Maggrig and Finn appeared on his left, white bows in their hands.
Chareos felt a swelling in his throat and tears formed in his eyes. He brushed them away with the sleeve of his shirt.
‘Now you know, Tenaka,’ he said, ‘the meaning of the ghosts-yet-to-be. Bring on your demons. We defy you all!’ Beltzer hefted his axe, Maggrig and Finn drew back on their bows. Asta raised his arm, but Tenaka held to it. The Khan walked forward, his violet eyes sad and thoughtful.
‘I thought you were created for me,’ he said. ‘I knew you had some purpose – it is why I let you live, why I scarred my life of victories with that one defeat.’ He gazed down at the light and sighed. ‘But you are right, Chareos. My day has passed. Let the child see the sky.’
He turned away and walked back to the demon horde. A path opened before him and he vanished from sight.
Asta walked towards Chareos, but the Blademaster blocked his way to the light.
The shaman looked old now, wretched and desolate as he looked up at Chareos, blinking and confused.
‘You must let me have the babe,’ he said.
‘No.’
‘I do not mean to kill it. I cannot now – not without Tenaka’s blessing. But the Nadir must have a Khan. You see that, do you not? He is of the blood of kings. Let me have him.’
‘What do you offer, Asta Khan?’
‘I have an antidote to the poison. You will live.’
‘You misunderstand me. What do you offer the child?’
‘My life. I will defend him all the days of my life. I will teach him to be the Khan.’
‘Then you may have him.’
Asta’s surprise was genuine. ‘Let me see his spirit.’
‘No. Return to Bel-azar and give me your antidote. You will see the babe when he is born.’
‘Can I trust you, Chareos?’
‘I am afraid that you can,’ said the Blademaster.
Asta turned and vanished and the mist formed about the demons once more. The wind howled, the mist swirling away into the grey sky.
And the heroes of Bel-azar were alone on the hill-top. The light from the twin spirits grew, touching the dead tree. Leaves sprang from the branches, blossoms of pink and white flowered into life and fragile petals fell like snowflakes around the souls.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
For sixteen hours Chareos lay close to death, scarcely breathing. Asta Khan stayed by his side, pouring a foul-smelling potion between his lips and rubbing his limbs, forcing the blood to circulate. Chien-tsu offered his help, but Asta waved him away.
‘Is he doing any good?’ Kiall asked the Kiatze warrior.
‘I have never seen anyone work harder. I could almost believe he actually cares whether Chareos lives or dies. Almost.’
Kiall returned to the guardhouse where Ravenna had given birth to twin boys, healthy and strong. Tanaki was still at the bedside, but both women were asleep. Kiall was about to leave her there when Tanaki opened her eyes; she smiled wearily and stood, moving in to his embrace.
‘What now?’ she asked, looking up at him.
‘Now we wait for the Lord Regent’s answer.’
One of the babes began to cry and Tanaki went to where he lay with his brother in a makeshift crib, lifting him clear. She carried him to Ravenna, pulled back the blanket and held him to Ravenna’s breast. The mother did not stir from her sleep.
Tanaki rubbed the babe’s back and returned him to the crib. The other babe awoke but did not cry. Tanaki lifted him also and carried him to Ravenna. He too drank lustily.
‘It is a pity Ravenna was not the woman of Chareos,’ said Tanaki.
‘Why?’
‘He could have challenged Jungir Khan to single combat for her. It is the Nadir custom and the Khan could not have refused. That way, we could have avoided a war.’
‘I could challenge him,’ said Kiall.
Fear flashed into Tanaki’s eyes. ‘You will do no such thing! I have seen you in action and you are not one half as skilful as Jungir. He would cut you into pieces.’
‘I could strike a lucky blow,’ he argued.