'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.
'Luck does not enter into a contest of that nature. Put the idea from your mind.'
He paused in the doorway. 'I do love you,' he said. 'You know that?'
'Yes. I know.'
He left her then and walked to the ramparts where Salida was standing with Harokas and Chien-tsu. Glancing back at the unconscious Chareos, he saw the shaman was still beside him.
'I think his heart gave out,' said Harokas.
'He is not a young man,' Salida said, 'but I hope he pulls through.'
The Nadir began to stir, rising from their camp-fires and saddling their horses. Salida glanced at the sky. It was almost time.
A rider came galloping through the western gate, leaping from the saddle of his lathered mount. He ran to Salida, handing him a scroll of parchment sealed with green wax and stamped with the Lord Regent's seal. Salida walked away from the others, removed his battle gauntlets and opened the scroll. He sniffed loudly and read the document slowly; then he rolled it once more and tucked it into his belt.
Pulling on his gauntlets, he returned to the others.
The Nadir began to ride forward with Jungir Khan at their head. They halted below the battlements and Jungir looked up.
'You have your answer, Captain Salida?'
'I do, Highness. I am instructed to hold this fortress in the name of the Gothir people, and to deny access to any foreign power.'
'Then it is war,' said Jungir, drawing his sword.
'Wait!' shouted Kiall. 'May I speak, Highness?'
'Who are you, boy?' called Jungir.
'I am Kiall. Ravenna was my woman, stolen from my village. We were betrothed. Now I demand the right of combat to decide what happens to her.'
Jungir leaned back in the saddle, his dark eyes fixed on Kiall. 'You wish to challenge me directly?'
'It is my right, and the Nadir custom so to do.'
Jungir glanced to his left, watching the men around him. Each of them knew the custom and he felt, with certainty, that the boy's daring appealed to them.
'And when you lose?' called Jungir Khan. 'What then? I get my woman back — and what else?'
'I can speak only for Ravenna, sire.'
'Very well. Come down — and we will fight, man to man. And I promise not to kill you slowly, for you have followed your woman as a man should.' A grunt of approval came from the Nadir warriors around him.
Inside the fortress Asta Khan heard the exchange. As Kiall descended the rampart steps Asta ran to him, grabbing his arm.
'What do you want?' asked Kiall, trying to pull away.
'Listen to me, fool, there is no need to die! I will help you in this battle, if you trust me.'
'I want no trickery, or magic,' said Kiall.
'No tricks,' Asta assured him. 'Just say these words after me. Will you do that?'
Kiall shrugged. 'What are they?'
'Merely a good luck charm which will open you to a friend. Trust me, Kiall. Can you not see I am with you? I am fighting to save the life of Chareos. Does that mean nothing? I am your friend.'
'Speak the words,' said the former villager.
Asta Khan closed his eyes, and began to chant:
Nadir we
Youth born,
Blood letters,
Axe wielders
Victors still.
Kiall spoke the words. 'What do they mean?'
'Life,' whispered a cool voice inside his mind and Kiall reeled back. 'Do not be afraid,' said the voice of Tenaka Khan. 'I am the warrior who aided you against the demons and I will aid you now. I want you to relax, to allow me to live — for but a brief moment. It is all I ask, in return for the aid I gave you.'
Kiall could feel the rising tension in him, like a pressure building. 'Give way, Kiall. And let me save your friends.'
'It is my fight,' he argued weakly.
'Jungir Khan poisoned me,' said Tenaka. 'He poisoned his own father. You must allow me my hour of revenge.'
'I… I don't know.'
'Trust me. Relax,' said Tenaka and Kiall felt himself give, felt the power of Tenaka Khan flow through his veins. Their memories merged, and Kiall felt the thrill of countless battles — saw the fall of the mighty Dros Delnoch, experienced the great love the Khan had known for Kenya, the Joining Child. But more than this, he felt the confidence of the warrior born. He tried to will himself forward, but found to his terror that he could no longer control his limbs. His arms stretched out, his lungs filled with air.
'Oh,' came his voice, 'oh, it is good to breathe again!'
Tenaka Khan moved to the postern gate. At that moment Tanaki ran from the guardhouse. 'Kiall!' she screamed, 'oh, please don't do this.'
She flung herself into his arms and Tenaka kissed the top of her head.
'I will come back,' he said softly. 'He cannot beat me.'
'But he can. He is the greatest swordsman since my father. There is not a man alive — save perhaps Chareos — who could best him.'
'Did you love your father?' he asked.