Spirit Hunter Read Free

soldier’s speech, it was clear he came from one of the great clan families. No doubt he had already met Lord Fang, Swiftarrow thought, most likely many more times than the general himself, but had wit enough to keep this quiet. Hidden in the shadows, Swiftarrow smiled. Everyone knew the general’s father had been a merchant who made a pile of gold bigger than Mount Hua selling the feathers of exotic birds from the southern provinces. Li set great store by aristo­cratic blood.
What would he say if he knew of mine?
Swiftarrow wondered, smiling again, but bitterly.
    The general laughed, passing the flask of wine. “Fear not, my boys. We’ll hunt down those barbarians. They shan’t be hard to find – we’ll catch their stink from a day’s ride off. We’ll teach the Horse Tribes to defy the Empress, and you shall all return to Chang’an with much honour.”
    Fool,
Swiftarrow thought.
The Tribes are scattered across the steppe like grass seeds on the wind. Does he think to find them all clustered together, waiting to be killed?
What was it General Li had done to arouse the Empress’s displeasure, anyhow? Swiftarrow did not for a moment believe this fool’s errand was the Emperor’s idea: everyone knew the shaking sickness kept His Imperial Majesty in bed, one side of his face frozen and slack. So what had Li done? Spoken out of turn to an Imperial nephew? Outraged the modesty of a palace-favoured courtesan? That seemed unlikely: it was well known the Empress had no great fondness for her husband’s courtesans, even though she herself had been his father’s concubine. But General Li must certainly have transgressed in some way to earn such a heaven-forsaken mission across the desert. Ambushing the Horse Tribes? It was a hopeless task. Everyone knew the Tribes could outride a river in flood, and that they could melt away into nothing, hidden in forests and the wild mountains.
    Swiftarrow stepped forwards, out of the shadows. Neither the general nor his audience managed to hide their shock. Swiftarrow dropped to his knees, bowing low to the ground.
    “What do you want, half-breed?” said General Li.
    Swiftarrow sat up, head still bowed in a show of respect. “O General, I must beg that you allow me to continue my search in Samarkand.”
    “Continue your search?” The general sneered, and his young soldiers laughed, obediently. “I wish you good fortune, boy. You have not yet met with great success, seeking out new flesh for your slithering Shaolin master.”
    For my Shaolin mistress,
Swiftarrow thought, but it was not worth taking the trouble to correct him.
    General Li drank deeply from his cup, swilled the wine about his mouth and spat the dregs onto the ground at Swift­arrow’s knees. “I know not why Her Imperial Majesty prizes you Shaolin so high, sneaking around like rats. Chang’an seethes with holy men and women as it is. Why has the Empress sent you to find more?”
    If only you knew I am really here to make sure
you
find the Tribes.
Swiftarrow shrugged. “O General, you know I was given this task under the orders of our Divine Empress. We Shaolin are honoured to have her gracious admiration. I have been ordered to scour the furthest reaches of the empire for new blood, and I must do my duty.”
    “Your foolish quest is no concern of mine,” snapped General Li. “Go as you will, boy, but return in seven days’ time, or you shall be crossing the desert alone.”
    It would be my dearest pleasure to be rid of your company,
Swiftarrow thought, but he said nothing, of course, and got to his feet, fading from their sight.

3
Asena
The World Above
    I t’s been a long, hot morning but now the milking is done. I leave the milk-pails by the hearth and stand still for a moment in the cool gloom of our tent. Shaman Tulan is gone, his blankets and rugs lying heaped on the ground. I smile as relief washes over me:
so my old friend is back in the world of men. For now, at least.
I can tell him about my dream