Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  The Great Khan

  “Gladly,” Jack nodded with relief, releasing his hold on Sunheart as he returned Yhswyndyr to it sheath. “I would offer the Great Khan wine and the shade of my tent, but we are a little busy at the moment.”

  “If it pleases you,” Hamman offered. “Send word to stand aside and we will finish this day. Though it may not be as…challenging as riding against your fiery queen’s White Horse, we Kadinar have recently discovered fighting grim’Hiru can be almost as satisfying. Almost.”

  “A tempting offer,” Anna replied, more cordially this time, but without sheathing Siege-breaker. “But withdrawing from the fight to let you finish it would present some difficulty, and too many opportunities for…misunderstandings.”

  “As you wish,” Hamman nodded. “We will let the Dragonslayer have them. Kadin will remain as we are and make camp. I will send word to the Great Khan you have accepted his offer and to await your terms.”

  “You will not take offense Hamman Khan, if Doridan remains in our present formation while the battle remains?” Anna inquired.

  “I like her, Jack Braedan,” Hamman laughed. “No Queen Annawyn Dora’dai. We will take no offense. As a sign of the Great Khan’s good will.” He motioned back to the company behind him and two riders came forward. One removed his veil to reveal a smiling Maadim Khalmyia.

  “Captain,” Braedan smiled, offering him his hand. “I am so glad to see you with your head still attached.”

  “Kadin is…not the same as when I left,” the captain smiled, as he shook it. “Your signet ring helped of course.”

  The other rider was slighter of build and not nearly as tall, a youth still, but he carried himself like a warrior. The young Kadinar removed his veil as well.

  “Manar?” Jack smiled.

  “Honor on the House of Bra’Adan,” the young man smiled. It had only been months since Jack rescued him from the hungry Ghomari, but the young prince seemed to have grown half a foot. And someone had been teaching him the common tongue of the west.

  “I see you still carry my bow,” Jack grinned.

  “He can use it as well,” Maadim smiled. “He is a better shot than me.”

  “Prince Manar ad’Jhen will remain with you as a…surety of the Great Khan’s offer of peace,” Hamman Khan announced. “In return…”

  “I will be the High King’s surety,” Ergann Drunhad volunteered, handing his staff over to Lord Laek. “If that will be acceptable?”

  “A Lord of the Staffclave will satisfy Kadin’s honor,” Hamman Khan nodded. “Since you will not let us finish this fight, with your permission I will send riders east to make sure none the grim’Hiru escape. If you will inform your army we are under your orders?”

  “I will be done, High King.” Lord Laek nodded. “If you wish.”

  “I will send some Ailfar to aid you, Hamman,” Jack informed him.

  “To watch us you mean?” the Kadinar grinned.

  “To ensure there are no opportunities for misunderstandings,” Jack corrected.

  “Very well,” Hamman nodded. “Jack Bra’Adan, fate smiled upon all Kadin when you rode into my camp. Not just upon Prince Manar. I hope it continues to smile upon us. We will erect a pavilion here between our armies. When the day is done, the Great Khan would be honored to meet with you and the Whesguard to formalize our treaty.”

  “I will bring the Dragonslayer, Cilidon An’Mera and all of authority that still live,” Jack nodded. “High Lord Perigaen of the Staffclave as well.”

  “We will be at a decided disadvantage,” Hamman contemplated.

  “I will leave Yhswyndyr behind,” Jack informed him. “Hamman Khan, one my oath, no harm will come to the Great Khan. Manar will be my honored guest. On my oath Hamman,” he repeated, offering the Kadinar his hand. “This day will see the end of war between your people and the west.”

  “Bring the sword,” Hamman shrugged, accepting his hand. “Seeing it will help reassure Mullah ad’Jhen he has chosen wisely.”

  “He has,” Jack nodded. Forty thousand Kadinar had just been added to his army! Now he needed to go find out how much of that army still remained.

  “See to the end of the grim’Hiru,” Hamman said, as if reading both thoughts as they flashed across his face. “We will meet here again when it is done.”

  “Captain Khalmyia, would you?” asked Jack, turning the Razorback.

  “I will watch over Prince Manar for as long as needed,” Maadim nodded.

