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people believe in him. Also he is a Buriat. Beyond his own self-interest,
which may or may not rule him in a given instance, he has in mind the interest
of his people and his tribe. That is not true of foreigners, however able,
however powerful. Fong is a much more powerful wizard, but his loyalties are
to his emperor.
 And your loyalties?
 My loyalty is to the Tao.
 Hmm. I have heard of the Tao, but do not know what it is. It is a very old
belief that is lost to us. Do the people of the west have it?
 A few do. I learned of it from my first teacher, Raadgiver, counselor to
chiefs. It had been passed down to him through many generations. At the time I
accepted it as an idea. Since then it has become more and more real to me.
Kaidu had watched Nils carefully while they d talked. Now he contemplated the
Northman at some length, his eyes fixed on the sunken sockets, the collapsed
and wrinkled lids. Finally he said,  Tell me, Northman, can you see without
your eyes?
 Easily. Nils put Svartvinge aside, stood up and stepped forward, taking the
one eye from beneath the kerchief, the other from the drinking bowl.
When he d returned them to his face, he changed the subject.  Your brother has
had marvelous experiences and adventures in the west, he said.  I believe you
would find them interesting and enlightening.
TWENTY ONE
Achikh told Kaidu some of his experiences and observations in the West,
including Nils s fights in the arena, first with the lion, then with the Orc.
When he was done, it was evening, and soon time for supper.
Kaidu had already arranged to have the council as his dinner guests, and
Achikh begged to be excused. He wished to see his mother before he slept.
Kaidu agreed. He knew too well the ugly relationship between Achikh s mother,
Khada an, and his own mother, Dokuz. And he preferred that it not color his
friendship with his younger brother, whom he saw as potentially a powerful
supporter.
Actually Achikh was a half-brother, but the distinction was generally ignored
in the Mongol culture. And while Kaidu didn t mention it, of course, most of
the tribe considered Dokuz s mistreatment of Khada an as more or less
disgraceful. Mothers-in-law were
often harsh to daughters-in-law, but not usually with such rancor, especially
when earlier they d both been wives of the same man. And to a degree, the
public disapproval reflected on himself. Thus Kaidu was careful always to
treat Khada an respectfully, and speak well of her.
As for Nils and the others, they would be fed in their own ger by the woman
assigned.
Word was sent to Khada an that her son had returned and would visit her for
supper. Her ger was not large, but it was large enough for herself and her
household, and to entertain a few friends.
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Its furnishings were excellent. All in all it was appropriate to her unusual
status -- a younger widow of a chief who was not wife to the inheriting son.
For normally, the inheriting son inherited his father s wives, except for his
own mother. Typically his own mother would rule the women of the household --
his wives and inherited wives -- as the mother-in-law. Such rule could be
pleasant or unpleasant.
Dokuz, Kaidu s mother, was Kokchü s first and eldest wife, a famous beauty
with a face flatter than an owl s. She was the favorite daughter of the rich
and powerful Mengetu family. Khada an, Achikh s mother, was his fourth and
final wife, neither beautiful nor ugly, and Achikh was Khada an s only
surviving son, the sixth son of eight, by various wives, who d survived their
father. Khada an s family, the Tokurs, was neither rich nor powerful, though
respected for their integrity and the quality of their horses.
According to Dokuz, her dislike of the younger woman grew out of Khada an s
inanities when the women would sit in the ger and do the many tasks that women
do there. Besides, Khada an did not look the part of a chief s wife, for the
wives of any prominent man were expected to get fat, preferably very fat, and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]