7（2 / 2）

ThesoundofrustlingwingsasXianniang,inherhawkform,flewintotheyurtcausedthementoflinch.Theyduckedasthelargebirdswoopedovertheirheadsandlandedonasizableperch.Settlingin,shelookedoutatthemen,hergazemakingthemallshiftnervouslyontheirfeet.B??riKhansmiledandnoddedtowardXianniang.Thenhecontinued.“Wearestrongertogether,”hesaid.“TheRouranpeople.Fordecades,scatteredlikeleavesonthewind.Now,risingasone.”Hepointedatthepilesofglitteringtreasure.“This,myfriends,isjustasmalasteofwhatistospe.Fromthegarrisonsahead,richeswillflowlikeamightyriver.”Hestopped,lettinghiswordsandthesightofthetreasuresinkin.HewalkedovertoXianniang’sperchandrubbedhisfingersalongthehawk’ssmoothfeathers.Thewholetime,hekepthiseyeslockedontheTegins,readingtheirfaces.

Finally,BatiTeginspoke.Hehadnotoncelookedatthetreasure.Hiseyeshadremainedlockedonthehawk.“Perhaps.Butwearerelyingonawitch.”

Thehawk’sattentionturnedfromB??riKhantoBatiTegin.Hersharpeyesblinked,andthemanshrankbackward.B??riKhannotedtheman’sfearandsmiled.Hekepthisfingersonthehawkashesaid,“Makenomistake:thewitchservesme.Andtherefore,allofus!Sheknowswhohermasteris!”

Withaflutterofwings,Xianniangtransformed.Herfeathersdisappearedandshestoodinfrontoftheminhertrueform.Hercoldeyestookintheleaders,causingthementoshiftnervouslyontheirfeet.AlookofpleasurecrossedherfaceandsheturnedtoB??riKhan.Raisinganeyebrow,shespoke.“Please.Continue,myKhan,”shesaid.“Iamcuriouswhatmoreyouhavetosay.”

B??riKhandidnotlikehertone,buthekepthisfaceneutral.Hewoulddealwithherinsubordinationlater.“Xianniang’soneofus,”hewenton.“WhenwetaketheImperialCity,shewillbejustlyrewarded.Aswillallofyou.”

Thenanewvoicespokeup.“Idonotcareaboutwitches,”DubaTeginsaid.Theleaderoftheserpentclanhadbeensilentuntilnow.Theothersturned,curioustohearwhathewouldsay.“Myproblemlieselsewhere.ItisB??riKhanIdon’ttrust.Heneedsourhelptogainthethrone.Butarewetruepartners?Orisheusingustogetwhathewants?”Hepointedatthepilesoflootondisplayaroundtheroom.“Wegetriches.Gold,jewels.Buthowmuchgoldcananomadcarry?Therealrewardispower.Whenthetimespes,B??riKhanwillnotsharehispower.”

Therewereafewmurmursfromtheotherleaders.Itwasagoodquestion.Packingupandmovingtheiryurtswhentheseasonchanged,ortheherdsofanimalsmovedontonewgrazingpastures,wastheirwayoflife.Theydidnothavepermanenthomes,sotheydidnothaveanypermanentplacetoputsuchmateriahings.Butpower?Thatwassomethingtheycoulduse.

Sensingtheturnintheroom,B??riKhanliftedhischest.“Everyonehastherighttovoicehisconcerns,”hesaid.“Whoelseheredoesnottrustme?”Hepaused,lettinghiswordsechothroughtheyurt.TheTeginsdidnotspeak,buthecouldseethedoubtthatremainedintheireyes.Hecouldnothavethemquestioninghim.“DubaTegin’sright.Richesarenotpower.Whenthekingdomfalls,wewilldividethepoweramongus.”