  “Come Anna,” he said, turning to his wife, “Let’s go tell Morgan he doesn’t have to fight forty thousand Kadinar. And tell General Meridion he gets to fight with them.”

  “So, we are not fighting, then?” Morgan asked as they returned. He sounded slightly disappointed.

  “Not with the Kadinar,” Jack informed him. “Your grace, this is Prince Manar ad’Jhen. He is our…guest until we formalize the treaty with his father. General Meridion, the Kadinar are sending some riders east to make sure no grim’Hiru escaped Snow Dancer. Perhaps a thousand or so Ailfar should go with them…not to watch them but to assure your father we fight by their side,” he said, turning to the young prince.

  “Of course, Great Prince,” Manar nodded.

  “Morgan, I’m taking the Raashani, the Hammer and my Lions and putting an end to this,” Jack continued. “Anna…”

  “I will remain here with the rest to make sure there are no misunderstandings,” she nodded. “We will set up a perimeter, and prepare to start receiving the wounded.”

  Jack eased Eaudrueil close to her and kissed his wife. “I love you Annawyn Dora’dai.”

  “Be careful, my love,” his wife replied, reaching up to caress his cheek. “The fighting is not done yet.”

  It was well into the afternoon before the last of the grim’Hiru were defeated. Jack however, saw none of the action. The High King’s Hammer and his Golden Lions made sure of that. Denied taking part in the fight by the watchfulness of Cassy and Captain d’Kenna, he did the only thing left to him. He took Yhswyndyr and began healing the wounded. He quickly lost count of how many he healed; men of Brydium and Doridan and Caladin and more Amorhadi. Even a few Ailfar. By the day’s end, he was exhausted. Not from channeling the power of Sunheart, that consequence was now a thing of the past, but from the sheer number of wounded he gave his attention.

  “Come, my King,” Ardel d’Kenna said, helping him to his feet after he healed a young infantryman from Brydium, so close to death his face was as pale as a ghost. “The healers and the surgeons can take it from here.”

  Jack protested weakly as he allowed the Hammer’s captain to support him. There were just so damn many of them! His heart would likely break in anguish when their numbers were counted. He had not yet even started on the dead. “Captain…”

  “Look at me, my Lord,” d’Kenna insisted

  Jack raised his head wearily.

  “Let the dead stay dead,” the Hammer’s captain said softly, perhaps guessing his thoughts. Or perhaps…thinking even the Bearer of Lifebringer and Deathbane should not have the power to change their fate? “They have earned their place in the Bosom of Yh. Let them go to the Creator in peace.”

  “He’s right, Jack,” Cassy added. “I wouldn’t want you snatching me back from paradise.”

  “And you think that’s where you are headed?” asked Jack with a weary grin.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up and get a bit of wine in you,” Cassy replied, ignoring the jest. “You still have to go meet Mullah Khan. He sees you like this, Hamman Khan’s word or not, he might decide to have a go at us while we are still recovering from today.”

  “I look that bad, huh?” Jack sighed.

  “Let’s just say if you don’t perk up a bit before Queen Anna sees you, she is not going to be pleased and leave it at that,” Cassy informed him.

  Jack drew a measure of Sunheart into himself. Just enough to renew his strength a bit. If the Highsword had chosen to stop…punis
hing him…for using the power of creation, he would set his own limits. There had to be some consequence for wielding Yhswyndyr. Otherwise, otherwise he might start to grow accustomed to walking as a god among men.

  “Better?” he asked, standing on his own.

  “Better,” Cassy nodded, relieved. “Now, let’s get all this blood off you…”

  Braedan found Theros and Tarsus, with Cilidon and several others in a large tent in the midst of the Doridanian perimeter. Tarsus had a nasty gash on his forehead that someone had wrapped in a hurried bandage. Jack went to him and laid an arm on his shoulder. The Amarian shivered like someone had poured ice water over his head and looked at him with wonder. Jack reached up and pulled the bandage off his friend’s head and all that remained of the wound was crusted blood. The room started mouth agape as Tarsus removed his eye patch and blinked in amazement. His ruined eye, damaged in the escape from Agash Thugar, was hole again. Most of the group had seen him transform Bhkormar, but this was the first time they’d seen him use Yhswyndyr to heal the injured. And He hadn’t even drawn the sword.

