Betrayal

'Wait, he is not hugging Mandukhai, perhaps we have misunderstood and fought over different women?' Dorj thought in a puzzled manner.

The surrounding onlookers were clapping for their tribe young master Tungalag for his win and blessed the young couple for their enthusiastic love. Mandukhai was clapping to congratulate Tungalag's victory while smiling to Dorj.

"Cough~ Cough~" Dorj cleared his voice. He has taken the attention of Tribe leader Botukhai.

"Um, tribe leader Botukhai, We have clearly miscommunicated with each other. The girl I wanted to bring back is not Tungalag's lover, but the girl over there." Dorj pointed to Mandukhai and grined awkwardly.

Young master Tungalag who was kissing his woman halted and turned his head over to Dorj.

"What? You say that the woman you wanted to bring back is not my darling, but that fragile girl over there?" asked Tungalag while pointing his finger to Mandukhai feeling confused.

The onlookers as watching a drama turned their heads and all observed the appearance of Mandukhai. Thin long fingers, slim waist, weak straight legs, pale white skin, and big round eyes. /AN: Marrying with a woman with Big round eyes represents misfortune for middle age Mongolians./ Truly inappropriate for a warrior's wife. They all judged her to be incapable of bearing a strong successor who will lead the tribe in the future. An unlucky lad would choose her as his wife thought the tribes people and sighed.

On the otherhand, the girl who is embraced by young master Tungalag has wide fingers, vigorous groundly brown skin, steady strong legs, and intelligent narrow eyes. The current betrothed woman with young master Tungalag is truly hundred times better than Mandukhai thought the onlookers and nodded their heads.

"Tribe leader Botukhai, for the sake of the relations of our two clan, since she is not the betrothed woman to Young master Tungalag, can you please allow us to bring the girl back to our clan?" asked Dorj while scratchinh his head.

Tribe leader Botukhai contemplated for a while and replied "Since you have had a duel with my son and lost, the bet is still valid whether you want to bring back her is not important. Let's hear this girl's opinion first." claimed tribe leader Botukhai loudly. All people gathered shifted their gaze back to Mandukhai.

"Honorable tribe leader Botukhai, my friend is marrying your son young master Tungalag. This is a joyous event to be celebrated, if she doesn't have anyone from here side, wouldn't she be lonely?" said Mandukhai while looking at her servant. The onlookers nodded.

'Such a sly girl isn't she? At thus rate, she is going to be left over here." thought Dorj.

"Secondly, if I go back to our Borjigin clan, I will be forced to marry a Western Xia old man and become a house wife against my will. If I go back, I will never able to see her again, hence helping my friend and staying here is my will." said Mandukhai with firm voice. All the onlookers felt sympathy for Mandukhai to be forced to marry an old man and in their heart, whatever happened, they decided to let her stay at the reindeer herders' tribe.

Dorj frowned and hurriedly replied. "Mandukhai, what about you stay her till your friend's (Servant) wedding conclude and go back to our tribe with us?"

Tribe leader Botukhai intervened "No messenger of Tenger, I am a woman myself. I know how she is feeling at the moment. Since you have lost the duel and the girl doesn't want to go back, tell Temuujin that Reindeer herders' tribe is backing this girl and without a war you can not take her back."

Dorj tried to reply and opened his mouth "Bu..." but young master Tungalag has drawn his sword again and roared "Didn't you hear my mother? Now scram!" said Tungalag with anger.

Dorj raised his chin and replied "Very well. I will take my leave then" as he indicated his group to leave. The silhouette of the group of Dorj is fading away in the distance. They are mounted on top of their horses and started their journey back to Buir lake unable to save their honor.

At the camp of Khereit Tribe.

The betrayed Altan, Khuchir, and Daridai circled around a fire and were having a discussion about their future. They are sixty years old sly nobles, yet at this moment they are cornered without much choices.

