Glen Cook: Reap The East Wind

Shih-ka'i had only a passing acquaintance with the man. Nevertheless, he nodded. The one favorable thing he knew of Lord Hsung was that he could be a very good commander—when forced to concentrate on his calling.

He asked, "When would you want me?"

"Moving him out will be ticklish. But before the end of the year. Take the intervening time off. My friend Lord Ch'ien will take over here."

"I'll use the time to familiarize myself with the western situation." And, he thought, begin the fruitless search for someone able to replace Pan ku.

"Very well. I can't force you to take a vacation, though I wish you would."

"I've been in harness too long. Mistress. One more question. Did Ragnarson and the wizard patch it up? That will be important."

Mist smiled, rose, stepped down, embraced him momentarily. "Thank you, Lord Ssu-ma. For everything you've done." And, as she started away, "No. They didn't. The woman tried to make peace. Varthlokkur has much too stiff a neck."

And inside his beastmask Lord Ssu-ma Shih-ka'i smiled himself.

After the challenge in the east anything else looked easy.