The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Author:Ausma Zehanat Khan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-10-03T04:00:00+00:00

28

The commander of the horsemen came to a halt before the Shin War leaders.

“Kill them,” he said in the Common Tongue.

“Wait!” Arian cried, struggling to her feet. “Call your mother, my lord. Your women are safe, you will find them inside.”

There was no rumble of protest from the horsemen that a woman had addressed their lord. Nor did the commander strike her across the face. Only Turan became alert.

The commander held up a hand to stay his men. Arian’s cloak had fallen from her hair, and he studied her with bold interest.

“By the Blue Stone, you are beautiful. What misfortune brought you to this camp, I wonder.”

Daniyar stirred at the man’s words, but could do little else for the blade pressed to his throat.

“Yeke Khatun,” the commander called out, “I have come.”

Arian had little time to marvel at the resonant tones of the commander’s voice. She had no sooner translated his words as Great Empress, when Storay flew out of the tent. She launched herself at the man, flinging her arms about his neck. His high-planed face broke out in a smile. He lifted her high in his arms.

“Storay, you are not hurt?”

“None of us are. We knew you’d come, as soon as we heard the Plaintive. They were terrified by the sound of your horn.”

Tochtor proceeded from the tent in a more stately fashion than her daughter. When she reached him, her son took both of her hands in his own and kissed the palms. As one, those of his men who were still horsed dismounted. The riders sank to one knee.

“Yeke Khatun,” they echoed. “May she be blessed, may she be honored.”

The golden-haired man raised an eyebrow at Arian.

“You do not kneel in the presence of the Empress?”

Arian bent her head. She was mulling over the fact that Tochtor had shared her name instead of her title.

“I meant no discourtesy, my lord. I kneel only before the One who raised the Eternal Blue Sky.”

The answer seemed to please him.

“Aybek!” One of the riders rose from his kneeling position to grasp Daniyar’s head by the hair. He pressed his blade against the throat of the Silver Mage. “Those who took the Yeke Khatun must be punished.”

The leader of the horsemen nodded. “Those who took any of our women must die.”

Tochtor replied before Arian could.

“You will wait until you are asked to speak, Altan.” She glared at the young rider who had spoken out of turn. Then she turned to her son. “Zerafshan, the Gold-Strewn, Aybek of your people, Lord of the Buzkashi. Do not act with haste, this man is not one of them.” She moved from Daniyar to Sartor. “This man, however, is a pederast. He keeps children as catamites. Nail his body to the mines.”

She spoke in the Common Tongue for Sartor’s benefit, but there was little sign that Sartor was conscious of his plight.

“You have no idea what powerful forces stand behind me, woman—Shin War and Talisman both. If you dare to move against me, all your people will die.

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