IntheRourancamp,warriorsalsoreadiedforbattle.Swordswerebeingsharpenedandbowswerebeingstretched.B??riKhanwasalsopreparing.Hestoodwithhisbarechestglisteningashewashedhimself.Itwasaritual,onethatallowedhimtobracehimselfbothphysicallyandmentallyforthefightahead.

Khanwaspleased.Hisarmyhadgrown,andnowhundredsofyurtsfilledwithhundredsofmendottedtheharshlandscapearoundhim.Ithadtakenhimmoretimethanhehadhoped,butwiththedeathofDubaTeginhehadensuredtheloyaltyofallthetribes.

NowtheyjustneededtotakeovertheEmpire.

Hearingthefamiliarscreechofahawk,heturnedasthebirdflewintohistent.Ashewatched,thecreaturetransformed.Wingsbecamearms,clawsturnedtofeet,andsoonXianniangstoodinfrontofhim.

“Youhavenewsfromthegarrison?”Khanasked,notstoppinghiswashing.

Thewitchnodded.Shehadbeenonpatrolformostofthenightandlookedbotheredtonothavehiscompleteattention.“Newsoldiers,”shereported.“Children.Itwillfall.Beforethenewmoonyouwilltakethekingdom.Youwillhaveyourrevenge.Ifourplancontinues.”

Atherwords,B??riKhan’shandstilledandheliftedhisgazetomeethers.Hedidn’tlikethedefiantedgetohertone.“Whatthreatensourplan?”heasked.Ashespoke,hetookamenacingsteptowardthewitch.

“Imustbeabletotrustyou,”Xianniangsaid,hertonecold.ShedidnotshrinkawayfromB??riKhan’shulkingbody,butshedidliftherchesthigher,asthoughtryingtomatchhim.

“Youcan’ttrustme,”hereplied,takingsomesmallsatisfactionfromthesurprisethatflickeredoverthewitch’sface.“Butyouhavenochoice.WhenIfoundyououtonthedesertsteppe,wanderingalone,youwereexiled.Ascorneddog.Yourpowersmeantnothingwithoutme.”Hestopped,hiswordshangingheavyintheair.HestareddownatXianniang,waitingforherresponse.

Inaflash,Xianniang’stalonswereoutandwrappedaroundhisneck.“Icouldtearyoutopiecesbeforeyoublink,”shehissed.

B??riKhanfeltthetalonsathisthroatandsawtheangerinthewitch’seyes.Butheremainedcalm.Whenhespoke,hisvoicewaseven—andicecold.“Rememberwhatyouwant.Aplacewhereyourpowerswillnotbevilified.Aplacewhereyouareacceptedforwhoyouare.”Hewatchedthewitch’sexpressiongrowangrierasthewordsshehadsaidtohiminconfidenceechoedbackather.“Youwon’tgetwhatyouwantwithoutme.Anddoyouwanttoknowwhy?”Hepaused,thoughheknewshewouldn’tanswer.“Noarmywillfollowawoman.”Helethiswordshangintheair.“Trustmeornot,I’myouronlyoption.”

B??riKhanwatchedastheangerdimmedinhereyes.Xianniangknewhewasright.

“Rememberyoualsoneedme,B??riKhan,”sherepliedafterashortpause,hergripstilltightonhisneck.

“Idon’tdenyit,”B??riKhansaid.

Theyheldeachother’sgazeforamomentlonger.XianniangwithdrewhertalonsfromB??riKhan’sthroat.

“Wewillfinishwhatwestarted,”shesaid.

Thistime,B??riKhangaveanod.“Yes,”heagreed.“Andyouwillseetoitthatnothing—andnoone—standsinourway.”

Pushingpasther,B??riKhanputonatunicandstrodeovertothedooroftheyurt.Yes,thingswerefallingintoplace.Hehadhisarmy.Hehadhiswitch.Andsoonhewouldhavehiskingdom.

Mulanstaredoutatthethickmistinfrontofher.Thesuntriedtocutthroughthegray,makingithardtoseewhatwasshadowandwhatwasreal.AstrideBlackWind,Mulancouldmakeoutabitmorethanthesoldiersonthegroundcould.Butnotmuchmore.