Obiageli's smile turned into a manic grin."Then, should we destroy everyone?"
Chapter 17
"GreatKhan."
The whip paused mid-stroke.Ragnar's shoulders were rigid, his breathing harsh and laboured, but he didn't turn.
"General," he bit, "you forget yourself."
"My apologies, Great Khan."Thane closed the door behind him."I simply wish to report on what you asked."There was no other way to stop him.Ragnar had a tendency to mull and think and obsess over thoughts that consumed him completely.This was his way of clearing his mind under Ukhel.Flogging himself until he bled.
"Ukhel doesn't answer."Ragnar's voice was raw, stripped of control."I pray and pray.But he remains silent."
Thane crossed the room; he retrieved a length of clean cloth from the pile by the bed and held it out without looking directly at his wounds.
Ragnar took it and pressed the fabric to his shoulders.Blood bloomed through it.
"Maybe he's trying to tell you something else," Thane said quietly.He did not believe the gods cared for the actions of men, so this all felt meaningless."She's not who they said she was."
"What do you mean?"
"The princess they described—the one we agreed to, the one the alliance was built on—doesn't exist."Thane's jaw tightened."I spoke to three different sources tonight.Merchants, servants, and a minor official who'd had too much wine.The Akwaugo is not kind.She is not docile.She is absolutely not…" He searched for the word."Virtuous."
Ragnar said nothing.
"Two months ago, she attacked the Okpalaeze with a vase and split his head open.She nearly killed him."Thane's voice was flat as he reported."Her name is so easily on the tongue of the common people; just ask anyone, and they will mention the vixen in the palace.They must think us fools!Giving us a woman no one wants."
The cloth in Ragnar's hand was now a deep red.
"She’s embroiled in meaningless political strife."Thane shook his head."To take this woman would be to take a dangerous snake into your household, Great Khan."
Rain filled the silence.
Since Kasimir’s betrayal, they have both been on edge.Sisi’s influence reached this far, and this Borjigin princess might be another pitfall for them.
"Also," Thane added, his voice dropping lower; now that he had vented his displeasure, he could move on to a more pressing conversation."The other thing you asked me to check.There are troops moving in the tributary tribes.The Ameachi specifically.I couldn't confirm the purpose, but the timing is too coincidental for comfort."
"How much have they prepared?"Ragnar finally spoke.
"Caius sent word; they’ve been buying weapons from Kemet for the past two months, so this has been a more intentional preparation."Thane met his Khan's gaze directly."If we ride into that without knowing what we're facing, we may not ride out."
A sound escaped Ragnar’s lips; it was laughter."She told me by the end of this expedition, I would be dead."
Thane found his tongue unable to wag.
"She seems to know more than we do, clearly."
"The Akwaugo?"Thane asked.
Ragnar pressed the cloth harder against his shoulder, as if the pain could ground him."She offered me a deal.In exchange for my alliance, she'll give me anything I want.And when it's over, she'll leave.No heir, no claim, no complications."
Thane stared at him like he was crazy.What sort of alliance was that?It sounded absurd.
"She wants to exterminate the Borjigin," Ragnar added, almost casually.
"Great Khan," Thane hissed."This woman—"
"I know."
