The Shadow’s Curse Read Online Free Page B

would be the one screaming in endless agony for a month.
    Khareh’s eyes darted to his shadow.
    ‘Seriously?’ He said to the shadow. ‘He’s coming now?’ He paused. ‘Well, stop him. I don’t want to be disturbed.’
    It disconcerted Wadi so much to know that the shadow Khareh was speaking to was the spirit of Raim. Part of Raim was in the room with them. Although she didn’t know if she had ever ‘met’ that particular part. She couldn’t imagine any side of the Raim she knew willingly helping Khareh achieve his plans.
    The haunt hadn’t managed to relay the message fast enough, as the curtain moved again and from behind it appeared Garus’s pinched, wrinkled face, his head wrapped in an elaborate turban, his long robe made from fine silk and embroidered with luxurious golden thread.
    Obviously he wasn’t missing Lazar one bit. There was no hint of the shabbiness Lazarites took a strange sort of pride in. He grew fatter every day that Wadi saw him, a second chin gradually filling out under his long beard, and occasionally he had the glassy-eyed look and hiccupping wobble of a man who was indulging too much in fermented mare’s milk, although today his gaze was clear.
    ‘My Khan, your great Eminence,’ he started, with his head bowed.
    ‘GET OUT!’ yelled Khareh from his position on the cushions. ‘I told you I didn’t want to be interrupted! Just give me a few minutes, you spawn of an oathbreaker.’
    Wadi flinched from his anger, and so did Garus, who scurried from the yurt like a rat chased by a feral cat. Watching him, Wadi raised an eyebrow, despite herself. It was a small comfort that Khareh treated his closest advisers as badly as he did his prisoners.
    ‘Sorry about that,’ Khareh said. ‘I’m just so tired of his bleating.’ He rubbed his fingers against his temples. Wadi had to admit, he did look tired. Worn, even. Served him right. ‘At least the days of travelling should be over soon.’
    Wadi sat up straighter at that, and Khareh noticed.
    He smiled. ‘I know – it’s taking us for ever, isn’t it?’
    She let her curiosity get the better of her. ‘Where are we going?’
    ‘We’re nearing Yelak. There is a walled city there – Samar – have you heard of it?’ Wadi shook her head, but Khareh continued anyway. ‘It’s a dirty place, not much bigger than Kharein, but the tribes of Yelak are strong. They are ruled by Mermaden, the warlord of Samar.’ Khareh cracked his knuckles, the sound turning Wadi’s stomach. ‘He refuses to pay me tribute, so I must pay him a visit. Moving an army this size is more of a challenge than I’d anticipated. But I suppose that’s what happens when you call all your promised warlords and their tribes to your side.’
    ‘World domination is tough?’ she said, injecting as much venom into her voice as possible.
    ‘What would you have me do? If you’re so smart in the ways of ruling, smarter than any of my advisers, smarter than me, tell me what I should do? I’ve spent my whole life training for this, learning how to rule and how to keep the peace, even if my wretched uncle had been planning to strip me of my right to the khanate.’ He stopped and narrowed his eyes at her. ‘So, tell me, you, who are just an ignorant desert savage, you think you know more than me?’
    ‘I know that you’ll never inspire true loyalty if you just go around killing everyone!’
    ‘Oh really? My uncle’s method of diplomacy worked really well, didn’t it? Do you know how many times neighbouring tribes attacked us during his reign? At least once a month, sometimes back-to-back, without a moment for our people to rest. Each time required soldiers and horses and resources that Darhan just doesn’t have to beat them back. If we amassed as a single people, united under one knot, do you know how much stronger we would be?’
    ‘Your uncle united more knots in a single rule than all of his predecessors put together.’
    ‘But not enough, and he was losing