  “What are we discussing?” Braedan asked, ignoring the stares. “Where’s General Tolkaen? Where’s Rhyn?”

  “General Tolkaen is wounded,” Theros replied. “Though not gravely.”

  “The Lord Marshal has fallen,” Gain Ellgereth answered quietly. “I command the White Horse.”

  “Where is his body?” Braedan asked.

  “Jack,” Anna said sadly, taking his arm. Rhyn Dunnahel had been at the very front of the formation as it charged into the grim’Hiru. He died under a wave of the beast-men when his sword and become wedged in the skull of his first victim. When the knights had fought their way to their fallen commander, his body lay in ruin. She shuddered again at the description Sir Gain had given of his demise. “Even with Yhswyndyr...he is beyond succor, my love.”

  “He was thirty years as Lord Marshal,” Gain added. “He has found his rest.”

  Jack found a chair and sat down, weariness rushing into him again. “Do we…do we have an estimate yet?”

  He didn’t have to say of what.

  “Near four thousand,” Theros informed him. “The exact number is yet unknown.”

  “How many wounded?” Jack sighed.

  “Less than that,” Anna replied. “The Lords were a great boon. Perhaps two thousand? Five hundred perhaps will not be able to continue on to…well, to continue.”

  “I will see to the worst after we meet with the Khan,” Jack sighed. Five hundred? Even with Lord Farra’s help and all the Ailfar healers, it was going to be a long night.

  “About Mullah ad’Jhen,” Theros said hesitantly. “We…were discussing what terms to demand of him.”

  “There will be no terms,” Jack informed them. “The Great Khan and the Kadinar will be welcomed as allies. No terms!” he repeated firmly as murmurs began to stir. “He has removed the Gorhon grim’Hiru from the field. He delivered me the head of their king. The Kadinar could have fallen on us when they arrived. Their forty thousand would have made this day a disaster. Even with Yhswyndyr. If Mullah ad’Jhen accepts my hand in friendship, he will become a part of this council and his warriors will ride beside us, knowing we are glad for their aid.”

  “As you say,” Theros bowed.

  “Thank you,” Jack nodded. The King of Brydium had more reason than any gathered here to argue against the offer. That he so quickly accepted Jack’s decree would pacify the rest. “The dead,” he continued. “When we are finished meeting the Khan, I want them all buried with honor. Rhyn Dunnahel will be at their center.”

  “It will take some time,” Cilidon speculated. “Days even?”

  “Then it will take days,” Jack replied.

  “The grim’Hiru?” asked Theros.

  “Take Dragonslayer and Grimblade. And Siegebreaker, and burn them to dust,” Jack instructed. “The Bergaweld will not become a land of restless spirits again.”

  “As you say,” the Ailfar King nodded.

  “Can someone get me a drink?” asked Jack. “And a bite to eat?”

  Jack, Anna, Tarsus, Theros and Cilidon, along with King Rhor’dal and King Haerold and High Lord Perigaen came to the pavilion set up between the two armies. Each of them had a pair of High King’s Hammer as escort. Braedan set word to Mullah ad’Jhen through Captain Khalmyia of their number so the Khan would have an opportunity to respond in kind. The Great Khan was waiting for them as they arrived. With him was Hamman, five of his generals, and a tall young woman with eyes the color of onyx. Even through her thin veil, all could see she was a great beauty. Hamman introduced her as Princess Jaelanni. Jack greeted her with a bow, wishing briefly the Lady Ara’fael had accompanied them. If the princess was not betrothed, one of the twins would cement the new alliance with Kadin. If the Khan and the princess were willing, of course.

  Mullah ad’Jhen was a tall, hard man, with a neatly trimmed beard, shot through with grey. His eyes were dark, like his daughter. Where hers sparkled like jewels however, the Khans were sharp and dangerous like a hawk. “My son is well?” he asked. His voice was deep, like a desert well. He spoke the common tongue flawlessly.

  “Manar is helping attend our wounded,” Anna replied. “At his insistence.”

