‘Look in my eyes, man, and believe me. I shall not harm your family. Your master is dead and you have failed. It is punishment enough. All I want to know is: why?’
‘I am pledged to obey,’ said the man.
‘You were pledged to me.’
‘Not so. Only my warlord – he was pledged to you, but I broke no oath. How did he die?’
Tenaka shrugged. ‘Would you like to see the body?’
‘I would like to die beside it,’ said the man. ‘I will follow him even in death, for he was good to me.’
‘Very well.’ Tenaka cut the man loose. ‘Do you need to be carried?’
‘I can walk, damn you!’ spat the man. Followed by Tenaka, Ingis and the forty warriors, he led them through the camp until he reached the tent of Murapi where two guards stood at the entrance.
‘I have come to see the body,’ said the man. The guards gazed at him nonplussed and realisation hit him like a blow.
He spun to face Tenaka. ‘What have you done to me?’ he shouted.
The tent-flap opened and Murapi stood forth. He was past middle age and stockily built. He smiled thinly.
‘Of all men,’ he said calmly, ‘I did not think you could break this one. Life is full of such surprises!’
The man fell to his knees. ‘I was tricked, Lord,’ he sobbed.
‘It doesn’t matter, Nagati. We will speak of it on the journey.’
Tenaka stepped forward. ‘You broke a life-oath, Murapi. Why?’
‘It was a gamble, Tenaka,’ replied the man evenly. ‘If you are right the gates of Dros Delnoch will be open to us, and the entire Drenai empire with it. But you merely wish to rescue your Drenai friends. It was just a gamble.’
‘You know the price of failure?’
‘Indeed I do. Will I be allowed to kill myself?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then you will not harm my family?’
‘No.’
‘You are generous.’
‘Had you stayed with me, you would have found out how generous.’
‘Is it too late?’
‘Indeed it is. You have one hour.’
As Tenaka turned to walk back to his tent, Ingis fell into step beside him. ‘You are a subtle man, Tenaka Khan.’
‘Did you think otherwise, Ingis?’
‘Not at all, my lord. May I give my son, Sember, command of Murapi’s wolves?’
‘No, I will command them.’
‘Very well, my lord.’
‘Tomorrow they will guard my tent.’
‘You like living dangerously?’
‘Goodnight, Ingis.’
Tenaka stepped inside the tent and made his way to Subodai’s bed. The warrior was sleeping soundly and his colour was good. Then he moved on into the rear section of the tent where Renya lay. He touched her brow and she woke, her eyes returned to normal.
‘Did you find me?’ she whispered.
‘I found you.’
‘Then you know?’
‘I know.’
‘Mostly I control it. But tonight there were so many of them and I thought you would die. I lost control.’
‘You saved me.’
‘How is Subodai? Did he live?’
‘Yes.’
‘He adores you.’
‘Yes.’
‘So . . . tired,’ she said. Her eyes closed and, leaning forward, he kissed her lips.
Her eyes opened. ‘You are trying to save Ananais, aren’t you?’ Her lids drooped once more. He lifted the blanket around her and returned to the centre of the tent.
There he sat down and poured himself a goblet of Nyis, sipping it slowly.
Was he trying to save Ananais?
Truly?
Or was he glad that the decision had been taken from him?
If Ananais were to die, what would stop him from continuing his war deep into the Drenai lands?
True he was not hurrying, but then what was the point? Decado had told him they could not hold. What purpose would it serve, driving his men day and night to arrive exhausted at the battlefield?
What purpose?
He pictured Ananais standing defiantly before Ceska’s hordes, sword in hand, blue eyes blazing.
He cursed softly.
And sent for Ingis.
24
The Legion swept forward and Lake’s giant bows let fly with the last of the lead shot. Scores of men went down, mostly with leg injuries, for the infantry were more wary now and advanced with their shields held high. Archers sent a black cloud of arrows into their advancing ranks, then the ladders crashed against the walls.