QUEST FOR LOST HEROES by David A. Gemmell

‘It would have been pleasant to swallow your inno­cence.’ She smiled, and her expression softened. ‘No, it would not,’ she realised with sadness.

‘Princess! Princess!’ yelled Chellin, running the length of the hall. ‘Nadir warriors!’

She stepped out to meet him. ‘What of it?’ she enquired. There are always Nadir warriors near here.’

‘Not the Royal Wolves, Princess,’ said Chellin. ‘And Tsudai is leading them.’

Tanaki felt her mouth go dry. ‘Is the gate shut?’

‘It is, lady. But there are three hundred of them, and we have less than fifty. And most of those will run, given the chance.’

Tanaki moved to a chest of dark oak and lifted the heavy lid. She took out a wide belt, from which hung two short swords. ‘We cannot fight them, lady. Why are they here?’

She shrugged and did not reply. So, she thought, the day has come. No more to see the blue of the sky, the eagle riding the wind currents over the mountains. No more men to possess her, and in possessing her to give away their souls. Anger flared. Ignoring Chellin she walked from the hall and on to the wall, climbing to the ramparts to watch the approach of the Khan’s Wolves. As Chellin had said, there were more than three hundred warriors, their pointed silver helms ringed with wolfskin, their silver breastplates edged with gold. They rode seem­ingly without formation and yet, at a single order, they could wheel and charge in a flying wedge or break into three units. Their discipline was incredible. Tenaka Khan had formed the royal guard a quarter of a century before, and trained them to a degree never before experienced among the Nadir. Among the tribesmen it was still regarded as a badge of honour to be accepted into the Wolves. For every hundred applicants, only one was given the helm and the Wolfhead embossed breastplate.

And there at the centre rode Tsudai, a fighting man without equal, a general without peer.

Men gathered around Tanaki. ‘What shall we do?’ asked one.

‘Why are they here?’ asked another.

They are here to kill me,’ said Tanaki, surprised that her voice remained calm.

‘Will they want to kill the rest of us?’ asked a burly warrior.

‘Shut your damned mouth!’ roared Chellin.

Tanaki raised her hands for silence. ‘Get your horses and leave by the iron gate. Do it swiftly! They will kill all they find here.’ Some of the men ran from the ramparts but Chellin stood firm.

‘I’ll not let them take you while I live.’

She smiled and placed her hands on the old warrior’s bearded cheeks. ‘And you cannot stop them. But it would please me to see you survive, Chellin. Now go!’

For a moment only he stood, then he cursed and ran for his horse.

The Nadir were closer now and the face of their general could be clearly seen by Tanaki. Tsudai was smiling. He raised his hands and riders swept out on either side of him in a skirmish line.

‘What do you want here?’ Tanaki shouted.

‘We want you, whore!’ called back Tsudai. ‘You are to be brought to Ulrickham for trial.’

Tanaki’s anger rose, but she fought for calm. ‘By what right do you call a daughter of the Great Khan a whore, you who were suckled by a scabrous goat?’

Tsudai chuckled. ‘I have here three hundred warriors, Princess. Each one of them will use your body between here and Ulrickham. Now the journey will be sixty days. Even my simple mind tells me that five men a day will get to enjoy the pleasures you bestow so freely on the foreigners and scum you surround yourself with. Think of it, Princess, three hundred men!’

‘Why warn me, you foul-mouthed whoreson?’

‘It could be that you will not wish to suffer such humili­ation. Surely someone of the blood of the Great Khan would sooner take her own life?’

Through her fear Tanaki forced a laugh. ‘My esteemed brother would like that, would he not? No, Tsudai. Come and take me. I’ll survive. And when the generals hear of my treatment at your hands, I will live to see the skin flayed from your foul body.’