The sun came over the Orkhon's eastern hills while the factions were still finding their places. The flat early light of a summer morning that had not yet gathered heat lay across the plain.
Batu took his designated position with the Jochid faction arranged behind him and watched the space before it had fully settled.
The central floor was open to the sky on three sides and bounded on the fourth by the Great Khan's establishment. A large ger stood at the far end with Ogedei's standard above it and the court arranged in the places the hierarchy required.
Each faction senior figure stood at the outer edge nearest the center with their contingent arranged behind them. The positions told the whole story of who sat where in the empire before anyone had spoken.
The Ogedeid faction to the Great Khan's right with Guyuk at its front, the Chagataid contingent beyond them, the Toluid section on the left with Mongke placed at the forefront, and the western ulus where its standing placed it.
