Lords of Grass and Thunder Read Free

errors. Mergen’s wisdom about matters of policy and warfare could not be faulted. But in matters of family politics he relied too much, perhaps, on his great mind and too little on his heart.
    Tayy wanted peace. He wished for nothing more than a quiet place to study and grow into his new knowledge. Now, he judged, was not the time to bring such a notion to the khan.
    “Your mind seems to be wandering today, nephew. What are you thinking about?”
    Prince Tayy gave a start, suddenly afraid that the khan had somehow read his mind. But Mergen turned to him with a wry twist of a smile and he relaxed into his saddle again. Safe in his own thoughts, at least for now, he gave his uncle the smallest part of his truth.
    “Hunting. Fishing. Everyday things.”
    “Tired of adventures already?”
    “There is much to be said for a quiet life.” Tayy rubbed a hand across his gut, worrying at the scars beneath his clothes. It was becoming a habit and he pulled the hand away to rest it on the pommel of his saddle.
    He wasn’t quick enough to evade his uncle’s sharp eye however. “Not all adventures carry such a heavy cost,” Mergen reminded him gently, and asked, “Does it still hurt?”
    “Sometimes.” Tayy found it easy enough to admit to the physical ache that still plagued him on cold days. The memory hurt more, though, and he couldn’t talk about that. He looked away into the distance, remembering. Soon the clans would return to their usual grazing grounds, the scene of his father’s murder, and his mother’s. Their murderer still breathed, if such as she lived in the way of mortal creatures, and he feared the spirits of his parents would never find rest until he had avenged their deaths.
    “Chimbai-Khan would have been proud of you,” his uncle said, and Prince Tayy did wonder then if his uncle Mergen could read his mind after all. But then he added a reminder of the ritual of praise and homecoming, “You acquitted yourself with bravery in the field of battle, and brought honor on your house.”
    Tayy gave his uncle the smile his words demanded, but he doubted honor would be enough.

Chapter Two
     
    W HEN THE SUN BURNED red on the horizon, Mergen called a halt for the night. The less-than-sweet water from a marshy spring nearby would satisfy the thirsty horses and his army would have time to set up their small round campaign tents before nightfall. They needed to light the fires before the hard dark. His own forces had helped to seal the gates of hell that had spilled monsters onto this land, but a few stray imps and goblins still wandered the plateau in search of home. By nature they avoided the light, however. And the smoke from the fires would keep away the mosquitos big as moths that drove an otherwise hardened warrior mad.
    While his followers worked to set up the command tent, Prince Tayyichiut, his heir, led his horse aside to tend her needs himself. The khan watched his nephew perform the simple tasks with keen attention.
    Tayy looked up as if he felt his uncle’s eyes on him and answered with a puzzled smile. “Am I needed elsewhere?” He gestured with the brush in his hands “I can let one of the others rub her down. It’s just that she nips if you aren’t careful about her sore spots.”
    “I’ll need you beside me soon enough, but not right now. You have time to tend to your lady.” Mergen would have done the same, but his new position forbid him such homely tasks.
    “No lady,” Tayy laughed. “She has a will of her own, but we see eye to eye on most things.” He rubbed her nose in a comradely gesture to show that there were no hard feelings between them.
    “And so it has been throughout history.” Which reminded Mergen of his blanket-son’s request. “Bekter has submitted formal petition to record a history of the Qubal court. I told him ‘yes,’ of course. How could I deny the clans the pleasure of his songs? He plans to create a whole cycle of tales and it would please him to hear