"Khuchir and Daridai let's separate from Wan Khan, Wan Khan and his son Sengum are having arguments every day. Khereit tribe nobles have lost their trust in Wan Khan. If they decide to separate from Wan Khan, the matter of Temuujin defeating Wan Khan will be inevitable. If that happens we will beheaded by Temuujin and it would be our end." said Altan while stroking his white beard.

"No, Altan, currently Temuujin is weak and has few troops, if we apologize and join Temuujin back wouldn't he be joyous to have us back?" suggested Daridai and gazed at Altan and Khuchir's eyes.

"Daridai, don't you remember what Belgutei has told us? He said Temuujin has severed our relation as uncle and nephew and asked us to be loyal to Wan Khan, if we go back to him we will surely die." said Khuchir and shook his head.

"Khuchir, If we separate from Wan Khan, do we have any place to go left? If we kneel and apologize, we may get pardoned." said Daridai and tried to persuade his brothers to join Temuujin back.

Altan shook his head "No, Daridai! If you want to die, go to Temuujin alone, don't drag us to afterlife. There is still Naiman tribe left, if we surrender to Naimans, Temuujin can not reach us." suggested Altan and stomped on the ground.

Hearing Altan's proposal, Khuchir's eyes sparkled with hope "Yes, Altan, that's a splendid idea. Let's surrender to Naimans. With our thousand of troops, they surely appoint us as a general. We can live at ease and retire with no worries." clapped Khuchir.

However Daridai is reluctant to go to Naimans tribe and tries to persuade his brothers for the last time. "Brothers if we surrender to Temu.."

Altan interupted Daridai "Daridai!!! If you want to go, go alone! Khuchir and I am going to Naimans tonight. If you want to go with us then this is your chance, if not then go alone!" said Altan with a violent temper.

As agreed, Altan and Khuchir has gathered their people and separated from Wan Khan when all of Khereit tribesmen were sleeping. Temuujin's uncle Daridai is left behind and mounted on his horse and galloped to the direction of Temuujin to ask for pardon.

Jamukha's servant Bold has drunk several jug of Airag this night. For the past several days, he wooed a Khereit widowed woman and gave her his heart, but she is to be seen with another man this day. So to ease his pain, he is drunk. Due to overdrinking, he walked out of his ger trying to find his balance and couldn't help but loosened his bladder.

"Life is unfair!" he mumbled in his mouth and peed on a bush. While swaying, he opened one of his eyes and saw a blurry vision of dozen of camels loaded with gers are heading out of Khereit tribe.

"Ah, camels! I like them, they are loyal and good friend to people.." swayed Bold and mistepped. He dripped on his hand and he shook it.

"Wait camels? Is someone seperating from Wan Khan?" Bold's eyes widened and he hurriedly ran to his lord Jamukha without buttoning his pants.

"Lord Jamukha, Lord Jamukha!" entered servant Bold with strong odor of alcohol and unbuttoned pants.

Lord Jamukha of Jadran clan has woke up and grabbed his sword.

"What happened Bold? Ugh.. What's this smell?" replied Jamukha and found his servant Bold to be drunk.

"Lord Jamukha, Altan, Khuchir, and Daridai are separating from Wan Khan, they have loaded their gers on camels and are stealthily moving! Hiccup!" notified Bold.

"You lowly slave! How dare you deceive your lord. You are drunk, go back and sleep, or else I will lash you ten times tomorrow!" roared Jamukha in anger.

Servant Bold kneeled on the floor and asked for mercy. "No my lord, I am saying the truth, if you don't believe my words, go out now and see by your own eyes!"

Jamukha humphed and took a deep breath, "If you lied to me, you will not avoid punishment tomorrow" said Jamukha and stood up from his bed.

He walked out from his ger to see dozen of camels and thousand of people to separate from Wan Khan. The leaving people are headed to south west, to the direction of the Naimans.

"Altan, Khuchir, and Daridai are leaving!" exclaimed Jamukha unbelieving his eyes. "Hurry up, let's follow them, If Wan Khan finds out they have left, we will get the blame!" said Jamukha.

Just in 3 hours, Jamukha has taken his thousand people and left the Khereit tribe.