The minghaan officer ignored him and spoke to Sorhatani directly. 'What is the difficulty here?'

Sorhatani looked down, shaking her head. To Yao Shu's irritation, there were tears showing in her eyes.

'This Chin official claims the khan cannot be seen by anyone. For days now, there has been no word. He speaks suspiciously, Alkhun, I do not trust his word.'

The soldier nodded, a man of quick thought and action, as would be expected for one of his rank. He turned to Yao Shu.

'You'll have to stand aside, chancellor. I need to check on the khan.'

'He gave orders,' Yao Shu started, but the officer merely shrugged.

'I will see him. Step aside, right now.'

The two men stood very still, glowering at each other as if they were the only ones in the corridor. Yao Shu had been put in an impossible position and Sorhatani saw there could be a brief and bloody struggle in the corridor at any moment. She spoke to break the deadlock.

'You will accompany us, of course, Yao Shu,' she said.

His head snapped round towards her, but she had given him a way out and he took it.

'Very well,' he said, his expression tight with anger. He turned to Alkhun. 'Your concern does you credit, minghaan. However, you are not to allow armed men such as these into the presence of the khan. All must be searched for weapons first.'

Sorhatani began to protest, but Yao Shu was adamant.

'I insist,' he said, reclaiming the balance of power.

'They will remain here,' Sorhatani said, rather than lose the moment. In truth, she did not mind that her sons were to remain outside, with their armour and blades. They had served their purpose by backing her at the door. She did not need them to hear everything after that.

With a grimace, Yao Shu lifted the small bar of brass that made the central lock. It was an ornate piece, carved and marked like a dragon curled around the centre of the door. Yet another sign of the Chin influence on the khan, Sorhatani thought as the door opened. A rush of wind chilled them all as she followed Yao Shu and Alkhun inside.

There were no lamps lit, but dim light came from one open window. The shutters had been thrown back with such force that one of them lay askew, a hinge broken. Long silk curtains billowed into the room, rustling and snapping at the walls with each gust.

The room was incredibly cold and their breath showed instantly as white mist. The outer door closed behind them and Sorhatani shivered as her eyes fell on the figure on a couch in the centre of the room. How could Ogedai withstand such a chill wearing only a thin silk tunic and leggings? His arms were bare and his feet looked bluish as he lay on his back and stared up at the ceiling.

He had not acknowledged them and Yao Shu had a moment of dread that they had found the khan's body. Then he saw pale mist rise from the still figure and he breathed again.

For a moment, none of them were sure how to proceed. The minghaan officer had seen that the khan still lived. His task was at an end, though his dignity forbade him from simply leaving, at least until he had apologised for invading the khan's privacy. Yao Shu too was quiet, guilty that he had failed in his orders. Sorhatani had manipulated them all.

Of course she was the first to speak.

'My lord khan,' Sorhatani said. She pitched her voice to carry over the noise of the wind, but Ogedai did not react. 'I have come to you in my grief, my lord.'

Still there was nothing and Yao Shu watched with interest as she firmed her jaw, visibly controlling irritation. The chancellor motioned for her to be taken away and the officer raised a hand to take her arm.

Sorhatani shrugged off the touch. 'My husband gave his life for you, my lord. How will you use his gift? Like this? Waiting for death in a frozen room?'

'That is enough,' Yao Shu said, horrified.

He took Sorhatani's arm in a firm grip and turned her back towards the door. All three froze as they heard a creak behind them. The khan had risen from his couch. His hands shook slightly as they turned to face him and his skin was a sickly yellow, his eyes bloodshot.

Under that cold gaze, the senior minghaan of the khan's Guards knelt and dipped his head to the floor.

'Rise, Alkhun,' Ogedai said in a hoarse whisper. 'Why are you here? Did I not say I was to be left alone?'

'My lord khan, I am sorry. I was led to understand you might be ill or dying.'

To his surprise, Ogedai smiled mirthlessly. 'Or indeed both, Alkhun. Well, you have seen me. Now get out.'

The officer moved with great speed to leave the room. Ogedai stared at his chancellor. He did not yet look at Sorhatani, though he had risen at her voice.

'Leave me, Yao Shu,' Ogedai said.

His chancellor bowed deeply, then tightened his hold on Sorhatani's arm as he began to guide her out.

'My lord khan!' she cried out.

'Enough!' Yao Shu snapped, yanking her. If he had released his grip, she would have fallen, but instead she swung around, helpless and furious.

'Take your hands away,' she hissed at him. 'Ogedai! How can you see me attacked and do nothing? Did I not stand with you on the night of knives, in this very palace? My husband would have answered this insult. Where is he now? Ogedai!'

She was in the doorway when the khan replied.

'You are dismissed, Yao Shu. Let her approach.'

'My lord,' he began, 'she…'

'Let her approach.'

Sorhatani shot a look of pure venom at the chancellor as she rubbed her arm and stood straight. Yao Shu bowed again and left the room without looking back, his face cold and emotionless. The door clanged softly behind him and she breathed slowly, hiding her delight. She was in. It had been close and even dangerous, but she had won through to the khan, alone.

Ogedai watched her come. He felt guilt, but he met her eyes. Before she could speak again, footsteps sounded, and a clinking of glass and metal. Sorhatani paused at the sight of the khan's manservant Baras'aghur carrying a tray into the room.

'I have a visitor, Baras,' Ogedai murmured.

The servant stared at Sorhatani with open hostility.

'The khan is not well. You should come back another time.'

He spoke with the confidence of a trusted man, his service to the khan beyond dispute. Sorhatani smiled at him, wondering if he had taken on a more motherly role during the khan's illness. He certainly seemed happy fussing around Ogedai.

When she did not move, Baras'aghur tightened his lips and set the tray down by his master with a gentle clinking. Then he faced her.

'The khan is not well enough for visitors,' he insisted, a little too loudly.

Sorhatani saw his growing indignation, so she spoke louder still. 'Thank you for the tea, Baras'aghur. I will serve the khan in your place. You do remember your place?'

The servant spluttered for a moment, looking to Ogedai. When the khan said nothing, Baras'aghur bowed with icy dislike and left the room. Sorhatani added a sprinkling of brown salt to the steaming golden liquid, salt that was so precious for life. Finally, she added milk from a tiny jug, its surface smooth in her hands. Her fingers were quick and sure.

'Serve me,' Ogedai said.

Gracefully, she knelt before him and held out the cup, bowing her head.

'I am yours to command, my lord khan,' she said.

She shivered slightly at the touch of his hands as he took it from her. He was like ice in that room where the wind blew constantly. From under lowered eyelids, she could see his face was mottled and dark, as if there were bruises deep within. Up close, his feet were veined like marble. His eyes were pale yellow as they regarded her. He sipped the tea, the plume of steam whipped away in the breeze.

Sorhatani settled herself, kneeling at his feet and looking up into his face.

'Thank you for sending me my son,' she said. 'It was a comfort to me to hear the worst from him.'