Genghis: Lords of the Bow

Courage cannot be left like bones in a bag. It must be brought out and shown the light again and again, growing stronger each time. If you think it will keep for the times you need it, you are wrong. It is like any other part of your strength. If you ignore it, the bag will be empty when you need it most.

Your brother beat him almost to death, Temujin. He held him and kicked him until he cried like a child. He is afraid of you, so he hates you. It would be wrong to hurt him again. It would be like beating a dog after it has loosed it's bladder. The spirit is already broken in him.

I am the land, the bones of the hills," he said fiercely, "I am the winter. When I am dead, I will come for you all in the coldest nights.

No man could be a khan to his mother.

There was no justice in the world, but he had known that ever since the death of his father. The spirits took no part in the lives of men once they had been born. A man either endured what the world sent his way, or was crushed.

Be careful in your life, Tolui. I want you fit and strong for when I come for you.

He was the khan of Wolves and he feared no man. They would pay dearly for his skin.

He had a vision of a nation. The incredible martial skills of the Mongol tribes had always been wasted against each other. From nothing, surrounded by enemies, Temujin rose to unite them all. What came next would shake the world.

Temujin snorted. "Never lose faith in me, little brother. My word is iron and I will always come home.

We are the silver people, the Mongols. When they ask, tell them there are no tribes. Tell them I am khan of the sea of grass, and they will know me by that name, as Genghis. Yes, tell them that. Tell them that I am Genghis and I will ride.

The eagles ruled the air as the tribes ruled the land.

We feed the soil with our blood, our endless feuding,” he said after a time. “We always have, but that does not mean we always should. I have shown that a tribe can come from the Quirai, the Wolves, the Woyela, the Naimans. We are one people, Arslan. When we are strong enough, I will make them come to me, or I will break them one at a time. I tell you we are one people. We are Mongols, Arslan. We are the silver people and one khan can lead us all.” “You are drunk, or dreaming,” Arslan replied, ignoring his son’s discomfort. “What makes you think they would ever accept you?” “I am the land,” Temujin replied. “And the land sees no difference in the families of our people.

I will kill them,” Temujin promised, rage kindling in him. “I will burn them and eat their flesh if they do.” “That will bring you peace, but it will not change anything for Borte,” Hoelun said. “What else can I do? She cannot kill them as I could, or force them to kill her, even. Nothing that happens is her fault.” He found himself crying and wiped angrily at bloody tears on his cheeks. “She trusted me.” “You cannot make this right, my son. Not if they escape your brothers. If you find her alive, you will have to be patient and kind.” “I know that! I love her; that is enough.” “It was,” Hoelun persisted. “It may not be enough any longer.

A multitude of rulers is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king.

My son's name is Temujin," he said. "He will be iron.

They cannot stand alone against us,” Temujin said. “We will take them one by one.

The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him. To ride their horses and take away their possessions, to see the faces of those who were dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms.

You do not hunt a man who comes looking for you," Temujin reminded him softly.

They are the great tribe," Temujin replied, almost to himself. His voice was so quiet that Kachiun had to strain to hear. "I will give them a family again. I will bring them in and I will make them hard and I will send them against those who killed our father. I will write the name of Yesugei in Tartar blood and, when we are strong, I will come back from the north and scatter the Wolves in the snow.

To be betrayed by those he trusted seems to have ignited a spark of vengeance in Temujin, a desire for power that never left him. His childhood experiences created the man he would become, who would not bend or allow fear or weakness in any form. He cared nothing for possessions or wealth, only that his enemies fall.

This book could not have been written without the people of Mongolia, who allowed me to live among them for a time and who taught me their history over salted tea and vodka while the winter eased into spring.

There was no justice in the world—unless he made it for himself. Unless he cut twice as deep as he had been cut and gave back blow for blow. He had the right.

Unaware of them all, Temujin began to chant words he had not heard since old Chagatai had whispered them on a frozen night long before. The shaman’s chant spoke of loss and revenge, of winter, ice, and blood. He did not have to struggle to recall the words; they were ready on his tongue as if he had always known them.

We will survive this, my sons. We will survive until you are men, and when Eeluk is old, he will wonder if it is you coming for him every time he hears hooves in the darkness.

Keep him alive," he whispered to the sky father. "Keep him strong and healthy. Keep him alive, for me to kill.

There was no justice in the world and evil men prospered. Kachiun struggled not to despair as he wrapped his deel around him, but there were times when he hated as ferociously as Temujin did. There should be justice. There should be revenge.

They were few, but they were hardened in fire. They had been cast out and many would hunger as he did: for a tribe, and for a chance to strike back at a world that had abandoned them. “It is begun here,” Temujin whispered. “I have had enough of hiding. Let them hide from me.

You will revenge my father's death and we will be one tribe across the face of the plains, one people. As it should always have been. Let the Tartars fear us then. Let the Chin fear us.

We are from a line of khans, brother. We rule wherever we are placed.

A man must always have the final choice in life and in death. Anything else can be taken from him, but never that.

He chuckled to himself as he walked. A warm woman and a battle to come. To be alive on such a night was a wondrous thing.

We will not stop until the sea bounds us in every direction. I am Genghis who say this and my word is iron.

Genghis nodded drunkenly. "Writing," he replied, scornfully. "It traps words." "It makes them real, lord. It makes them last.

If you are asking if my family will take what they want, of course they will. The strong rule, Chen Yi. Those who are not strong dream of it.

What is the purpose of life if not to conquer? To steal women and land? I would rather be here and see this than live out my life in peace.

It is done. We are a nation and we will ride. Tonight, let no man think of his tribe and mourn. We are a greater family and all lands are ours to take.

From this day, you are no longer children. If you have to fight, even if it is a friend, put him down as fast and hard as you possibly can. Kill if you have to, or spare him—but beware putting any man in your debt. Of all things, that causes resentment. Any warrior who raises his fist to you must know he is gambling with his life and that he will lose. If you cannot win at first, take revenge if it is the last thing you do. You are traveling with men who respect only strength greater than theirs, men harder than themselves. Above everything else, they respect success. Remember it.

The Chin have held us down for a long time, but that is over. We ride to war, brother.

Why do you hurt me? What more do you want?” she asked, tears shining in her eyes. “Power over you, little one,” he said, smiling. “What does any man want but that? It is something in the blood of every one of us. We would all be a tyrant if we could.

Behold a people shall come from the north, and a great nation. They shall hold the bow and the lance; they are cruel and will not show mercy; their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses every one put in array, like a man to the battle.

If my brother was made to kneel... you will never walk again.

Within two years, they would be attacking us. The emperor has seen what we can do and he will not make the same mistakes again. One chance we have made for ourselves, Khasar. You cannot wound a bear and run. It will chase you down.

I have not given thought to what comes after the battles. Perhaps I will rule. Is that not the right of a conqueror?

The world will hear my name.” When he spoke again, it was so quiet that Kokchu had to strain to hear him. “This is not a time of death, shaman. We are one people and there will be no more battles between us. I will summon us all. Cities will fall to us, new lands will be ours to ride. Women will weep and I will be pleased to hear it.

Conquering enemy cities was far less complicated than the women in his life, or the children they bore for him.

I have called those who had no tribe," he went on, "but still had honor and heeded the call of blood to blood. They rode us in trust. And I say to you all, there are no tribes under the sky father. There is only one Mongol nation and it begins this night, in this place.

They have kept us apart for a thousand generations, Kachiun. They have ridden us until we were nothing more than savage dogs. That is the past. I have brought us together and they will be trembling. I’ll give them cause.

Iron will not touch you, lord. Stone will not break you. You are the Wolf and the sky father watches.