My heart jolted. "You're telling the truth?"
"Yes."
"But why reveal their plan?"
He shrugged. "It does not matter anyway. The sword of the horde will cut the city at its roots. Whether or not you know we come, you will be dead before you can stop us." The factual, confident response surprised me.
It took me a moment to recover. In an era where warfare occurred between men with swords, I wasn't able to fathom the idea of an army that couldn't be stopped. Didn't it just take another army of the same size to stand in the way? It wasn't like they had missiles or air support or heck, even guns.
"Why have you not told him?" the warrior asked.
"Because I don't understand," I replied honestly.
"You understand the words. You speak too well not to. Does battle strategy confuse you?"
"You made it simple enough," I said. "This is not … my way. I guess."
He shifted forward and twisted in my direction in sudden interest I took to be a bad sign. His frame was tense, the muscles of his forearms roped and bulging as he tested his bonds. "You are not from here, ugly one," he observed. His ease and amusement was gone, replaced by a note of threat. "It is simple: they submit or they die. They chose to die."
Mahmood and I stepped back, closer to the nearest guard. I rapidly explained to Mahmood what had been said. His alarm rendered him speechless for a split second before he crossed to the door and spoke too quietly for me to hear. The guard darted out. Approaching me, Mahmood's grim concern was clear in his tight features.
"I must address the master myself," he said to me. "You are certain this is what he said? South and west?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Have you told him who you are?"
I shook my head.
"Do so if you feel it wise. I will return as soon as I warn my master and prepare the princess."
Without waiting for my response, Mahmood started away.
I faced the warrior without moving, not at all agreeing with the idea to remain. He suspected something already, and I didn't know enough about this time or his people to know why he was tense.
It scared me. The stories of Mongol tenacity and savagery on the battlefield were known in my time. I sensed if he wanted to be free and decided to kill everyone in the room, he probably could. Maybe it was fear or Hollywood hype or not knowing for certain, but no part of me wanted to be here if he succeeded in freeing himself from his bonds.