Part 21 (1/2)

I tried not to glance at his feet, since I knew he was sensitive about them.

”I am pleased with the Latin. I have given him the honor of telling the story of the battle of Vochan. If he does well, I plan to reward him with another a.s.signment, to send him south, to Kinsay. He can report to me about conditions there.”

Marco would not be pleased with such an a.s.signment. He wanted to go home. In fact, my new plan required him to return to Christendom.

”I believe that...” I stumbled over my words. I had not planned to discuss Marco's future with the Khan. ”That Latin is a mere merchant. He, his father, and his uncle wish to return to their homeland, laden with goods to trade. If he pleases you, the best reward might be to grant him the goods they need and let them return.”

The Khan's intense look jabbed into my face. ”Nesruddin has rewarded him well. You wish for him to leave?”

I did not want to make my request in the context of Marco's future. ”I...I think...he wants to go home.”

”I have a question for you, Emmajin Beki. I a.s.signed you to report on the foreigner, not to befriend him. Abaji tells me you became too friendly with him.”

I sputtered. What else had Abaji seen or reported to the Khan?

The Khan kept me off balance. ”I trust you kept your virtue, as a princess of the royal family.”

I looked him straight in the eye, glad I could rea.s.sure him. ”Yes, I did. Of course.”

”And what of the Latin's behavior? Did he act honorably toward you?”

I straightened my back. ”Indeed, he did. His actions are the most honorable. Did Abaji tell you of his intelligence, how he helped to win the battle, using fire medicine?”

”Yes. Most admirable.” The Khan still examined my face.

”Messer Marco also showed generosity. After the battle, when many of our Mongol soldiers lay gravely wounded, he offered precious medicine to help our soldiers.”

The Khan's thin eyebrows rose. ”So I have been told.”

”His action showed bravery, even heroism, though in a quiet way.”

”I am glad to hear it. I had some concerns, sending him to the South in your company. Clearly, you admire him. And trust him.”

I tried not to blush. The Khan's concerns were justified, and I had trouble concealing that. My grandfather was known as a good judge of character, and I feared he could see right through me.

”Still, I did not summon you to discuss the future of Messer Marco. I wish to discuss your future, Emmajin.”

I swallowed hard and rehea.r.s.ed my words again in my head.

But the Khan seized momentum. ”General Abaji is willing to have you remain under his command.”

”I am honored. I have great respect for General Abaji.” Now was the time to speak up. Still in awe of the Khan, I scrambled to recall the words I had rehea.r.s.ed.

”I understand Suren's death affected you sorely,” he said.

That familiar pang pierced my gut. ”I am sorry I could not prevent it,” I said.

”Have you had enough of battles?”

The right answer was no; my heart said yes, but I could not find my voice.

The Khan heard much in my silence. ”Do you wish to leave the army?”

My eyes flitted to Chabi. What had she told him? Her face was impa.s.sive.

My highest dream had been to join the army. How could I leave it after just one battle? I hung my head in shame. ”Yes,” I said quietly.

”I have had an offer of marriage for you,” the Khan continued before I could collect my words. ”This is an attractive offer that would be of service to our family. My daughter Yurak, married to the king of Togtoh, has a son who will soon be of marriageable age. This is an alliance I wish to strengthen.”

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes s.h.i.+fted to my grandmother again. Is this what she had planned? If the Khan had made up his mind, it was over for me.

”Once, you told me you did not wish to marry,” he said.

”That remains true,” I said. I was supposed to add, but I will do whatever the Great Khan commands but I will do whatever the Great Khan commands, but could not bring myself to do so. ”But I...”

”You wish to make a difference?” So Chabi had spoken to him.

”Yes!” I said, with more enthusiasm. ”Since the Khan entrusted me-”

The Khan cut me off. ”Your grandmother has suggested a role for you, and I agree. You are aware of this Chinese boy who dared to call himself Emperor of China?”

I nodded, wondering what this could have to do with my future.

”This boy's mother is young, like you. Your a.s.signment is to become her companion, to teach her the ways of the Mongols. You did well civilizing that young Latin. The Empress believes you could civilize this Chinese woman as well.”

I was shocked. They had thought this through, and he had made a decision. Chabi's eyes shone with pride and satisfaction. Was this what she had meant by being a messenger of peace?

”Your Majesty honors me,” I said, the right words. ”But I...I had another idea.” How could I dare suggest a different a.s.signment? And yet I had to speak now.

The Khan's eyebrows rose again. ”Tell me,” he commanded.

I swallowed hard. ”Last summer, Your Majesty entrusted me with the task of spying on the Latins, Marco Polo and his father and uncle. I gathered much knowledge about their homeland's kings and armies. I even learned a few words of their language.”

The Khan and his empress remained silent.

”The most important thing I learned is that Christendom is weak, a group of small countries with no strong central government or army. But it has many smart people and much potential. There is no need to send our army to invade it.”

There! I had said it. The Khan narrowed his eyes with suspicion. I knew he would think that I was siding with the foreigner. I went on, needing to speak my piece. I had said it. The Khan narrowed his eyes with suspicion. I knew he would think that I was siding with the foreigner. I went on, needing to speak my piece.

”I am but a woman, and not skilled in great matters. But perhaps you could send me, as your emissary, to their leader, the Pope...with a letter from you. My very presence, as a granddaughter of the Khan of all Khans, could convince the Pope that the countries of Christendom should be friendly subjects.”

The Khan's head jerked back at this remarkable idea. Yet his first reaction was not to reject it, as I had feared. ”I have already deigned to communicate with their Pope,” he said. ”I sent him a letter, through the Polos, ten years ago.”

”And their Pope wrote back, expressing a desire for peace,” I said. ”It should not be hard to convince their leaders to cooperate with us. If you were to send me to Christendom, as your envoy, I could convey your goodwill and establish friendly relations with the Pope and his people. Sending a member of the Golden Family would be a stronger message than sending a letter with merchants. Marco and his father could tell the Pope of the Great Khan's power, wealth, and wise rule. Perhaps the Pope would agree to join the Mongol Empire by sending gifts of tribute, with no need to engage in battle.”

It was foolhardy to give unsolicited advice to the Khan of all Khans. But I felt strongly about traveling to Marco's homeland as an emissary of the Great Khan. I could meet the Pope of the Latins, who was, after all, a man who knew Marco and his father. Then he could send the one hundred Christian scholars the Great Khan had requested. Perhaps I could visit Venezia, to see its streets of water. Back in my own chambers, I had imagined the entire journey. It had seemed possible, this plan of mine.

The Khan frowned. ”You would travel with this foreign family? The Khan of all Khans does not entrust his granddaughter's virtue to foreign merchants.”