16
www.wenyun.mewww.luochen.meIn the Rouran ca, warriors also readied for battle. Swords were being sharpened and bows were being stretched. B??ri Khan was also preparing. He stood with his bare chest glistening as he washed hielf. It was a ritual, one that allowed hinbsp; to brace hielf both physically and ntally for the fight ahead.
Khan was pleased. His ar had grown, and now hundreds of yurts filled with hundreds of n dotted the harsh landscape around hi It had taken hinbsp; re ti than he had hoped, but with the death of Duba Tegin he had ensured the loyalty of all the tribes.
Now they just needed to take over the Eire.
Hearing the faliar screech of a hawk, he turned as the bird flew into his tent. As he watched, the creature transford. Wings beca ar, claws turned to feet, and soon Xianniang stood in front of hi
“You have news fronbsp; the garrison?” Khan asked, not stopping his washing.
The witch nodded. She had been on patrol for st of the night and looked bothered to not have his plete attention. “New soldiers,” she reported. “Children. It will fall. Before the new on you will take the kingdo You will have your revenge. If our plan continues.”
At her words, B??ri Khan’s hand stilled and he lifted his gaze to et hers. He didn’t like the defiant edge to her tone. “What threatens our plan?” he asked. As he spoke, he took a nacing step toward the witch.
“I st be able to trust you,” Xianniang said, her tone cold. She did not shrink away fronbsp; B??ri Khan’s hulking body, but she did lift her chest higher, as though trying to tch hi
“You can’t trust ,” he replied, taking so sll satisfaction fronbsp; the surprise that flickered over the witch’s face. “But you have no choice. When I found you out on the desert steppe, wandering alone, you were exiled. A scorned dog. Your powers ant nothing without .” He stopped, his words hanging heavy in the air. He stared down at Xianniang, waiting for her response.
In a flash, Xianniang’s talons were out and wrapped around his neck. “I could tear you to pieces before you blink,” she hissed.
B??ri Khan felt the talons at his throat and saw the anger in the witch’s eyes. But he reined cal When he spoke, his voice was even—and ice cold. “Reer what you want. A place where your powers will not be vilified. A place where you are epted for who you are.” He watched the witch’s expression grow angrier as the words she had said to hinbsp; in confidence echoed back at her. “You won’t get what you want without . An
Khan was pleased. His ar had grown, and now hundreds of yurts filled with hundreds of n dotted the harsh landscape around hi It had taken hinbsp; re ti than he had hoped, but with the death of Duba Tegin he had ensured the loyalty of all the tribes.
Now they just needed to take over the Eire.
Hearing the faliar screech of a hawk, he turned as the bird flew into his tent. As he watched, the creature transford. Wings beca ar, claws turned to feet, and soon Xianniang stood in front of hi
“You have news fronbsp; the garrison?” Khan asked, not stopping his washing.
The witch nodded. She had been on patrol for st of the night and looked bothered to not have his plete attention. “New soldiers,” she reported. “Children. It will fall. Before the new on you will take the kingdo You will have your revenge. If our plan continues.”
At her words, B??ri Khan’s hand stilled and he lifted his gaze to et hers. He didn’t like the defiant edge to her tone. “What threatens our plan?” he asked. As he spoke, he took a nacing step toward the witch.
“I st be able to trust you,” Xianniang said, her tone cold. She did not shrink away fronbsp; B??ri Khan’s hulking body, but she did lift her chest higher, as though trying to tch hi
“You can’t trust ,” he replied, taking so sll satisfaction fronbsp; the surprise that flickered over the witch’s face. “But you have no choice. When I found you out on the desert steppe, wandering alone, you were exiled. A scorned dog. Your powers ant nothing without .” He stopped, his words hanging heavy in the air. He stared down at Xianniang, waiting for her response.
In a flash, Xianniang’s talons were out and wrapped around his neck. “I could tear you to pieces before you blink,” she hissed.
B??ri Khan felt the talons at his throat and saw the anger in the witch’s eyes. But he reined cal When he spoke, his voice was even—and ice cold. “Reer what you want. A place where your powers will not be vilified. A place where you are epted for who you are.” He watched the witch’s expression grow angrier as the words she had said to hinbsp; in confidence echoed back at her. “You won’t get what you want without . An