[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
he d made no move, because fighting was forbidden at the council grove. Now he
began to challenge Achikh to go elsewhere and fight him, but a heavy hand
gripped his arm from behind and spun him around.
Boy! Shut your mouth! Go to the ger; I will speak to you later!
Barak froze. Yes, father, he said, though to have his challenge cut short
had almost broken his heart, after the provocation Achikh had given him. He
hurried away, in his upset stumbling once over his own feet.
Jaghatai stared hard at Achikh, then gestured at Nils, Baver, and Hans. A
great council will be held here. On whose authority do you bring these
foreigners? Even the emperor s ambassador is not allowed.
Page 73
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Achikh met the man s hard glare coldly, and answered, still in formal mode.
Kaidu the chief invited them. Out of respect my brother the chief invited
them. They are free men, not the creatures of some emperor. They were not sent
by some foreign ruler to do his bidding. The big one is Nils of the Iron Hand,
a great wizard and great warrior. You see his scars, or some of them. My
bother the chief invited him, and with him his friends. With his own sword,
Nils of the Iron Hand killed the emperor of the west in single combat. Cut off
his head with a single stroke, though the emperor was a giant, far larger and
stronger even than he. This fight was witnessed by many on both sides.
But before that, as a naked captive, he was cast into an arena, a broad pit,
to fight a lion, a large fierce beast. Naked and given only a borrowed sword
with a weak blade, he fought the lion, which is a tiger without stripes. He
fought and killed the lion, breaking his sword in its skull. This was before a
great crowd, of which I was one.
Then the emperor sent down his champion to kill Nils of the Iron Hand, sent
his champion in armor to butcher him. Still naked, and with another borrowed
sword, Nils of the Iron Hand killed the emperor s champion. Again before a
great crowd. I saw this too.
Also, in private, he has proven his wizard skills to my brother, the chief.
He has shown his wizardry to my brother the chief, and it was greater than any
wizardry seen by him before. Thus my brother the chief invited Nils of the
Iron Hand, and his close companions, to the council, as his guests.
Jaghatai s mouth had clamped shut early in this recitation, but when Achikh
was done, he looked at the three and spoke.
Be welcome then, he gritted, and turning, stalked away.
Along with Achikh, the three sat not in the front and center -- which would be
arrogant and offensive of foreigners -- but not far from the front, either,
nor too far to the side. Wherever they d walked, eyes had been drawn to Nils
because of his size and obvious strength.
He wore his leather shirt now, but it had no sleeves.
The listening area filled quickly, and as it did, the council came and took
their seats on cushions brought by slaves.
Finally Kaidu Long Nose stood up -- he was the council s leader -- and called
for silence. When he had it, he spoke again in a strong voice. His mode of
speech was formal but not repetitive; the council had much to discuss and
hopefully settle in the three days left to them.
Yesterday, Kaidu said, we listened to complaints between tribes, and
settled them justly. Today we shall speak of others matters, matters of
broader scope. He paused, looking the crowd over.
Including a matter of which we have not spoken before.
That got their attention; they expected him to bring up an invasion of the
Yakut-Russ.
A year ago we also held a great congress here. At that time I proposed that
we unite to seize the forest region below
Baikal. Since then I have come to see matters differently. He gestured toward
the front row of listeners, where for the first time Fong Jung Hing sat among
bodyguards and keepers. The emperor s ambassador has been here for almost a
year -- since a single moon after our last congress. He has made an offer
which we all need to consider. Also I have had four ambassadors in China,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]