  “You are as fierce and beautiful as Hamman reported, Annawyn, Queen of the Dora’dai.” the Khan smiled. “I offer you the shade and protection of my tent. The Dragonslayer I know well. We met once in the March of Peril. Thirty years ago? I cannot recall what circumstance brought us together, but I remember I barely escaped with my head.”

  “Thirty-two years, Mullah ad’Jhen,” Theros replied. “And it was for raiding cattle across the Whesguard.”

  “The folly and joy of youth,” the Khan smiled. “Honor on the House of Th’nar. I offer you my shade Dragonslayer. Hail Cilidon An’Mera. All know the ageless king of the Golden Wood. Those two scowling ruffians can only be from the north. I offer my shade to Caladin and Amorhad was well. The Staffclave is welcome. Lord Sabhiae is with you Perigaen Dre’kail?”

  “She is,” the High Lord nodded.

  “I would enjoy seeing my sister again if her duties permit,” the Khan sighed. “She is sorely missed in Khadda’Temar.”

  “I will send for her when we are finished,” Perigaen assured him. “She is treating wounded at the moment.”

  “Thank you,” Mullah nodded. “You are obviously an Amarian,” he said eyeing Tarsus. “I had begun to think that old he-goat Tereil had given up on you, Tarsus Aernin. And the Galekindar? They are back as well, so my reports say.”

  “We are back,” Tarsus nodded.

  “And as surly as ever, it seems.” the Khan smiled. “That must make you, the High King?” He said, eyeing Jack curiously. “Hamman had Ljmarn’s heir in his camp and didn’t even know it. I could have been governor of the Whesguard had he brought you to me.”

  “Ahala Bid can be wearisome at times, I imagine?” Jack replied.

  “Indeed,” the Khan laughed. “So, High King. Since all of the Whesguard is here accept Annoth, it seems introductions are concluded. What terms do you require of Kadin?”

  “All I require of you Great Khan,” Jack said, “is you accept my hand in friendship. I learned the generosity of the Kadinar from Hamman. I assume he learned it from you?”

  “From our mother,” the Khan smiled.

  “The west can be generous as well,” Jack informed him. “In honor of your mother, accept me as your friend Mullah ad’Jhen, and Kadin will be free to find their own path. So long as you put aside old enmity and remove the Sa’tans sorcerers from your lands.”

  “Those bloodthirsty jackals are rotting on pikes in my capitol. That was your…demand, was it not?” the Khan asked.

  “I also asked that you stay in Khadda’Temar,” Jack replied.

  “Before you get to Agash Thugar, I think you will be glad we did not, Jack Bra’Adan,” the Khan smiled. He stood and offered Jack his hand. “Will you have wine and shade with me, High K
ing? We will discuss how you mean to tear down Agash Thugar and remove the blight of the Bloodstone from the earthe.”

  “One drink to seal our alliance,” Jack nodded, taking his hand. “We still have dead to bury and wounded to attend.”

  “Kadin will help you with both,” Mullah offered. “As a sign of our new friendship? Sit every-one. One drink, then we will see to the wounded and dead. There will be time enough to talk of the coming battle with the dark-King.”

  “One,” Jack said, arranging Yhswyndyr and taking a seat on an offered cushion. “I do not wish to appear unappreciative or that I am unmindful of this momentous occasion Great Khan, but it has been a long day. It will be longer still.”

  “I would not think highly of a man who sits a leisure in the shade and drinks wine while his army is weary from battle,” Mullah nodded with pleasure. “I will not keep you long High King. Tomorrow when your needs are less pressing, perhaps you would honor me by eating at my table? You can meet my queen. She is a lover of horses as well Annawyn Dora’dai. Though Kadinar have no match for your Val’anna.”

  “If I had known she was with your army, I would have insisted she come to this meeting,” Anna replied.

  “Our cultures are…different than the west,” the Khan replied. “Queen Yaesima is not a warrior. She is a philosopher.”

  “Yet you allow Princess Jaelanni to attend?” Anna asked.

  “Jaelanni will grow up in a new world,” the Khan shrugged. “If we are strong enough to make it. Why are you here my daughter?” he asked, turning to the princess.

  “To watch. And to learn,” Jaelanni replied.