And then the wall collapsed, men running in all directions as the Nadir swept over them. Darik fell in the doorway of the emperor’s tent with a lance through his chest.
Tenaka Khan leapt from the saddle and entered the tent with sword in hand.
Ceska was sitting on his silk-covered bed.
‘I always liked you, Tenaka,’ he said.
The Khan advanced, his violet eyes gleaming.
‘You were to be the Earl of Bronze. You know that? I could have had you hunted down and killed in Ventria, but I did not.’ Ceska wriggled his fat frame back on the bed and knelt before Tenaka, wringing his hands. ‘Don’t kill me! Let me go away – I will never trouble you.’
The sword lanced out, sliding between Ceska’s ribs.
The emperor fell back.
‘See?’ he said. ‘You cannot kill me. The power of the Chaos Spirit is in me and I cannot die.’ He began to laugh, high-pitched and shrill. ‘I cannot die – I am immortal -1 am a god.’ He staggered to his feet. ‘You see?’ He blinked once, then sank to his knees.
‘No!’ he screamed and fell forward on his face. With one blow Tenaka severed the head. Gripping it by the hair, he walked out into the open and mounted his horse. Kicking the steed into a gallop, he rode to the wall where the Legion waited. On the plain every Legion soldier had been slain and the Nadir massed behind the Khan waiting for the order to attack.
Tenaka lifted the bloody head.
‘This is your emperor! Lay down your arms and not one man will be slain.’
A burly officer leaned on the wall. ‘Why should we trust your word, Nadir?’
‘Because it is the word of Tenaka Khan. If there are any Joinings alive beyond that wall, kill them. Do it now if you want to live.’
Within the hospital building Rayvan, Lake and Valtaya struggled to break the lance pinning Ananais to the dead Joining. Thorn limped into the room, bleeding from a wound in the side.
‘Get out of the way,’ he said, taking up a fallen axe. With one blow he smashed the shaft. ‘Now pull him off it.’ With great care they eased Ananais from the spear and carried him to a bed where Valtaya plugged the wounds in his chest and back.
‘Live, Ananais,’ said Rayvan. ‘Please live\’
Lake exchanged glances with Thorn.
Valtaya sat down beside Ananais and held his hand. The warrior’s eyes opened and he whispered something, but no one could make out the words. Tears formed in Ananais’ eyes, and he seemed to be staring beyond them. He made an effort to sit, but sagged back. Rayvan turned.
Tenaka Khan stood in the doorway. He came to the bed and leaned over the warrior, placing the mask carefully over his face. Rayvan moved aside as Ananais tried to speak and Tenaka leaned in close.
‘Knew . . . you . . . would . . . come.’
‘Yes, my brother. I came.’
‘All . . . finished . . . now.’
‘Ceska is dead. The land is free. You won, Ani! You held. As I knew you would hold. In the spring I will take you to visit the Steppes. I will show you some sights: Ulric’s tomb, the Valley of Angels. Anything you would like.’
‘No. No … lies.’
‘No,’ said Tenaka helplessly. ‘No lies. Why, Ani? Why do you have to die on me?’
‘Better . . . dead. No bitterness. No anger. Not much … of a hero now.’
Tenaka’s throat seemed to swell and tears fell freely, splashing on the ruined leather mask. Ananais closed his eyes.
‘Ani!’
Valtaya lifted his arm, feeling for a pulse. She shook her head. Tenaka stood, his face a mask of fury.
‘You!’ he stormed, pointing at Rayvan, his arm sweeping to take in the others. ‘You miserable scum! He was worth a thousand of you.’
‘Maybe he was, general,’ agreed Rayvan. ‘And where does that leave you?’
‘In control,’ he said, striding from the room.
Outside Gitasi, Subodai and Ingis waited with more than a thousand Nadir warriors. The Legion had been disarmed.