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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.