Free Casca 34: Devil's Horseman by Tony Roberts Page A

him.”
    “Oh, Batu, stop fussing over me; you’re like a wet nurse! I have faith in Casca-Badahur here to make sure I arrive at my bedside intact!”
    Batu nodded and backed away, concern still exhibiting itself over his features. The two men left the noise and revelry and paused outside as the chill air assaulted their lungs. Kaidur stepped out behind them and sucked in his breath, cursing. Subedei coughed a few times, then showed Casca the way, both of their personal guard stepping in their wake. The old warhorse was strangely silent as they made their short way across the frozen soil to his quarters.
    Casca turned just before following Subedei into his tent. “Go make sure Ashira and the others are back in our yurt. Then return here, and make sure you’re wearing your sword.”
    “It will be done,” Kaidur bowed and backed away.
    “Faithful man you have there, Old Young One,” Subedei commented quietly. His face was serious. “It is good, these are times when loyalty and good service are essential. Come.”
    Inside, it was warm. A large fire flickered away in the center and slaves hovered, ready to do their master’s bidding. Subedei instead dismissed them with a flick of his fingers and the two were left in privacy. Subedei waddled over to a large pine chest, reinforced with bands of iron. He fished out a key from his clothing and unlocked the chest and fumbled amongst the clothes Casca could see were inside.
    Subedei looked round to make sure nobody was in sight, then pulled out a dazzling jewel and handed it to Casca. It was beautiful. It was of gold and inlaid with jade and lapis lazuli in an intricate pattern, and was the size of his fist, suspended on a chain of gold. It was clearly a necklace of some sort. The gems formed a shape of a dragon’s head.
    “It’s magnificent,” Casca said. “What is it?”
    “Once owned by the Emperors of Hsia, it was taken by Genghis Khan on his last campaign, and he wore it until his death. It was used to confirm Ogedei’s accession, and whoever succeeds him must be wearing this to legitimize his rule. We call it the Khanate Stone. It was touched by Genghis himself and is therefore sacred.”
    Casca felt a chill run over him. He had a nasty feeling something was about to be said that he didn’t want to hear. “So why are you showing me this?”
    Subedei locked the chest and put the key away. “I am relieved you are here amongst us. You may have become aware that there are two main rivals for Ogedei’s throne; both seek this stone. Neither must have it.”
    “Why? If a new Khan is to be crowned, then from what you say this must be present at the ceremony!”
    Subedei waved a hand to brush aside Casca’s words. “You misunderstand me. Neither must have it until Ogedei’s death. If one finds it now they will return to Karakorum and use it to seize power and the empire will be plunged into civil war. Only when Ogedei dies can one have this. I also believe you must choose which one. These new princes do not follow the ways of you and me, or of Genghis. They know nothing of what it took to forge the peoples of Mongolia into one. They seek power for power’s sake.” He turned away in disgust and sank onto his bed. “So they will brush aside tradition and what is best for the Mongol people so they can take the throne. You must not let this out of your sight, Old Young One. I trust you because I know you. I cannot entrust this to anyone else.”
    Casca sighed. He had a feeling something like this had been coming. “Very well, Subedei my old friend, I’ll wear it upon my person. Are you saying one or both of these rivals would kill to get their hands on this?”
    The old man grinned a death’s head leer. “Or a follower. More likely a follower. There are plenty within this army who profess support for one or the other. This is supposed to be Batu’s army, but I wouldn’t trust it to stay in one piece if one of them gets hold of that.”
    Casca slipped it over