‘I understand,’ Kachiun murmured.

‘Be sure you do, brother, because you will be riding with me against this host. We will win or die, one or the other. But I will not look away when they come. I will not bow down and let them trample me.’ He paused and barked a laugh. ‘You know, I was going to add that no one will ever say I ran from a battle, but Arslan reminded me of something in Samarkand. It does not matter what others think of how I lived my life. It does not matter if we go down in Temuge’s histories as tyrants or even cowards. All that matters is what we do now. We are our only judges, Kachiun. Remember that. Those who come after will have other trials, other battles to worry about.’

He saw Kachiun had listened and at least tried to understand. Genghis clapped him on the shoulder.

‘We have come such a long way, Kachiun. I still remember the first days, when it was just us and we were starving. I remember killing Bekter and I sometimes wish he could be here to see what we went on to make. Perhaps you and I have fashioned something that will last a thousand generations, or disappear with us. I do not know. I do not even care, brother. I have grown strong to defeat powerful enemies. I welcome this horde from the south to grow stronger still.’

‘You are a strange man,’ Kachiun said. ‘There is no one else like you, do you know that?’ He expected Genghis to smile, but his brother shook his head.

‘Be careful of raising me too high, brother. I have no special strength, unless it is in choosing good men to follow me. The great lie of cities is that we are all too weak to stand against those who oppress us. All I have done is see through that lie. I always fight, Kachiun. Kings and shahs depend on people remaining sheep, too afraid to rise up. All I ever did was realise I can be a wolf to them.’

Kachiun nodded, his worries lifting away under his brother’s pale eyes. He led his horse at Genghis’ side as the two men walked back to the gers to eat and rest. As they drew close, Kachiun recalled the arrival of the scouts.

‘And Jochi? Have you made a decision?’

Genghis tightened his mouth at the mention of the name.

‘He took seven thousand men from me, Kachiun. I cannot forgive him for that. If he had gone on his own, perhaps I would have left him to find his own path. As it is, he has stolen a tenth of my army and I want them back.’

‘You would take them? Honestly?’ Kachiun said, surprised.

‘I thought at first that I would have them killed, but I have had time to think while I waited for word, Kachiun. They left their wives and children and followed him, just as others followed me and gave up everything they knew and loved. Of all men, I know what a leader can do. They allowed themselves to be led, but I need them now, if Jelaudin is gathering a storm. Send scouts out to bring Tsubodai in. Jochi admired him more than any man. He will let him speak.’

Tsubodai came, though his heart was heavy. The great camp was buzzing with the news that Jochi had been found and he had hoped Genghis would not ask for him. He found Genghis with Ogedai, watching his son train his young men. The khan gestured for him to follow and they rode away from the gathering tumans, walking their horses together like old friends.

Tsubodai’s heart beat hard as he listened. He had revered Genghis since he had first met the man who had forged a nation from warring tribes. He had been there when they took their first fortress in Xi Xia, then the region itself. Tsubodai had no false modesty. He knew he had played a vital part in the khan’s success. Genghis treated him with respect and Tsubodai returned it as he did with no other man alive. Even so, what he was being asked caused him bitterness and pain. He took a shuddering breath as Genghis looked at him, waiting for a reply.

‘My lord khan, I do not want to do this. Ask me for anything else and I will ride, anything.’

Genghis reined in, turning his horse so that he faced his general. The man was brilliant, more gifted at war than anyone else Genghis knew, but he demanded obedience first and only the khan’s surprise held back a sharp reply.

‘If I send Khasar, or Kachiun, I think Jochi will resist. His men have broken oaths to follow him. They will not baulk at fighting to prevent him being taken. You are the only man he will let speak, Tsubodai. You are the only one who can get close.’

Tsubodai closed his eyes for a moment, overcome. Genghis must have understood how Jochi looked to him or he would not have chosen Tsubodai for the task.

‘My lord, I have never refused an order from you, ever. Remember that when you ask me for this.’

‘You trained him when he was just an angry boy, but I warned you then that his blood was bad, that he could turn against us at any moment. I was right then, was I not? I trusted him with warriors and authority and he took them and ran. As my general, tell me how I should deal with such a man!’

Tsubodai clenched his fists on the reins. He did not say that Genghis had brought it on himself, that the pride he showed in Chagatai had eaten at Jochi until there was nothing left but hatred. None of that would matter to the khan who sat before him. He tried a different tack, desperately.

‘At least let it wait until we have ridden against the shah’s son, lord. My men are vital there. If you send me away now, I will be gone for six months or more. If they attack us before then, I will be useless to you.’

Genghis lowered his brows, growing angry that his general was still struggling.

‘This prince has just sixty thousand, Tsubodai. I could send two or three tumans and gut him where he stands. This concerns me more. You are the only man Jochi will allow to speak. He respects you.’

‘I know it,’ Tsubodai said softly. He felt ill, torn between obedience to the khan and his friendship with Jochi. It did not help that his tactical mind saw the truth in Genghis’ words. Tsubodai knew he could get close to Jochi as no one else could. He sat in despair on the lake shore. Genghis seemed to sense his utter misery and his face and voice softened slightly.

‘Did you think all your orders would be easy, Tsubodai? That I would never ask for something hard? Tell me when a man is tested. Is it when his khan orders him into battle, with warriors of proven skill and courage? Or is it now, when he is given work he does not want? You have the finest mind of any of my generals, Tsubodai. I will grant you this. If you can see another way, tell me now and I will try it.’

Tsubodai had already considered and discarded a dozen plans, but none of them were worth his spit. In desperation, he tried one more time.

‘The tumans are gathering, lord. Let me stay with them and we will take the war to the prince in the south. I am more valuable to you there. If you send me north, you will lose my tuman as well, just when you need every man.’

‘It took me more than a year to find him the first time, Tsubodai. If my scouts were seen, he will already have left. You can follow his trail, but could you find it another year from now? This is the time to take him quietly. You are my general, but I will begin this war without you if they come. Join me when you return or give back the marks of rank I gave to you!'

His anger surfaced at the last and Tsubodai almost flinched from it. The khan’s arguments were weak and both of them knew it. Genghis was obsessed with punishing Jochi. That was the truth that whispered behind the words. The khan could not be reached with reasoning when his heart was filled with bitterness. Tsubodai bowed his head, defeated.

‘Very well,’ he said. ‘I will ride fast and far, lord. If the prince brings his army from the south, look for me in the hills.’