintain a punishing pace, despite the obvious toll it was taking, not just on him, but on some of the less hardy of the tribe.

His Kidaran scouts reported that Teji’s vanguard was maintaining their distance, yet never quite slipping from their sights. Though Jai himself had not caught sight of them from his elevated perch, he was well aware that their passage through the grasslands would leave a clear trail to follow.

Already, Harleen was proving invaluable as his steward. Her constant diligence was evident in her actions, keeping the court functioning smoothly. Jai had kindly dismissed the young women who had been assigned to tend to his hands and feet, a lavish treatment he had learned Teji indulged in during courtly proceedings – forcing the fettered women he had purchased to do so. However, Jai had permitted them to groom his hair, arranging it in the braided style befitting of a king.

During his travels across the empire with Rufus and Erica, and then his captivity with the Valor, his hair had grown out, reaching a length that now fell to his shoulders. This was slightly shorter than most Steppemen, but not remarkably so. And now, thanks to the careful attention of his groomers, his hair was tightly plaited into five distinct braids that converged into a thick knot at his back, the meaning of which he’d been too embarrassed to ask.

His fledgling beard had been similarly tended to, skilfully fashioned into a distinguished fork. He raked his fingers through the rough hairs of his seat, for it was draped in a soft khiro pelt. The luxurious fur was a welcome relief against his aching rear, a discomfort he attributed to the broad-backed Alkhara that he was still adjusting to.

The bargain Jai had struck with Lai had paid off, resulting in an ensemble of regal attire that Feng had insisted he wear, if only to not be upstaged by his nobles. His boots remained, for they were hardy, practical things, but he now wore silken trousers, shirt and robe that put him in mind of Leonid’s pyjamas.

Still, they sat light upon his frame, and were cool against his skin, even if the fine gold and silver threads that etched the symbols of his house and tribe were gaudier than he would have liked.

As for the khiroi tooth crown, it sat heavy on his head, a jagged, uncomfortable thing he looked forward to removing. A fragrant touch of rosewater, paired with the smoky intensity of kohl around his eyes, completed the regal ensemble. It felt more a costume than anything else, but Jai would play his part. He had to.

He glanced at the weapons, his gift to his nobles, stacked high in the corner. His purse – already lean to begin with – was all the lighter as a consequence. But it had been worth it. If there was a battle to be fought, they would have what they needed. And a little something to get things off on the right foot.

In addition to overseeing the weapons’ purchase, Feng had also organised for the services of a Kidaran cartographer, a former apprentice who hadn’t chosen to follow his master. The map was laid out upon the table. It was made from a large, carefully stretched hide, dyed a vibrant green. Instead of traditional illustrations, the geography was represented by carved game pieces, reminiscent of the tablus game Jai used to play with Leonid.

‘Sire.’ Harleen approached, her voice respectfully low, and head bowed even lower. ‘Your nobles have gathered. Shall I summon them?’

She stood resplendent in her own robes, eyes boldly outlined with kohl, gleaming with an intensity that complemented her fierce beauty. Her hawk-like nose was the only blemish on an otherwise striking visage.

Jai offered a silent nod in response, his throat too parched to speak. This was to be his inaugural assembly with his people as their khan, his first real test. They had already sacrificed much in his name; he could only hope to live up to their expectations.

They took their places around the circular table, some subtly vying for positions closer to the king – a silent power play unfolding in the dim-lit chamber. Jai longed to ease the tension, but Feng and Harleen’s guidance echoed in his mind.

He remained silent, allowing them to settle, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. The seriousness etched on their faces did little to still the anxious fluttering in his stomach.

He couldn’t help but note the youth among them. Many who had paid him a visit that first day in his tent were present now, Gurveer among them. They were not the seasoned elders he had expected, but individuals of his own age, thrust prematurely into positions of power and authority. It was a sobering realisation – many of their predecessors had fallen in service to his father, and these were the heirs, the new generation taking up the mantle of leadership.

‘Be seated,’ he instructed, his voice firm as he could make it.

Compliance was immediate. They claimed their designated seats, and as they did, every pair of eyes swivelled to focus on him – expectant, almost beseeching.

‘Firstly, I extend my gratitude,’ Jai said; his gaze travelled the room, meeting each pair of eyes, ensuring that his sincerity was well noted. ‘Your loyalty, your courage – it fills me with honour. I am privileged to be leading such dedicated leaders, such devoted sons and daughters of our tribe.’

He motioned towards the stack of weapons in the corner of the room.

‘These arms are my gifts to you, a token of my thanks,’ Jai continued. ‘These are the tools we will wield in the face of adversities that lie ahead. I trust they will serve you well in preparation for the battles we may face together, and allow you to arm more bannermen to our cause.’

A ripple of grateful murmurs washed over the room. One man, a tall figure with an air of quiet authority, rose from his seat.

