Aylin Hatun

Chapter 6

Aylin Hatun

Today is my first day training my 'fellow' Mongolian soldiers. I got up before sunrise and prayed Fajr quietly in my tent. Thankfully, everyone is asleep or drunk at this time. I got up, and quickly got dressed into my armour before grabbing some fruit as breakfast. I then covered my face with my mask (I'm surprised Noyan hasn't asked why I cover my face all the time) and walked out of my tent only to find no one there.

The soldiers are late. Looks like I have to wake them up. How should I wake them up? Wait a minute! The nearby river has just melted after a long winter but the water is still ice cold. I smirked to myself as I went to collect buckets of water.

*****

Ulubilge was awake and I persuaded him to help me. We took a bucket each and tiptoed to two groups of drunk soldiers most of whom had fallen on top of each other when they finally settled down. I gave Ulubilge a nod and at the same time we poured the ice cold water all over them. "AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!" their screams rang throughout the camp. Me and Ulubilge laughed our heads off watching them scream and squirm. They groaned and muttered as they stood up and stumbled off to get ready for their training.

A lot of soldiers woke up from the screaming but some guards and a group of soldiers nearby at the South side of the camp were still sleeping. I signalled to Ulubilge and we took two more buckets to wake them up. We splashed the water on their faces and their reactions were even better this time. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH" they yelled and as they stumbled to get up they bumped into each other, making me and Ulubilge shriek with laughter. All the noise woke Noyan up who came out grumbling until he saw his soldiers in the mud. He chuckled a but and I walked over to him carrying the last and largest bucket. He archer a brow at me and I nodded to Tangut who had somehow managed to not die when he fell asleep from the fork AND had managed to ignore the yelling of the soldiers we had just woken.

Noyan smirked at me and walked over to the post Tangut was tied to. He lifted the bucket above Tangut's head and then tipped it swiftly all over him. Tangut let out a girlish scream and Noyan roared with laughter as me and Ulubilge watched. His scream then turned into a shout as the fork began to pierce his skin and I smirked beneath the mask. He groaned as blood began to pour out of his throat and chest and then  glared at me Ulubilge and Noyan.

"Borjigin! You have put me in a good mood this morning. Train the soldiers well, and I'll give you a day off to have a break. I will check up on you in an hour" Noyan said to me. "I won't disappoint you Bayçu Noyan" I replied before moving to the training area where the soldiers now aired for me.

*****

Noyan

I walked to the training ground alone to check up on Borjigin and my soldiers as Ulubilge was talking to the spirits to see how they feel towards me now. I hope the mighty GokTengri is pleased with me. I have been giving many sacrifices to him and have listened to everything Ulubilge has told me to do.

I reached the training ground and watched as Borjigin trained my soldiers. He is very good at training them it seems. I think I will make him my new second in command. I'll announce it at the feast tonight after I untie Tangut. He is funny when he is angry. He thinks he can overpower me. It will be some good evening entertainment.

"Very good Borjigin! Servants! Begin preparations for a feast in honour of your new leader. Bring us Wine and something special for Borjigin as he doesn't like drinking. Make sure you bring some dancers as well, so we have dome good entertainment!" I ordered. I then walked to Ulubilge to see what he has found out from talking to the spirits.

*****

The Mongols had a huge feast at night in honour of Borjigin. They had all kinds of meat and fruits and drinks. There were dancers that had arrived from Anatolia who danced around while they ate. Borjigin (Aylin) was very careful about how she ate and drank. Luckily, Noyan's and the soldiers' eyes were on the dancers so no one was looking at her as she ate and her identity remained hidden.

"Release Tangut!" Noyan shouted. The dancers stopped dancing and the mucisians stopped playing. Two guards got up and walked over to Tangut. One removed the fork and the other cut his ropes. "Bring him to the table" Noyan said and they dragged him to the table. "Now that everyone is here, I have an announcement to make. Borjigin is now my second in command!" Noyan said after pausing a little halfway for dramatic effect. Tangut glowered at Noyan and me before storming off to his tent. Noyan chuckled and the soldiers congratulated Borjigin. Borjigin  thanked Noyan and excused herself to go to sleep. "Borjigin, Wait! You can have tomorrow off" Noyan said to her. She nodded then entered her tent.