Page 40 of The Tainted Khan (The Soulbound Saga #2)

A jeering throng of Jai’s followers sent the Tejinder army off as they filed out of the camp. Teji and Nazeem shared the saddle of Teji’s Alkhara, while the remaining mounts were piled high with glistening armour. Bereft of their steeds, the Tejinder soldiers would face the humiliating task of marching back on foot, their elaborate battle regalia strapped to their encumbered mounts’ backs.

By the time the sun painted the horizon with hues of blush, the departing enemy had diminished to a speck on the horizon. They were considerably fewer than they once had been, for several nobles – and their men – had elected to remain with the Kidara.

Jai knew it was not out of new-found loyalty, for they would surely be bitter at the loss of their standing. Rather, they knew Teji would not conquer the Kidara anytime soon, and they and their followers could not stomach a future as a tribe of oath breakers. That, and Jai let those who stayed keep their khiroi. That, above all else, moved them to break with the Tejinder.

Still, Jai was ready to forgive. Already, he had sent his scouts ahead to fetch the families and belongings of the newcomers. None of those staying trusted Teji to send the latter.

Sitting upon Chak’s back, with his Small Council by his side, Jai only now began to let his worries ease a fraction. The legion still marched free, but finally, so did he. He breathed easy, petting Winter in silent contemplation, as the sounds of celebration roiled around him.

Feng had managed to secure Jai’s rights to the khiroi and weapons that were his personal property. As the khan, Jai was entitled to half the spoils, leaving him with a considerably heavier purse; a consequence of Feng’s horse-trading with the Valor for his newly acquired khiroi. It was a lucrative affair, strengthening his army and his personal wealth in equal measure. The realisation was sobering – war, indeed, was profitable.

He wasn’t sure he liked the feeling, but it was the reality – and a necessary one – for now.

Spurring away from his men, Jai rode Chak through the great herd of khiroi, lowing pleasantly in their joy of being reunited. Many of the Valor’s smaller, weaker khiroi had been the fifty left with Teji, swapped by Feng for the Tejinder’s well-bred specimens.

In all, Jai’s cavalry was well over five hundred strong, if he could find the warriors to ride them. And he would need them soon enough. For while he scrabbled in the grass with his uncle, the Sabine legion marched deeper into their heartlands.

Based on those first entries in Leonid’s diary, he imagined the current legion plagued with the same problems as those of the past, and would inevitably seek the same solutions. Which meant it would not be long before the Gryphon Guard were unleashed upon the Great Steppe, to goad the Sithia into war. That was, if they weren’t busy with the dragons of the Dansk already.

Still, reading the diary was becoming more tedious. After those initial entries, he’d found that the bulk of the scattered scribblings were ration lists, salary pay and other such administrative notes. Which left him even more troubled, because he couldn’t fully figure out a way to beat back Titus’s incursion.

His father had only managed to best the Sabines by forming alliances with other Great Tribes, and even then, it was a close fight. Now, facing a legion five thousand strong, Jai understood the daunting odds. And he was under no illusion that this legion was just the beginning. Once the Sabines resolved their skirmishes with the Dansk, they would send more legions, turning the tide overwhelmingly in their favour.

‘Jai,’ Feng said. ‘May I have a moment?’

Jai turned, wincing at the disturbance. He’d been just moments away from retreating to the quiet of his bedchamber, where he could marshal his thoughts in solitude.

‘Yes, Feng,’ Jai said, allowing himself a smile as Feng’s steed, Navi, playfully nudged Chak, eliciting a long-suffering grumble.

‘We have much to discuss,’ his vizier said.

‘Teji is toothless now,’ Jai said, waving away Feng’s concerns. ‘What could possibly be the matter now?’

Feng let out a long breath... then drew another of the same. Finally, ‘Well... everything .’

Jai looked at him, weariness warring with wariness.

‘To start,’ Feng said, ‘rancour brews among the nobles. Sindri demands an audience while Zayn stirs his warriors to abandon our cause. The populace clamours for their share of the spoils. And the traders swindle the Valor, while the Valor are only beginning to sense the deceit...’

He gulped another breath, but Jai raised his hand, forestalling him.

‘Where’s the booze,’ Jai said. ‘The khymis.’

Feng glared at him.

‘You want a drink at a time like this? Did you not see what that stuff did to Teji?’

Jai stared at him, until he answered.

‘Most of it is with the elders, brewing in the plaza.’

‘Seize it,’ Jai commanded. ‘At least for the day. Encourage everyone back to their tents to rest, and enforce a curfew at dusk. If a reason is required, say we’re rooting out spies. We probably should be doing that, anyway – have Harleen arrange a watch.’

Feng’s eyes widened.

‘Lying to your people already, Jai?’

Jai returned the surprise with a wry smile, his eyes reflecting a stark pragmatism. ‘There’s no lie. But call it a half-truth, if it comforts you. Either way, it’s necessary. Leonid always said that liquor was the fertile ground from which mutiny and discord are sown. It emboldens the foolish, fuels the rash andblunts good judgement. Whispers become accusations,and understanding frays at its seams. By dawn, a drunken brawl could turn this camp to chaos. Seize the liquor, Feng. The people might resent me for it, but better that than regret tomorrow.’

Feng nodded. ‘What else?’ he asked.

‘Ask Lai to assemble the traders and work out a fair payment to the Valor. Make it clear to the traders that if they don’t abide by her decision, I’ll let the Valor loose on them – their fear of the Tainted will do the rest.’

Feng chewed on his lip, before giving a curt nod of agreement.

‘Share out half of my remaining gold among the citizenry and ensure they know who it’s coming from.’

‘Half!’ Feng protested in disbelief. ‘Do you intend to be a pauper khan?’

Jai shrugged.

‘What have I need of money for, if not to keep the loyalty of my people, and the strength of my army? I already have the latter. Will gold buy me khiroi? More men? No. So let us tend to the people now. They risked their lives just as we did, didn’t they? They deserve their share.’

Feng looked like he was not ready to drop it, but he bowed in reluctant agreement.

‘What about Sindri and Zayn?’ Feng asked, moving to more pressing matters.

‘Zayn can wait – he can’t leave without my approval. Although it would be difficult to convince him that Teji still poses a threat...’

Jai paused, trying to think. With a sigh, he clucked Chak forward.

‘As for Sindri,’ he said over his shoulder, ‘invite her to my tent. I’ll grant her wish.’