‘I am Aman, my king,’ he introduced himself, his voice carrying an unassuming gravity. ‘I am the patriarch of clan Gujara. Let me express our collective gratitude for your magnanimous gesture and wise leadership. We stand by you, Khan Jai, as we stood by Khan Rohan. Today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.’

The gathered nobles thudded their fists on the table, a firm affirmation of this vow of loyalty. Jai felt his anxiety fade, if only a little.

‘Harleen,’ Jai began, feeling the confidence grow in his voice. ‘Please brief the lords on our current situation.’

Harleen inclined her head in assent and rose with grace. A servant instantly stepped forward to present her with a long bamboo pole, ready to trace the course of their present and future on the map laid out on the table.

‘The Kidara stand two hundred knights strong,’ she began, her pole tapping lightly on the Kidaran symbol, the large statue of an Alkhara. It was surrounded by twenty smaller figures of khiroi, stationed in formation behind it in the heart of the map. One of these khiroi was a shade larger than its counterparts, symbolising the gargantuan Alkhara that Jai now rode.

A new piece sat not far behind this ensemble, this one identical to that of the Kidara, but blackened with soot. It too had the khiroi miniatures.

‘Trailing us, we have Teji’s tribe. He calls them, the Tejinder,’ she continued, her tone carrying an underlying note of derision. A ripple of laughter eased the tension in the room, and Harleen allowed a wry smile.

‘But he comes with formidable strength,’ Harleen allowed, her face growing serious again. ‘Three hundred riders, all told. And three Alkharas to our one, even if we do have a young dragon.’

The jesting light in the eyes of the nobles dimmed at this, replaced by grim concern once more.

‘The Valor lies one day’s journey to our east,’ Harleen went on, her pole guiding their gazes to the symbolic crossed lupin flowers etched into the map. ‘Our scouts have ventured as close as they could without rousing suspicion. It seems, however, they remain unaware of our pursuit. Their scouts are focused on what lies ahead, rather than what follows them. They have sixty war-ready khiroi, if you stretch the definition, after Jai’s ransom.’

Intrigued murmurs fluttered through the chamber at this revelation. Harleen silenced them with a sharp look before continuing her briefing.

‘We have oases here, here, here...’

She went on, until Jai interjected with a gentle raise of his hand.

‘That will be sufficient, Harleen. Thank you.’

Almost immediately, a servant advanced to offer Jai the bamboo pointer. As Jai accepted it, all eyes in the room focused on him in expectant silence, awaiting his next words.

‘Have we widened the distance from Teji?’ Jai asked.

‘One of my finest scouts kept an eye on them,’ Harleen responded with assurance. ‘He lingered till the last possible moment before detection forced him to retreat. He reported back just a while ago. From his account, Teji’s group has been busy preparing, spending most of the day and night. It appears our hard ride has paid off – we have secured at least two kiris distance from them, maybe more.’

The chamber came alive as the nobles drummed their fists against the wooden table.

‘That is heartening.’ Jai nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching into a brief, triumphant smile. ‘But they will come for us. We must be ready when they do. To bring more numbers to bear, we must take the Valor. Can we catch them?’

Jai saw Gurveer roll his eyes, and understood the answer might seem obvious. Still, Harleen answered readily enough.

‘Our tribe is lighter than before, it’s true. However, the moment the Valor realise we’re on their heels, they’ll quicken their pace. Our warriors, on their own, could close the distance in two days, but it won’t be feasible for the entire tribe without leaving behind the weakest among us.’

A hiss slipped between Jai’s clenched teeth as he absorbed the information, thinking.

‘What say the Small Council?’ he asked.

The nobles looked surprised. It seemed they were not accustomed to giving their opinions here, if they had been privy to the Small Council before.

‘Come now,’ Jai said, keeping his voice steady and warm. ‘What is the Small Council, if not to give me your counsel. I encourage you to voice your thoughts freely. Simply raise your hand and I will call upon you.’

The tent was silent, and still. Jai steepled his fingers, letting his eyes move along the table.

It was Feng who first ventured to break the quiet, lifting a hesitant hand. The flickers of irritation that flashed across some faces did not escape Jai’s notice. He held his tongue, if for now. Feng would have to prove himself.

Feng, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, spoke in a measured tone. ‘If we were to ride hard through the night, we could reach the Valor by dawn, just as they are preparing to depart. However, I lived among them for a time and can attest that they won’t surrender lightly. They are well aware of the dire consequences of defeat.’

Gurveer, ever the warrior, responded with a grit in his voice.

‘Then we fight them.’

Jai fixed a steady gaze on Gurveer who, under the weight of it, averted his eyes and muttered a hasty apology.

‘A fight could leave us all the weaker,’ Jai said. ‘How many knights might we lose? How many khiroi? We might not have more than when we started, after the dust settles. It would be a flip of a coin.’ He turned to Feng. ‘Elaborate. What fate would they suffer?’

