The horsemen dragged on their reins. ‘You are in the land of the Wolfshead,’ said the lead warrior, sliding from the saddle. He wore a helm of bronze, rimmed with fur, and a lacquered black breastplate edged with gold.
Tenaka Khan looked up at him. The man was close to fifty years old and his massive arms were criss-crossed with scars. Tenaka gestured to a place by the fire.
‘Welcome to my camp,’ he said softly. ‘Sit and eat.’
‘I do not eat with Notas,’ said the man. ‘You are on Wolfshead land.’
‘Sit down and eat,’ said Tenaka, ‘or I shall kill you where you stand.’
‘Are you a madman?’ asked the warrior, taking a firmer grip on the sword in his hand. Tenaka Khan ignored him and, furious, the man swung the sword. But Tenaka’s leg shot out, hooking his feet from under him, and he fell with a crash as Tenaka rolled to his right with his knife flashing in his hand. The point rested gently on the warrior’s throat.
An angry roar went up from the riders.
‘Be silent among your betters!’ bellowed Tenaka. ‘Now, Ingis, will you sit and eat?’
Ingis blinked as the knife was withdrawn. He sat up and recovered his sword.
‘Bladedancer?’
‘Tell your men to dismount and relax,’ said Tenaka. ‘There will be no bloodshed tonight.’
‘Why are you here, man? It is insane.’
‘Where else should I be?’
Ingis shook his head and ordered his men to dismount, then turned back to Tenaka.
‘Saddleskull will be confused. He will not know whether to kill you or make you a general.’
‘Saddleskull was always confused,’ said Tenaka. ‘It surprises me that you follow him.’
Ingis shrugged. ‘He is a warrior, at least. Then you have not come back to follow him?’
‘No.’
‘I will have to kill you, Bladedancer. You are too powerful a man to have for an enemy.’
‘I have not come to serve Knifespeaks.’
‘Then why?’
‘You tell me, Ingis.’
The warrior looked into Tenaka’s eyes. ‘Now I know you are insane. How can you hope to rule? Saddleskull has eighty thousand warriors. Knifespeaks is weak, with only six thousand. How many do you have?’
‘All that you see.’
‘How many is that? Fifty? Sixty?’
‘Forty.’
‘And you think to take the tribe?’
‘Do I look insane? You knew me, Ingis; you watched me grow. Did I seem insane then?’
‘No. You could have been . . .’ Ingis cursed and spat into the fire. ‘But you went away. Became a Lord of the Drenai.’
‘Have the shamen met yet?’ asked Tenaka.
‘No. Asta Khan has called a council for tomorrow at dusk.’
‘Where?’
‘At the tomb of Ulric.’
‘I shall be there.’
Ingis leaned in closer. ‘You don’t seem to understand,’ he whispered. ‘It is my duty to kill you.’
‘Why?’ asked Tenaka calmly.
‘Why? Because I serve Saddleskull. Even sitting here talking to you is an act of betrayal.’
‘As you pointed out, Ingis, my force is very small. You betray no one. But think on this: you are pledged to follow the Khan of Wolves, yet he is not chosen until tomorrow.’
‘I will not play with words, Tenaka. I pledged my support to Saddleskull against Knifespeaks. I will not go back on it.’
‘Nor should you,’ said Tenaka. ‘You would be less a man. But I also am against Knifespeaks, which makes us allies.’
‘No, no, no! You are against them both, which makes us enemies.’
‘I am a man with a dream, Ingis – the dream of Ulric. These men with me were once Doublehair. Now they are mine. The burly one by the far tent is a Spear. Now he is mine. These forty represent three tribes. United, the world is ours. I am an enemy to no one. Not yet.’
‘You always had a good brain and a fine sword-arm. Had I known you were coming, I might have waited before pledging my force.’
‘You will see tomorrow. For tonight – eat and rest.’
‘I cannot eat with you,’ said Ingis, rising. ‘But I will not kill you. Not tonight.’ He strode to his pony and climbed into the saddle. His men ran to their mounts and with a wave Ingis led them out into the darkness.