Casca 34: Devil's Horseman Read Online Free Page B

name.
    “Mongke.”
    “Mongke. If Mongke proves to me he’s a better choice then I’ll recommend him.”
    “You cannot!” the governor stood up, furious.
    “I can and I will, and there’s nothing you can do about it, Governor.” Casca glared at the red-faced Mongol. “You would appear to be concerned that I won’t find Kuyuk my preference. Any reason why that would be?”
    The governor made a disgusted noise and threw down his silken napkin and stormed off. The chief advisor got up hastily, knocking over his chair, and ran after him. The three remaining diners sat in silence for a moment. “Guess I pissed him off,” Casca said in a far from regretful tone.
    “You have made an enemy there, Casca-Badahur,” Kaidur said heavily. “Your stay in Samarkand will be short, I fear.”
    Casca shrugged. “Suits me. It would seem I have to visit the two rivals and see for myself who I think would be the better leader. Kuyuk, son of Ogedei, or Mongke. Tell me, is Mongke the son of Tolui, Genghis’ youngest son?”
    Kaidur nodded solemnly.
    Casca grunted. He seemed to remember the name of Mongke. Tolui had become a father just before Casca had left the Mongols seventeen years previously. It would be interesting to see how the squalling brat he’d seen had grown up. Kaidur stood up and bowed to Sorghe and Casca. “If you will excuse me, I must go about my duties before I sleep. There is much for me to do.”
    Sorghe acknowledged him with a languid wave of her hand. Casca faced her across the table and waited. Sorghe stood up and slowly walked round to his side. “You may go,” she said to the musicians in a slightly raised voice. Casca remained where he was, listening to the band departing and passing through the only doorway into the palace. Now, apart from two guards stood by the doorway, well out of sight, the two were alone.
    “The Old Young One,” Sorghe said slowly, running a hand along his arm. “I heard of you when I was a girl. I thought you to be mere legend.”
    “No legend, Sorghe, I’m real enough.”
    “A man of whom there is to be no written record, so the wise men said to me years ago. In time you will be forgotten, except perhaps in tall tales to be told by camp fires at night. A pity. You have strength. My husband is foolish to oppose you, but he is a weak man with ambitions and he does not follow who he should.”
    “Meaning you don’t think Kuyuk should be Khan?”
    Sorghe smiled in the starlight. “You must decide yourself and not listen to the words of a mere governor’s wife. I go where my husband goes, and he goes where Buri commands.”
    “And where is your husband now?”
    “He has gone to a room deep in the palace to vent his anger. You did the right thing in upsetting him; he will be gone for hours.”
    Casca chuckled. “So you and I could be together alone up here, is that it?”
    “Of course. He is a man who craves power, but he is not a powerful man. He works hard at furthering his political ambitions and has little time to be a husband. You, on the other hand, are a powerful man, yet you shy away from power. I have noticed your distaste when power is talked about. You could be the most powerful man in the Empire, yet you do not wish it. You do know, don’t you, that power is an aphrodisiac? You could have women attracted to you wherever you go.”
    “I do already; what do I need of a throne? Only those born to it or those greedy to obtain it will have it, and they find it’s a prison, not a throne. I leave that to those who want it. I’m content enough with what I am.” Casca looked at the woman stood before him. She was trembling slightly and her breath was coming shorter now. She was controlling herself, but only just. He found her desirable; slave girls he could have whenever he wanted because they were slaves and they must obey, but this was a free woman and therefore fornication with her would be much more because she wanted it too.
    Casca pushed his goblet away