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‘T wenty thousand warriors,’ Erica said. ‘Twelve dragons. That is what holds off ten legions and the Gryphon Guard.’

Jai caught the gazes of the other khans, looking at him with new eyes.

‘So they outnumber you,’ Teji blurted, but his bulging eyes told Jai he had been caught unawares.

‘A Dansk warrior is worth two legionaries,’ she asserted, giving him a withering look. ‘I dare say a Sithian knight is worth as many too.’

‘Hear, hear,’ another khan said, a woman with white hair who thumped the table.

‘And you hold your own?’ Tenzin asked Erica.

‘We’ve been fighting the Sabines since my father’s birth,’ she said. ‘They invade our land, and expect to best us. It is a bitter fight. My people suffer. But we have the measure of them, yes.’

‘The numbers do not work,’ the buck-toothed khan, a man named Hari, said. ‘Let us imagine, for a moment, that the Dansk lose. Call it a tragic defeat.’

He held up his hands as Erica started, asking for the opportunity to finish his thought.

‘Fifty thousand legionaries march into our lands. As much as I love my people, I do not think those odds can be beaten. Leonid marched on us with only fifteen thousand. Think on that.’

Jai clenched his fists beneath the table, trying to slow his racing heart. This wasn’t going as he’d hoped. He had not expected Teji to come. Indeed, he had told the Caelite to leave the man off the invitation, but it seemed the wily old politician had caught wind.

You either battle on the terrain you find yourself, or you retreat.

Retreating wasn’t an option.

‘That will not happen if we fight now,’ Jai said. ‘Imagine the blow to Sabine morale when we ride on that legion and carve a path into the heart of their eastern territories. Titus has left himself completely exposed.’

‘And what if their Gryphon Guard abandon the Dansk front, and come to ravage our peoples in return?’ Teji snapped. ‘The Cimmer tribe was just a taste of what is to come if we do not make peace.’

Jai turned to Eko, who bowed his head low.

‘The Caelite will defend the Great Steppe,’ Jai said.

‘We will not,’ Eko replied in a low voice. ‘Not unless all the Sithia join this battle.’

‘I concur,’ Tenzin said. ‘It must be all of us, or none of us.’

‘What is our alternative?’ Jai said, trying his best not to let his temper colour his words.

‘Make peace,’ Teji said. ‘And give them what they want.’

‘What do they want?’ Jai asked, genuinely puzzled.

Teji pointed at Jai.

‘ You .’ Teji pointed around the table. ‘He killed Leonid. He plotted with the Dansk to assassinate Constantine. Isn’t it obvious?’

Jai stood, stabbing a finger in his uncle’s direction. ‘That is a lie!’

Teji threw up his hands, smirking from ear to ear. ‘I am only saying what everyone else is thinking.’

And the truth was, there was little Jai could do to refute him. It was word against word, and even though Jai had the respect of some of the khans, he was still an unknown. And the rumor Teji bandied about had been among the Sithia far longer than Jai had been khan.

‘It is obvious Teji’s mind is made up,’ Hari said. ‘And if it is, then this has been a waste of time. Either we all do this, or none of us do.’

‘What, then, do you suggest?’ Tenzin asked.

Hari shrugged. ‘Titus has won his victory. We send Teji to seek terms, and the imperial pup can say we are beaten. Let him crow.’

‘You don’t know him,’ Jai said. ‘He killed his own father for glory. His grandfather too. You think he’ll stop now he’s won a single victory?’

‘So you say,’ Hari snapped back.

‘We give him to the Sabines,’ Teji repeated.

‘Just try it,’ Jai hissed, his hand straying to the empty scabbard at his side, once again cursing this costume he had been forced to wear, rather than his battle dress. Khans stood, shouting across the tables.

‘No tricks this time,’ Teji snarled. ‘We’re ready for you.’

Tenzin called for silence, his deep voice booming, beard bristling as he slammed his meaty fists against the table, knocking the figurines askew.

As quiet returned, Tenzin turned to Hari, speaking with measured voice.

‘If Teji’s men joined the war, would you follow?’

Hari vacillated, looking to Teji for guidance and finding none.

‘We all know the Tainted mercenaries he has hired to bolster his ranks.’ Jai’s head jerked at this; it was news he hadn’t heard. Hari continued, ‘We will need his men. So... yes.’

‘It is clear we have two paths,’ Tenzin said. ‘One where we sue for peace, another where we go to war.’

Nobody disagreed, and he nodded slowly.

‘Good. Then let the Mother decide.’

Jai stared, confused. Tenzin caught his gaze, even as Teji seemed to understand, his face paling.

‘A duel,’ Tenzin said. ‘The old way. We need a strong, united Kidara tribe more than ever. No big battles between each other. The winner takes the other’s tribe. The loser banished, if they survive. Then we will know who to follow.’

‘No,’ Erica said. ‘That’s madness.’

‘I’m sorry, Queen,’ Tenzin said. ‘We welcome you, but this is the High Council of the Great Steppe. Let us sort our own affairs.’

‘Agreed,’ Teji snapped. ‘But she speaks sense. The boy is soulbound. Even a warrior of my standing could not hope to defeat him.’

Tenzin laughed aloud, and the potbellied khan crossed his arms.

‘Yes, Teji, we are all aware,’ Tenzin said. ‘It will be a fight the old way, in the sight of the Mother. No mana. No totems. And you can choose a champion.’

Teji stared at Jai, and Jai smiled at him. But then Nazeem leaned in close, whispering in Teji’s ear. He was shaking his head.

‘I’ll fight,’ Jai said. ‘I’ll do it.’

Nazeem paused. Smiled. He whispered again.

‘I’ll agree it,’ Teji said suddenly. ‘But only if the boy fights it himself.’

‘Aye,’ Hari growled.

Jai knew he would face Priya. The woman who had bested him once before. But he had been a different man then. The training with the Caelite had taught him much.

‘Jai, don’t do this,’ Erica begged.

‘She’s right, Jai,’ Feng whispered. ‘There are better ways.’

Jai tried to think, closing his eyes. He could get everything he ever wanted. The Kidara tribe, reunited. The Sithia all under one banner. And he, to be High Khan, just like his father.

‘If I do this,’ he said, looking to Eko. ‘Will you join us? Or will you give Magnus free rein over the Great Steppe, to slaughter where he wills?’

‘As I said, we will not accompany your armies to battle. But, yes, we will defend the innocents you leave behind. Keep your peoples east, and close to our mountains, and we will protect them from the Gryphon Guard.’

Jai’s heart soared. One more chance. One last roll of the dice.

‘So be it,’ Jai said. ‘I accept.’