Conqueror (2011) by Iggulden Conn

Author:Iggulden, Conn [Iggulden, Conn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Conn Iggulden
ISBN: 9780385339513
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chabi was outside her ger as Kublai came riding in. She put down the goatskins she had been cutting and sewing when she saw him. Zhenjin spotted his father at the same moment and darted to the wall of the ger, where he had placed a stool. As Kublai reined in and dismounted, his son climbed onto the felt roof and clung precariously over the door. All around them, women were gathering for news. They would not interrupt the khan’s brother, but Chabi knew they would press in with questions the moment he left.

‘Another army on the way,’ Kublai said. He was panting slightly as she handed him a skin of airag and he took a long pull at it. ‘I need to change clothes and it’s time to break camp.’

‘There’s a threat to us?’ Chabi asked, trying to remain calm. Kublai shook his head.

‘Not so far, but if the tumans have to move fast, I don’t want to leave you vulnerable. I must keep the families in range.’

Chabi looked up as a ger suddenly collapsed nearby, going from a home to spars and felt rolls in an instant. Kublai had not come in alone and she could hear shouts all over the camp as it went from peaceful stillness to rapid dismantling. Everything was designed to be moved quickly and she had servants for the task. She saw two of them coming with reins and harness over their shoulders for the ox-cart.

‘Come down, Zhenjin,’ Kublai called to his son. He knew the boy had been waiting to jump on him as he passed, but there was no time for games. Zhenjin scowled at him, but clambered down.

‘You look worried,’ Chabi said softly.

Kublai shrugged and smiled at her.

‘We have better men, but the numbers, Chabi! If the Sung lords band together, they can put an army in the field that makes mine look like a raiding group.’

‘They don’t have anyone like you,’ she said. He nodded.

‘There is that,’ he replied with a smile. ‘I am an unusual man.’

Chabi could sense his distraction as Kublai’s gaze flickered around the camp, taking in every detail.

‘You don’t have to worry about us,’ she said.

Kublai turned slowly, trying to listen to his wife at the same time as solving some other problem and failing at both.

‘Hmm?’

‘We are not defenceless, Kublai. There are, what, three hundred thousand in the camp? It’s a city, Kublai, and everyone is armed.’ She drew a long blade from her belt. ‘Including me. There must be enough maimed men to make a few tumans more. Many of them can still ride or use a bow.’

Kublai dragged his attention back to his wife. He saw she was trying to ease his mind and stifled his irritable impulse to describe the savage terror of an attack on a camp. It would do no good to make her afraid. Thousands of lives rested on his ability to protect them. Words and promises meant nothing in the face of such a burden. In the end, he just nodded and she seemed relieved.

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