The board had been out since the camp finished its first water allocation, the Shatar pieces arranged on the felt square that had traveled from the western steppe through the mountain passes and arrived no worse for it. Suuqai moved his horse piece and set it down without studying it afterward. He already knew what the board showed.
Batu was considering the left flank when the first runner came through the tent entrance. One of Siban's men, a lean rider who had been positioned in the inner section when the notification channels were established. He stopped at the respectful distance and gave it standing.
"Yeke Noyan's younger son," the runner said. "His faction broke for the assembly ground an hour after Guyuk's. He was with them."
