(She starts collecting the stones once more) Enter Hasar and Belgutei. Their movements are fussy, their faces cold. BORTE: What happened? You ran in here as if from a fire, and your faces are crazed. HASAR: Yes, we come with bad news. (Looking at the old woman) We apologise, but you must leave us alone with Borte-Khansha. KEIKUAT: I was going to get tea for myself. Oh well, I’ll go into the yard and light a fire. She walks out. BELGUTEI: We are saddened that father-Khan was so angry and has removed you from the horde, but it probably won’t last long. The dried skin is taking shape, the overflowing river will return to the channel. If we win tomorrow’s battle, then father-Khan will, of course, calm down in due course. But we came to say something else, however. BORTE: Well, tell me then, just calm down and don’t choke on your words. HASAR: Today at dawn, the warrior Korshi, a relative of Jamukha, rushed in and said: ‘By blood, language and tradition, I am close to Jamukha. The other day I voted for his election as the Gur Khan. Therefore, it is not easy for me to break from him. Nevertheless, he was Temujin’s childhood friend who twice swore his allegiance and had become inseparable… and yet suddenly he broke from him. When everyone raised your brother as the All-Mongolian Khan on a white felt mat, then ours almost went crazy with envy and fear. Jamukha is preparing for an assassination attempt. This is what I came to report.’ BORTE: An assassination attempt? BELGUTEI: Tonight, Jamukha will descend upon the horde with a detachment of eighty men to kill the sleeping Genghis. BORTE: Are you sure that Korshi is not playing us with his colourful story? HASAR: In order to prove his loyalty, he cut his thumb with a knife and, swallowing the blood, he swore an oath. BORTE: Assuming he is telling the truth, what are we to do? BELGUTEI: Borte-hanim, (Madam) we urgently need to inform the Khan of this news. BORTE: But why can’t you go and tell him yourself? HASAR: The ruler may get angry, they say, if you deliver bad news before a battle. He will order you to chop off your own hand. BELGUTEI: Well, that is if it’s only a hand. BORTE: So what advice did you come for?
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