"I am a soldier in search of a war," Batu responded.
The khahan frowned, then twisted the end of his drooping mustache between his thumb and forefinger. "What do you mean?"
"I am ronin, a soldier without a country," he said. "I have an insatiable appetite for fighting and war, and Koja suggested I would find plenty of both with you."
"You did express your admiration for the enemy general's talents, Divine Master of the World," Koja interjected.
"That was before he knew the man would betray his own country," responded the lanky officer known as Chanar.
Batu turned on Chanar. "You are unaware of my reasons for leaving Shou Lung, so I will forgive your insult—once."
Scowling, Chanar reached for his sword, but Yamun raised a hand to stop him. "Chanar, you have just earned the right to stand in my sight again," the khahan said. "Are you so anxious to lose it?"
"You heard the dog!" Chanar objected.
Koja leaned toward Batu and whispered, "Him, you must watch. Were Chanar not an old friend of the khahan, his treachery would have been the end of him long ago. As it is, he only regained the right to stand within the Mighty One's sight by saving the khahan from capture."
Ignoring Chanar, Yamun asked Batu, "Why do you leave the emperor's service?"
"I am sorry, mighty khahan, but my reasons must remain my own," Batu responded, bowing his head to Yamun. He was not anxious to reveal the extent of his feelings for his family. He suspected that among dedicated soldiers like the Tuigan, such emotions would be regarded as a weakness.
The khahan frowned. "Nothing is yours that I wish to have."
The quiverbearer returned, saving Batu from the necessity of an immediate response. The young man gave a goblet of wine to the khahan, then another to Batu. The khahan lifted his cup, saying, "To my health, General!"
"To your health," Batu responded.
They each downed their wine in one long gulp. After they had given the goblets to the officer to refill, the khahan said, "A fine drink, though it is sweeter than wine I have had before." Without changing tone, the khahan returned to the subject of Batu's secret. "Few enemies have tricked me, and none have lived to brag about it, save you. Only a fool would let such an enemy go free, for that man will surely return to defeat him another day. So I have only two choices: take you into my ordu, or kill you."
When his words had no visible effect on Batu, the khahan continued, "If I am to accept you into my clan and my army, I must know why you left your own. A horse who throws one master may throw another."
Batu nodded. In similar circumstances, he would have had the same suspicions as the khahan. "There are not many horses in Shou Lung," Batu answered. "Perhaps that is because the masters do not protect the mares and foals while the stallion is away at war."
The khahan asked, "Am I to take it that one of your wives and her children were killed while you fought us?"
"In Shou Lung, we have only one wife and but a few children, Mighty One," Batu replied. "They died under the protection of the Shou emperor."
"That is why you have renounced your duty to your master?" the khahan asked. "Because he allowed your household to die?"
Batu nodded, uneasy about revealing this weakness.
"That is no reason!" Chanar said. "An honorable soldier does not place his family above his commander!"
Chanar had barely finished the sentence before Batu stepped toward him, placing a hand on his sword hilt. As the Tuigan saw the Shou's intention, his jaw went slack and his eyes opened wide in surprise. He quickly rose to his feet and gripped the hilt of his own weapon.
"Apologize!" Batu hissed.
"I will not," Chanar responded, regaining his composure. "You must see that you'll be killed the instant you draw your weapon."
As if to emphasize the point, a dozen Tuigan stepped toward Batu.
The ronin paid them no attention. "Where or when I die does not matter," Batu said, stepping closer to the object of his wrath. "Apologize!"
Chanar looked to the khahan. "Let me kill this insolent mongrel," he said.
"Leave your blade in its sheath," the khahan replied, his voice perfectly calm. "Batu is a guest in my camp, and I will not be dishonored by having his blood spilled—especially when it is your own dull wit and sharp tongue that provoked him. Batu warned you not to insult his honor."
Chanar's face reddened, but he left his weapon in its sheath. Glaring at Batu, he said, "I meant no disrespect, renegade. I apologize."
"For now, that will do," Batu responded. He took his hand off his weapon. Chanar returned to his seat, staring at the Shou with undisguised hatred.
Yamun addressed Batu. "The next time you threaten one of my officers, you had best be prepared to use your weapon."
"I was prepared," Batu responded, bowing to show that he meant no disrespect to the khahan.
The Tuigan's eyes narrowed. "Yes—I suppose you were."
Yamun took a long pull from his goblet, his brow furrowed in reflection. Finally, he lowered the cup and said, "I will consider your request, General Batu. Until I decide, you shall remain a welcome guest in my camp." He looked at his officers to be certain they had heard and understood his words, pausing for special emphasis at Chanar.
A moment later, the khahan turned his gaze back to Batu. "You have given me a gift and I must give you a better one. Is there anything in this camp you want?"
Batu studied the courtyard carefully. Though there was enough wealth in it to ransom a lord, Batu was not interested in gold. His eyes came to rest on Ju-Hai Chou, the one man in the government whom he had been justified in trusting.
"Great Khahan," Batu answered, "when a man goes too long without wine, it becomes more valuable than gold, does it not?"
The khahan scowled, but he said, "This is true. No man can drink gold."
"Then, in all of your camps, there is only one gift equal to the wine I brought," Batu replied, pointing at Ju-Hai. "Him."
Koja quickly grasped Batu's arm. "No!" the lama hissed. "He tried to kill the khahan, so he must die. If you try to save him, you will perish with him."
Batu shook the man off and pointed at Ju-Hai again. "Him," he repeated.
"What Koja says is true," the khahan warned. "Ju-Hai Chou must die."
Ju-Hai could not understand the Tuigan language, but he clearly knew he was being discussed. He looked at Batu with a hopeful expression, though his complexion remained pale.
"I know," Batu answered. "I merely ask for the privilege of killing him."
The khahan smiled. "What you ask is a great gift, but I am a man of honor and will keep my word. Bring the prisoner forward."
Two officers rose and led Ju-Hai into the center of the circle. Batu drew his sword. "Minister Ju-Hai, please turn around," he said, speaking Shou.
"What are you going to do?" the ex-mandarin demanded, his voice trembling.
Ju-Hai had ridden all the way from Tai Tung to Shou Kuan with his head held high, but the renegade general did not blame him for being frightened now.