The cities of Buda and Pest had been sacked over days, then looted carefully of anything that they needed or desired. Baidur trotted through streets of half-burnt houses, seeing stones that had been hot enough to shatter into rubble over the open road. Though King Bela had escaped, the army of Hungary had been slaughtered, almost too many to count. Tsubodai's tallymen had collected sacks of ears and some talked of sixty thousand dead or more. The scouts were already out roaming further west, but for a season, the tumans could pause in the great trek, growing strong and fat on rich meat and stolen wine.

Tsubodai sent riders to Guyuk and Mongke to bring them in. Their flanking rides were ended and he chose to gather them all in one place, ready to push on to the sea.

Batu had seen the riders go out and so he was surprised when one of his men brought him news of tumans coming from the south. It was too early for Tsubodai's orders to have reached Guyuk, but he called to Baidur and they rode out of camp.

They were among the first to recognise the banners of Guyuk's tuman. Batu laughed at the sight and dug in his heels, sending his pony galloping across the open grassland. There were many stories to tell and he anticipated enough drunken evenings to recount them all. As he and Baidur drew closer, neither man noticed the dark expressions on the faces of the returning warriors at first. There was no mood of jubilation in the tumans of Guyuk and Mongke. Guyuk in particular looked as grim as Batu had ever seen him.

'What is it, cousin?' Batu said, his smile fading.

Guyuk turned his head and Batu saw his eyes were red-rimmed and sore-looking.

'The khan is dead,' Guyuk said.

Batu shook his head. 'Your father? How? He was still young.'

Guyuk looked at him from under lowered brows, forcing the words out.

'His heart. I must see Tsubodai now.'

Batu and Baidur fell in at his side. Baidur had paled and he was lost in thought as they rode. He knew his father better than anyone and he was suddenly afraid the men around him had become his enemies.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Batu stayed with Guyuk, Mongke and Baidur as they entered the river city of Buda and made their way through the streets to the palace Tsubodai was using for his base. It was left to their senior minghaan officers to find lodging and food for the men in the ransacked city. The four princes rode to the royal palace and dismounted at the outer gate. They passed the guards without a challenge. The orlok's officers took one look and chose discretion rather than the letter of their orders.

For once, Guyuk led the small group, with Batu striding at his right shoulder. They found Tsubodai in an empty ballroom, where a huge dining table had been dragged in and piled with maps and papers. The orlok was deep in conversation with Jebe, Chulgetei and Ilugei. The other men were nodding as Tsubodai adjusted coins to show the position of tumans on the landscape. Batu took in the scene at a glance and smiled tightly to himself. It was a meeting of young and old, and for the first time, Batu was confident he could predict the outcome.

Tsubodai looked up as the four princes crossed the hall, their steps echoing in the space. He frowned at the sight of their stern expressions and stood back from the table.

'I did not summon you here,' he said. He was looking at Batu, but his gaze snapped over in surprise as Guyuk answered.

'My father is dead, orlok.'

Tsubodai closed his eyes for a moment, his face stiff. He nodded to himself.

'Please sit down,' he said. His authority was so deeply ingrained that all four moved to the chairs around the table, though Batu held back, wanting to keep the impetus they had brought with them. Tsubodai spoke again before anyone else.

'Was it his heart?' he said.

Guyuk took in a breath. 'So you knew then? Yes, it was his heart.'

'He told me, when he told his brother Chagatai,' Tsubodai replied. His eyes fell on Baidur as Guyuk turned in the chair.

'I knew nothing,' Baidur said coldly.

Guyuk turned back, but Tsubodai let his eyes remain on Baidur until the young man was shifting uncomfortably.

Tsubodai had a hundred things he wanted to say, but he controlled himself with an effort of will.

'What are your plans?' he asked Guyuk. The more detached part of him was interested to see how Guyuk would respond. Whatever remnant there was left of his youth had been suddenly strangled. Tsubodai looked at the young prince, understanding the quiet reserve he now saw. There was new weight on Guyuk's shoulders, whether he wanted it or not.

'I am my father's heir,' Guyuk said. 'I must return to Karakorum.'

Once more, Tsubodai looked to Baidur. The orlok grimaced, but the words had to be said.

'Are you aware of the threat from your uncle? He has a claim to the khanate.'

Neither man looked directly at Baidur as he flushed.

Guyuk cocked his head slightly in thought and Tsubodai was pleased to see him weigh his response. There was no place for the foolish young man he had been, not any longer.

'The yam rider reached me a month ago. I have had time to consider it,' Guyuk said. 'I will require an oath of allegiance from the tumans here.'

'That will have to wait,' Tsubodai said. 'When we are finished here, you will summon the nation as your father did.'

Baidur shifted again and was ignored. His was an impossible position, but he was growing desperate to speak.

'I can let you have four tumans, leaving me only three,' Tsubodai said. 'You must return in force to secure the khanate. Chagatai cannot put more than two, perhaps three, in the field.' He stared coldly at Baidur. 'It is my recommendation that you have Baidur remain with me, rather than force him to choose between cousin and father.' He dipped his head to Baidur. 'My apologies, general.'

Baidur opened his mouth, but he could not find the words. It was Batu who spoke next, for the first time. Tsubodai's eyes and jaw tightened instantly at his voice, betraying an inner tension.

'You know Chagatai Khan better than any of us, except for Baidur. How do you think he will react when he hears the news?'

Tsubodai did not look at Batu as he replied, keeping his gaze locked on Guyuk. Every word seemed to be dragged out of him.

'If he is rash, he will take his tumans to Karakorum.'

'If he is rash…I see,' Batu replied, enjoying the discomfort he saw. 'And what will follow, when Guyuk Khan returns home?'

'Chagatai will either negotiate, or he will fight. No one can know his mind.' Tsubodai clasped his hands on the table and leaned closer to Guyuk. 'Believe me: Chagatai Khan is not the threat you believe.'

It looked as if he might go on, but then Tsubodai clamped his jaw and waited. The decision was not simply a military one. Batu could hardly control the quirking of his lips at seeing Tsubodai at a loss.

Guyuk let the men at the table sweat for a time before he shook his head.

'If you can offer me no more than that as assurance, orlok, I must take the tumans home. All of them.' He glanced at Jebe and Chulgetei, but the older men were not part of the decision. Tsubodai had ultimate authority over the army, but this was not a military problem.

Tsubodai let out a long breath. 'General, I have new maps that show lands that are not even legends to us. The city of Vienna is but a hundred miles further west. The homeland of the Templar knights is beyond it. Italy is to the south. Already, I have scouts in the mountains there, planning the next stage. This has been my life's achievement.' He stopped himself rather than beg, as Guyuk gazed stonily at him.

'I will need all the tumans, Orlok Tsubodai. All.'

'You do not need the ragged conscripts. Leave me but those and two tumans and I will go on.'