‘They are Tainted. If they were to be caught by a tribe like ours, they would expect to be captured and sold as fettered to the traders. That is the way it has been since...’

He trailed off, his confidence shrinking beneath the gaze of the nobility.

Jai chewed his lip, thinking on it.

‘And what if we didn’t?’

‘A wise choice, sire,’ Harleen said. ‘We parlay, offer to take only their khiroi and let them go free.’

‘And where would that leave them?’ Jai asked. ‘Marooned in the midst of the Great Steppe, there to fall prey to any tribe that might pass them by, which – at this point – would almost certainly be the Tejinder. That fate is little better. They would not surrender to those terms either.’

The others sat there, silent, their faces blank. How could they not see it?

‘What other choice do we have?’ Harleen said. ‘We take half? That’s not enough.’

‘We could leave them the calves,’ suggested Gurveer, ‘and perhaps some of the older ones. Like your... vizier’s.’

The brief pause was hardly noticeable, but Feng seemed to pick up on the slight.

‘An aged khiroi and a battle-ready one appear the same from afar, my... lord,’ Feng retorted, his own pause far more pronounced. ‘There’s utility in that illusion. Teji would be expecting a surrender. If our forces appear equal, we can hold our ground.’

At this, Gurveer threw up his hands in exasperation. ‘Well then, what is your fine idea?’ he said. ‘You’re supposed to advise your king, so advise him. Unless you are better suited to holding his purse...’

His voice trailed off, followed by a quiet mutter, ‘A Nazeem in the making...’

Feng rose to his feet, quickly followed by Gurveer, and the room descended into chaos. It took a few tense moments and multiple hands to pull them back into their seats. Jai finally intervened, his fist slamming on the table, releasing a pulse of mana that splintered the wood with a resounding crack.

‘I will not tolerate petty pissing contests in my Small Council,’ he growled, shocked faces surprised into silence by his sudden aggression. ‘Hear me now .’

He paused, letting the silence stretch until he had their undivided attention.

‘What we need are not just khiroi, but warriors – hard men and women willing to hold the line. I’ve lived among the Valor. Many of you have seen their courage first-hand. I can think of none better suited than they.’

‘Sire,’ Gurveer said, his head in his hands as he started to understand what Jai was implying. ‘You cannot be serious. Mercenaries?’

‘We do not truck with the Tainted,’ Harleen said. ‘So it is, and so it will always be.’

‘Yes. But why ?’ Jai demanded. ‘Can anyone actually tell me why? What wrong have they done? And I don’t want fairy tales or rumour or superstition. Tell me. Prove it to me.’

His question was met with silence.

‘That’s what I thought. My father, who you so loved, trucked with the Tainted. If what I have heard is true, he wanted to unite all of the Sithia. Every tribe. Tainted included.’

‘And look where that got him,’ Gurveer hissed. ‘Everyone knows it was Nazeem who betrayed him at the—’

‘That was never proven,’ Harleen snapped. ‘I will be the last to defend that snake, but I will not have lies bandied about.’

She waited for the murmuring to die down, before continuing.

‘Perhaps an alliance of convenience is worth exploring,’ she said.

‘I speak not of alliance,’ Jai said. ‘We may face down Teji once with them at our side, perhaps even twice. But the Valor will not ride with us forever.’

‘Then what—’

‘Not unless they join us.’

Harleen held up a hand, quelling the sudden intake of breath. She turned to Jai, and softened her tone.

‘Jai, your people have been asked a lot of. To ask them now to welcome Tainted as their own... you may lose them in the very act of trying to save them.’

‘Thank you for that advice,’ Jai said. ‘I do welcome it, and hope you know I need you to feel you can be candid with me. Believe me when I say, I understand how things once were... but we do not live in the past.’

His gaze swept the room, meeting each eye in turn.

‘We are here now, facing threats the likes of which haven’t been seen in a generation. The Sabines once more march our lands, and an army of traitors hunt us. My father was the man he was because he was willing to break with tradition, unite the Sithia under one banner. We must adapt, or we will be swept away.’

His words hung heavy in the air. He could almost see the thoughts churning in their heads. His gaze shifted to Feng, who gave him an imperceptible nod.

‘There will be no vote – this is happening. You know where to go if you disagree.’

Gurveer leaped to his feet, storming from the tent. A few looked to follow, their hesitation dragging on until the moment has passed.

‘Think on this,’ Jai said, his voice harsher than he meant it to be. ‘You know Nazeem. You know Teji. That is your other choice. Yet you’ve never truly met these so-called Tainted. Never spoken with them, nor broken bread. Have you ever thought this was by design? Ask yourself, which is better?’

He sighed, sinking into his throne, glad of the soft cushion the pelt provided. He waved his hand, dismissing them.

‘Make the khiroi battle ready,’ Jai ordered. ‘We ride within the hour.’