"Hmm."
Caius sighed; all great men had their oddities.Ragnar had very few flaws; at least this particular weakness could be controlled once acquired."Very well.If we're going to be fools, let's at least be organised fools.Nyraxa, what do we have in terms of local intelligence?"
Nyraxa's lips curved."It seems like their Oracle is being held in some kind of restraint.The Dowager mentioned in her letters that the girl’s powers were suppressed, making the invocation difficult."
"And if those restraints are removed?"Ragnar asked.
"Then we have a problem.Obiageli is not just any Oracle.She's the real thing.If she manages to invoke their god, it will tear us apart, us and Orda’s men."
“What conditions need to be met for her power to return to her?”Ragnar asked.
Nyraxa let out a small laugh.“This is where I find things get interesting.Are you aware of the Borjigin custom with twins?”
Ragnar’s face scrunched, clearly unaware, so Nyraxa continued.
“Twins are seen as evil by the Borjigin, so once born they must be left in the Igbele to die.Well, it seems Obiageli and her twin sister were born with gifts.Two halves of one coin.Only by killing one will the other’s power be complete.”
Ragnar frowned.“Who is the twin?Can we protect her?”
“Well…” Nyraxa drawled.“Your Khatun is technically under your protection already.”
Ragnar absorbed this."Then we move before they remove the restraints."
Thane stepped forward, his frustration finally boiling over."You jest.That woman is the other half of the Oracle?We cannot possibly bring her back to the steppes; Shamanism is banned!Great Khan—"
"General."Ragnar's voice sharpened."You have made your objections clear.Multiple times.I have heard them.I have considered them.And I have made my decision.If you are so certain that I am leading us to ruin, you can challenge me for the title."
The temperature in the tent plummeted.
Challenge.
A fight to the death for leadership of the tribe.
Thane's face cycled through a dozen emotions in the space of a heartbeat.Then, slowly, he looked away.
"No," he said quietly."I will not challenge my sworn brother."
"Then trust me."Ragnar's voice softened, just slightly."I know what I'm doing."
Thane didn't argue further.
Nyraxa's lips curved."Well."She rose, stretching like a cat."Now that we've established who's in charge, perhaps we should discuss—"
A roar of jubilation erupted outside the tent.
Ragnar's head snapped toward the entrance.Nyraxa's eyes crinkled with satisfaction.
The tent flaps burst open.
General Varok was a force of nature—massive, muscular, his scarred face split in a jovial grin.He was built like a battering ram, and the men who followed him stretched behind him like a tide.
"Great Khan!"his voice boomed, rattling the tent poles."Miss me?"
Ragnar chuckled."You're early."
"Early?"Varok laughed, clapping his hands together."I came this quickly because I heard you needed me.Something about a woman?"He looked around the tent, his eyes landing on Nyraxa."You.You sent the message.Tell me everything."
"The Great Khan has found himself a Khatun."
