There was no open courtyard within the great gates, merely a maze of tunnels. They emerged swiftly into a large shrub garden to the east of the gate. A line of stables stretched to the right and Chien-tsu dismounted, allowing his horse to be led away. The party was passed on to a second officer – taller than the first, he wore a silver breastplate and helm. He bowed correctly to Chien and smiled.
‘Welcome, ambassador. The Lord Khan was not expecting you so swiftly.’
‘Is this not the day of the anniversary?’
The man seemed confused. ‘Please follow me,’ he said. Chien and his party moved on into another intricate system of tunnels and corridors that opened on to a wide hallway before huge double doors of oak, mounted with silver.
Four guards stood before the doors. They stepped aside as the officer approached and the doors swung open.
Inside, to Chien’s surprise, the main hall resembled a giant tent with curtains and hangings of the finest silk. At the far end, on a raised dais, the Great Khan lounged on a satin-covered divan. Chien entered and bowed low, holding the pose for the obligatory ten heartbeats.
The Khan waved him forward. ‘Welcome, ambassador, this is an unexpected pleasure.’ The man’s voice was deep and powerful. He rose, and stepped from the dais. ‘We did not expect you until tomorrow.’
Chien lifted his hands and clapped them and the thirty-four bearers moved forward to place the chests in a line before the Khan. The men backed away with heads low, eyes averted. Chien bowed once more. ‘Great Khan, I have come bearing gifts from the Divine Lord of the Golden Realm, to celebrate the first year of your marriage and to enquire, on behalf of His Majesty, whether Mai-syn has continued to bring exquisite joy to your hearth.’
‘Indeed she has,’ answered Jungir. ‘Now to the chests, if you please.’
This was not the response which Chien had been expecting, but he hid his consternation and opened the first of the silver-bound chests. Lifting clear a handsome coat of silver silk, decorated with pearls, he held it before the Khan.
‘Pleasant,’ commented the Khan. ‘Are they all clothes?’
‘No, Great Khan,’ said Chien, forcing a smile. He opened the second chest, which was filled with emeralds, some the size of a man’s fist.
‘What is this worth in your land in, say, horses and men?’ asked the Khan.
‘A man could equip an army of ten thousand lances for a full summer,’ Chien answered.
‘Good. I like them. And the others?’
Some contained gold, others perfumes and spices or articles of clothing. The last chest produced the strongest response from the Nadir warlord. From it Chien lifted a sabre of dazzling brightness. The hilt-guard was of gold inset with gems, and the hilt was bound with gold thread. But the pommel-stone was milky-white and carved into the head of a wolf.
Jungir took the blade and slashed the air. ‘It is perfect,’ he said, his eyes shining. ‘The balance is beyond belief and the edge is remarkable. Truly I am pleased. Relay my thanks to your king; tell him I had not realised his lands delivered such wealth. When will you be starting back – tomorrow?’
‘As you wish, Great Khan.’
‘Tomorrow would be good for you, for the winter will be closing in on the ports and I would not like your journey to be uncomfortable.’
‘It is kind of you to concern yourself over my comforts; but His Majesty has required me to see his daughter, and to carry her a message of his love and devotion.’
‘I will give her that message,’ said Jungir loftily.
‘And I do not doubt, Great Khan, that you would deliver it more skilfully than I. But my king ordered me to see her and, as I am sure you will agree, a subject must always obey the order of his liege lord.’
‘Indeed,’ said Jungir, ‘but I fear that will not be possible. The . . . Queen is at my palace in the south. It is a two-month journey. I am sure your king will understand that you could not fulfil his wishes.’