IntheRourancamp,warriorsalsoreadiedforbattle.Swordswerebeingsharpenedandbowswerebeingstretched.B??riKhanwasalsopreparing.Hestoodwithhisbarechestglisteningashewashedhimself.Itwasaritual,onethatallowedhimtobracehimselfbothphysicallyandmentallyforthefightahead.
Khanwaspleased.Hisarmyhadgrown,andnowhundredsofyurtsfilledwithhundredsofmendottedtheharshlandscapearoundhim.Ithadtakenhimmoretimethanhehadhoped,butwiththedeathofDubaTeginhehadensuredtheloyayofalhetribes.
NowtheyjustneededtotakeovertheEmpire.
Hearingthefamiliarscreechofahawk,heturnedasthebirdflewintohistent.Ashewatched,thecreaturetransformed.Wingsbecamearms,clawsturnedtofeet,andsoonXianniangstoodinfrontofhim.
“Youhavenewsfromthegarrison?”Khanasked,notstoppinghiswashing.
Thewitchnodded.Shehadbeenonpatrolformostofthenightandlookedbotheredtonothavehissppleteattention.“Newsoldiers,”shereported.“Children.Itwillfall.Beforethenewmoonyouwilakethekingdom.Youwillhaveyourrevenge.Ifourplancontinues.”
Atherwords,B??riKhan’shandstilledandheliftedhisgazetomeethers.Hedidn’tlikethedefiantedgetohertone.“Whatthreatensourplan?”heasked.Ashespoke,hetookamenacingsteptowardthewitch.
“Imustbeabletotrustyou,”Xianniangsaid,hertonecold.ShedidnotshrinkawayfromB??riKhan’shulkingbody,butshedidliftherchesthigher,asthoughtryingtomatchhim.
“Youcan’ttrustme,”hereplied,takingsomesmallsatisfactionfromthesurprisethatflickeredoverthewitch’sface.“Butyouhavenochoice.WhenIfoundyououtonthedesertsteppe,wanderingalone,youwereexiled.Ascorneddog.Yourpowersmeantnothingwithoutme.”Hestopped,hiswordshangingheavyintheair.HestareddownatXianniang,waitingforherresponse.