He thought of Kublai, the greater Khakan.

Perhaps in his court might dwell gentlehood and reason.

But here was but a wolf pack in the faraway guise of man.
They gave the strangers food and drink--halfcooked fish and a porridge of rye and sour spiced milk, and left them to sleep until sundown.

Then the palace guards led them to the presence.
The hall was immense, dim and shapeless like the inside of a hill, not built according to the proportions of mankind.

Flambeaux and wicks floating in great basins of mutton fat showed a dense concourse of warriors, and through an aisle of them Aimery approached the throne.