Bones of the Hills Read Free

replied.
    “My father would say it is what we do, that there is no better way for a man to spend his years than at war with enemies. He might also say you enjoy it, General, and that is all the reason you need.”
    Tsubodai’s gaze did not waver.
    “Perhaps he
would
say that, but you hide behind his words. Why are we here, Jochi? We do not want their big horses, even for meat. Why will I risk the lives of warriors to smash the column you see?”
    Jochi shrugged irritably. “If it is not that, I do not know.”
    “For
you,
Jochi,” Tsubodai said seriously. “When you return to your father, you will have seen all forms of battle, in all seasons. You and I have captured towns and raided cities, ridden desert and forests so thick we could hardly cut our way through. Genghis will find no weakness in you.” Tsubodai smiled briefly at Jochi’s stony expression. “I will be proud when men say you learned your skill under Tsubodai the Valiant.”
    Jochi had to grin at hearing the nickname from Tsubodai himself. There were no secrets in the camps.
    “There it is,” Tsubodai muttered, pointing to a distant messenger racing to the head of the Russian column. “We have an enemy who leads from the front, a very brave man.”
    Jochi could imagine the sudden dismay among the knights as they looked into the bowl of hills and saw the Mongol warriors. Tsubodaigrunted softly as an entire rank peeled off the column and began trotting up the slopes, the long spears ready. He showed his teeth as the gap began to narrow. They were charging uphill, in their arrogance. He longed to teach them their error.
    “Do you have your
paitze
, Jochi? Show it to me.”
    Jochi reached behind him to where his bow holder was strapped to the saddle. He lifted a flap in the stiff leather and pulled out a plaque of solid gold, stamped with a wolf’s head in profile. At twenty ounces, it was heavy, but small enough for him to grip in his hand.
    Tsubodai ignored the men rising doggedly up the hill to face the eldest son of Genghis.
    “You have that and the right to command a thousand by my hand, Jochi. Those who command a jagun have one of mere silver, like this.” Tsubodai held up a larger block of the whitish metal. “The difference is that the silver paitze is given to a man elected by the officers of each arban below him.”
    “I know this,” Jochi said.
    Tsubodai glanced back at the knights laboring closer. “The officers of this jagun have asked to have you lead them, Jochi. I had no part in it.” He held out the silver paitze and Jochi took it joyfully, passing back the plaque of gold.
    Tsubodai was solemn and deliberately formal, but his eyes were bright. “When you return to your father, Jochi, you will have known all ranks and positions.” The general gestured, cutting the air with his hand. “On the right, the left, and the center.” He looked over the heads of the straining knights cantering up the hill, seeing a flicker of movement on a crag in the distance. Tsubodai nodded sharply.
    “It is time. You know what you have to do, Jochi. Command is yours.” Without another word, Tsubodai clapped the younger man on the shoulder and rode back over the ridge, leaving the jagun of riders in the care of one suddenly nervous leader.
    Jochi could feel the combined stares of the hundred men on his back as he struggled to hide his pleasure. Each arban of ten elected one man to lead them, then those men elected one of their number to lead the hundred in war. To be so chosen was an honor. A voice in his mind whispered that they only honored his father, but he crushed it, refusing to doubt. He had earned the right and confidence swelled in him.
    “Bow lines!” Jochi called. He gripped his reins tightly to hide his tension as the men formed a wider line so that every bow could bear. Jochi glanced over his shoulder, but Tsubodai had truly gone, leavinghim alone. The men still watched and he forced the cold face, knowing they would remember his