Ruler of the Sky: A Novel of Genghis Khan by Sargent Pamela

Author:Sargent, Pamela [Sargent, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2014-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

71

Yisugen awoke to find her sister sitting up in her bed. Yisui's black braids were in a tangle, her face flushed with happiness.

Yisugen went to her and sat down. “Your braids need replaiting,” she muttered as she combed out Yisui's long hair with her fingers; the servants had gone outside to prepare the feast. Their father was not in the great tent; Yeke Cheren had drunk heavily last night, and Yisugen had seen men carrying him to a minor wife's tent. The camp had been feasting for three days to celebrate the marriage of their chief's daughter, but Yisugen could not share their joy. She would lose her sister today.

She finished plaiting Yisui's hair, coiled the two braids behind her ears, secured them with pieces of felt, then grasped the other girl by the shoulders. In her sister's face, she saw her own long black eyes, sharp cheekbones, small flat nose, and curving mouth. Everyone said they might have been twins, although Yisui was one year older than she. The two sisters had never spent a day away from each other. Now Yisui would be taken from her.

“I don't want you to go,” Yisugen burst out.

“Stop it, Yisugen,” their mother said from the back of the tent. “Better to have Yisui wed now, so your father won't be distracted later when the chiefs hold their war kuriltai.”

How carefree Yisugen had been a month ago, when the snow began to melt; she and Yisui had ridden out with their friends to hunt returning birds along the Khalkha River. They had returned to find Tabudai a guest in their father's tent, and the young man had admitted that he had ridden to their Tatar camp to look for a wife. Warm glances had passed between him and Yisui whenever they were near each other; he had asked for her three days later.

“If Tabudai has so many herds,” Yisugen said, “surely he can support two wives. Father should have said he'd have to take us both.”

“What nonsense,” her mother said. “He might have had second thoughts about Yisui if we'd demanded another bride-price for you. You're fifteen—a man's certain to come courting you soon.” The older woman strode towards the doorway. “I'm going outside to make water, and when I come back, I want to see a smile on your face.”

“You might have said something,” Yisugen murmured when their mother was gone.

Yisui's arms slipped around her. “I'm sorry.”

“You're not. You want to marry him.”

“He might have asked for me instead of you only because I'm older. He thinks you're beautiful, too—he told me so.” Yisui patted her face. “I'm lucky to have him. He'll be a chief someday, and—”

“—there's light in his eyes and fire in his face,” Yisugen finished; she had heard her sister sing his praises too many times. “I hate him.”

“Stop.” Yisui caught her hands. “Didn't we promise each other we'd always live in the same camp?”

“You forgot that as soon as you saw Tabudai.”

“I didn't,” Yisui said softly. “I mean to make sure he's happy with me.

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