The celebration was muted, however, by the growing evidence that their recent triumph, however symbolically important, had done little to address the danger now gathering around them.
The population of Banua had noticeably increased during the weeks Bo-Jing and his company had been away. The most obvious newcomers were members of the Bolad horde returning to the seat of their khan, as was their right. But more and more of the new arrivals were refugees from the Nergui horde.
They were not soldiers.
They were families. Widows. Children.
Ganbaatar called them his “long-lost people returned,” deliberately striking a tone of generosity rather than conquest. Clearly, Gansukh had not been able to defend his people as well as Ganbaatar.
But an uncomfortable question hung over Banua.
Would “better than Gansukh” prove to be good enough?
Bo-Jing discussed the matter with Ryu and came to the one obvious conclusion. As an Imperial baghatur, he was not Ganbaatar’s man and he was not a partisan of the Bolad horde. His commission might have brought him north to collect taxes, but it also gave him responsibilities to the people of the frontier, Bolad and Nergui alike.
He would go to Khazu Kala.
He would make peace with Gansukh if possible and, regardless of whether he succeeded, find some way to bring help to the people there. If he could not organize a defense himself, he would gather enough information to make a compelling report to the Imperial authorities.
The mysterious Salt had also found her way to Banua.
Bo-Jing suspected that Bangqiu had somehow contacted her through the dreamworld. Regardless, he was glad to have the advice of another magician before confronting the armies of the “Master.”
Another newcomer also volunteered to join them.
Nekhil was a wandering warrior with a poor horse, shabby leather armor, and little besides his spear. His explanation was simple.
Every shaman deserved a bodyguard.
Salt, apparently finding nothing unusual in this arrangement, accepted his protection. Bo-Jing welcomed Nekhil into the company.
Nar-Nuteng, however, made a different choice. She respected the customs of her people and the ancient taboo against entering the Valley of the Five Fires. She would remain in Banua.
And so Bo-Jing departed with Bangqiu, Salt, Ryu, Nekhil, and the usual members of his retinue.
En route to the lands of the Nergui, they encountered a khimori—a blue-black flying horse—who introduced himself as Ses-Hami, son of Npi-Nhut, the khimori Bo-Jing had previously met in the Valley of the Five Fires.
Ses-Hami brought grim news.
The Valley had been invaded by evil creatures who defiled the cradle of humanity with wanton bloodshed. They fought one another, killed animals, and set the grasslands ablaze.
At first, the khimori had been able to avoid the danger simply by taking flight.
Then the land-bound monsters were joined by flying abominations: lions with the heads and enormous razor-sharp beaks of eagles.
These creatures could pursue the khimori into the sky.
Several of the herd had already been killed. Without assistance, Ses-Hami feared the rest would soon be eliminated.
Bo-Jing immediately promised to help.
That night, however, he slept badly.
He had been traveling toward Khazu Kala because frightened people needed him. Now he had promised aid to the khimori as well. Every detour carried a cost, and Bo-Jing found himself wondering whether the promise he had just made might eventually be paid for in human lives.
By morning, he had reached a decision.
Helping the khimori might also help the people of Khazu Kala. If nothing else, entering the Valley would teach him something about the creatures causing such havoc throughout the northern frontier.
The company turned toward the Valley of the Five Fires.
On the approach, they passed through the Bolad fire camp that guarded one of the traditional entrances.
It had been completely destroyed.
Every firewatcher was dead.
Bo-Jing and his companions crossed into the Valley.
There they encountered a group of haggard soldiers carrying crimson shields.
The strangers reacted with open joy and relief at the sight of other natural people. They identified themselves as warriors of the Clan of the Worm and told a story much like the ones Bo-Jing had already heard elsewhere.
Their lands had been overrun by beastmen.
The creatures attacked without reason or apparent purpose except for their obsessive search for two people they called the “deaf witch” and the “queen with no name.”
Circumstances had become so desperate that the Worm Clan warriors had broken the taboo against entering the Valley of the Five Fires. Their plan was to cross it, warn their treaty-partners among the Nergui, and begin organizing a common defense.
Bo-Jing thanked them for the warning and agreed that all people threatened by the invaders would need to stand together.
He believed the “deaf witch” might be Naransetseg, wife of Gansukh, khan of the Nergui horde.
He intended to accompany the Worm Clan warriors toward the Nergui lands.
But first, he had made a promise to the khimori.
The men of the Worm Clan asked to travel with him. They had seen enough already to recognize in Bo-Jing a true baghatur of courage and honor.
Bo-Jing welcomed their help gladly.
Not long afterward, the enlarged company encountered several of the beastmen the Worm Clan had described.
What they saw was worse than expected.
These did not appear to be creatures born as beasts. Beneath the claws, fangs, and strange tattoos were recognizably human bodies caught in the midst of some agonizing transformation.
The creatures were fearsome opponents.
Bangqiu and Salt struck first, blasting them with scalding steam and other magic. Those who survived were swiftly cut down by Bo-Jing and his men.
The Worm Clan warriors pledged their gratitude for having been accepted into such valiant company.
Some time later, Ses-Hami approached Bo-Jing privately.
There was something he had not told him.
His father, Npi-Nhut, had been captured by the beastmen.
The creatures had offered Ses-Hami a bargain: deliver Bo-Jing to them, and they would spare his father.
After traveling with Bo-Jing, Ses-Hami had come to understand that he was not merely formidable but honorable. And he knew his father would rather die than purchase his freedom with the betrayal of such a man.
Ses-Hami also knew where the enemy was waiting.
The beastmen and other monsters had prepared an ambush along the main path into the Valley, expecting Bo-Jing to pass beneath them.
But Ses-Hami knew another route.
A narrow path through the forest climbed even higher than the ambush point.
If Bo-Jing agreed, they could approach the enemy from above, rescue Npi-Nhut, and turn the ambush against those who had prepared it.
Bo-Jing agreed immediately.
Ses-Hami led the company through the forest and eventually to the crest of a steep grassy slope overlooking the main path below.
The khimori had spoken the truth.
A group of beastmen and three trolls waited above the path. They had assembled a great mass of rubble, held in place by logs and ropes, ready to be released onto anyone passing beneath them.
Nearby, Npi-Nhut stood chained to a rock.
Three enormous wolves guarded him.
Bangqiu rose into the air.
From above, he cast down a ring of fire around the would-be ambushers. The flames expanded, trapping the beastmen and trolls inside.
The Worm Clan warriors loosed arrows into the surrounded enemy.
The wolves charged uphill.
Bo-Jing ordered his men to concentrate their arrows on the animals while he stepped forward, sword ready, to meet whatever survived.
Salt added her own magic to the volley.
Two of the wolves fell before reaching the company.
Only one reached Bo-Jing.
He killed it with a single blow.
Below, the ambushers tried desperately to escape Bangqiu’s burning prison. Some were consumed by the flames. Others managed to break free and charge uphill, only to be overwhelmed by Bo-Jing and his men as they reached the crest.
Soon the monsters were dead.
Bo-Jing’s company had turned an ambush into a complete victory.
And not one of them had fallen.
Npi-Nhut was freed from his chains.
He confirmed his son’s account and expressed pride in Ses-Hami’s choice.
The elder khimori announced that he would gather the surviving members of the herd. With Bo-Jing’s permission, they too would join the growing company as it continued its campaign through the Valley.
Bo-Jing agreed.
The party that had entered the Valley seeking information was becoming something else.
Everywhere they went, survivors were choosing to follow.
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