Harold Lamb

“ The Lame Conqueror made a practise of treating well all scholars, astronomers and men of learning whom he took prisoner.
“You are a bold man,” he said. “Three days ago when you came to me as a courier from Angora I ordered that you should not let me see your face again. I gave you horses. Why did not you ride hence?”
Bembo had known that Michael was the horseman who had reached the purple tent in the plain three days before. As Michael had not greeted him at that time Bembo had kept silence, trusting that what his friend did was for the best. ”

“ He signed for the two archers to kneel at either side of the chess-board which lay in front of him under the flickering candles.
“So be it,” he assented grimly. “Frank, set up the men. Your daring earns you the chance. If you have deceived me, and can not play as you profess, these two dogs of mine will cut you in two. Your country-men, Frank, have deceived Tamerlane. Beware lest you do likewise.”
It was a long speech for the blunt Tatar to make. He was interested. His small, black eyes gleamed as he watched Michael squat on his heels before the board. ”

“ The master-merchant Soranzi is counting a myriad gold coins for the Tatar wazirs, as the pagans name their money-tenders; Rudolfo is departed with good grace and Gian to be escorted by Tatar children to the river.”
“And Clavijo?”
Bembo nodded toward the cage. “With the apes, who love him like a brother. This black giant was to cut off my head——”
“You will be safe with me. Come.” Michael smiled. “The Cham, as you call him, has given us some good sport. We will fly pigeons and when that is done, sleep. Then this night will you see a rare jest, my Bembo.” ”

“ Soranzi trembled and could not refrain from a frantic plea.
“But my goods?”
“Begin by writing down an account of them—for me.”
The Tatar was not lacking in a rough sense of humor. He was naturally merciless, yet he had no love of torture. A man without a god, a man fashioned for dealing destruction, he could still tolerate another man's faith in God, and he admired courage.
“You say that you are a warrior.” He addressed Rudolfo, who was watching him in sullen dread. “Good. You have seen my ranks and the camp of my foe the sultan. Tell me how your Frankish king would plan the battle.” ”

“ The dark blood flooded into the forehead of the Kha Khan. Veins stood out on his forehead and the yellow around the black pupils of his eyes grew red.
“Think ye, slave, Christian cur—” his deep voice cracked. “Think ye, sucking child, the horsemen of Turan and Iran are like to the mongrels of Frankistan?” ”

“ From the bird was taken a message addressed to the court of Samarkand, saying that Tamerlane would that night cross the Khabur and crush the Ottoman army.
Whereupon Bayezid retired to the palace by the lake at Angora, hearing fresh news at sunset that the Tatars were assembling in their ranks.
So Bayezid feasted and received praise from the leaders of the Moslem world.
“The beast,” he said, “may see the trap; yet, being a beast, he has no wit to do aught but charge upon the bait.”
“Nay,” amended his advisers, “where else could the Tatar cross the river, having no bridges or boats?” ”

“ The plan of attack for the coming day had been decided upon, and every khatun had his orders, which in turn were transmitted to the tumani—the commanders of a thousand and to the khans of the hundreds. ”