书斋小说网

第 10 章（第1页）

ThesilehatfollowedtheKhansannoulastedonlyamomentbeforethegreathalleruptedintolaughterandversation。Servantshurriedbetweeables，fillingwoodencupsandplagsteamingdishesbeforetheguests。Wholeroastedlambsrestedonlargeplatters，theirskinglistenihthefirelight，whilebasketsofflatbread，driedfruits，nuts，andhoneywerepassedfromoabletoahemusisstrucktheirdrumsagain，joinedbythesharpnotesofareedflute。Outside，thewindsweptacrosstheplains，butihegreathall，theheatofthebraziersandthenoiseofhundredsofpeoplemadethecoldseemdistant。

SuyuansatquietlyattheedgeoftheKhansfamilytable，pigatherfood。Shehadlittleappetiteafterspendingthemattheriver，andthesmelloffermentedwinemadeherheadache。Besideher，Ayaowassiderablylessrestrained。"Miss，thatroastedlamblooksdelicious。"Suyuanglaher。"The。"Ayaoimmediatelyreachedforapiece，onlytostopwheicedseveralnobleladieslookingintheirdire。Sheslowlywithdrewherhand。Suyuanalmostlaughed。"Youwerenotworriedabouttheireyesfivebreathsago。""ThatwasbeforeIrememberedImsittingbesideaprincess。""Theendyoureeatingonbehalfoftheprincess。"Ayaolookeddelightedbythepermissionandimmediatelyreturoherfood。

Intheterofthehall，thefirstperformancebegan。Agroupofyoungwarriorsenteredcarryinglongpolesdecoratedwithredribbons。Theymovedinformation，strikingthewoodenfloorinrhythmwiththedrums。Thesoundechoedbehthegreatroofastheyleaped，spun，andcrossedpathswithouttougoneanother。Cheerseruptedfromthewarriorssurroundingthem。Whentheyfihemusisgedtheirtuneandseveralyoungwomeered，theirskirtssweepingacrosstherugsastheydancedaroundthefirelight。Theirmovementswerelivelyandbold，apaniedbyclappingandlaughterfromtheguests。Suyuanwatchedquietly。Shecouldnotdenythatsheehemusic，eventhoughshehadbeentaughtlongagotokeepsujoymenthidden。

Thenthedrinkingtestbegan。Suyuanstaredastwowarriorsplacedenormous

woodencupsbetweenthem。Ayaowhispered，"Aretheyactuallygoingtodrinkallthat?""Apparently。"

"Whathappensiftheyfallasleep?"

"Thentheylose。"

Ayaowatchedthefirstwarriorfinishhiscupandslamitontothetable。Thehalleruptedincheers。Suyuanfinallysmiledandforashortwhile，shealmostfotwhereshewas。ThentheKhanrosefromhisseat，themusicstoppedandeveryourowardhim。TheKhanliftedhiscup，andthevisitingchiefsfollowed。

"Today，theKharun，Tazhen，andNayaktribeshavehonoredYounisbytravelinghere，"heannounced。"Ourpeoplehavefoughtbesideonearadedacrosstheplains，andsharedbothhardshipandprosperity。Letthisgatheringstrehoseties。"Thethreetriballeadersbowed，andKhantinued，"TheKharunchiefhasbroughthorsesfromthenorthernplains。TheTazhentribehasopeheirwesterntraderoutestous。TheNayakwarriorshavepledgedtheirbowsshouldware。"

Awaveofapprovalmovedthroughthehall。

ThentheKhansmiled。

"Andthereisonebondstrohanwords。"

Suyuansfingersstoppedaroundhercup。

Marriage。

Thewordwasneverspokenimmediately，buteveryoneuood。

TheTazhenchiefrosefirst。"OurtribehaslongadmiredthestrengthofYounis。Itwouldbeourhonortobeefamily。"TheKharunchieflaughedloudly。"YouspeakasthoughYounishasalreadyagreed。"ThehalleruptedinlaughtereventheKhanlaughed。TheNayakrepresentativecalmlyraisedhiscup。"Perhapstheyoungpeopleshoulddecidewhethertheywishtobeefamily。"Thatearnedanotherroundoflaughter。

TheKhanlookedtowardhissonsanddaughters。

"Thehemchoose。"

Themusisbeganplayingagain，butthistimethemoodhadged。Theyoungmenandwomenaroundthehallsuddenlybecamemuchmoreawareofoneanother。

SuyuannoticedseveraloftheKhansdaughtersstraighteningtheirclothes。Olycheckedtheorinherhair。Anotherwhisperedtohermaidbeforepretendingnothinghadhappened。

AyaoleaowardSuyuan。

"Miss。。。"

"What?"