Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Breaking Bad

The morning before Qiang and Xiao Mian had their first fight, Yenay and Qinyang heard knocking at the door of the lodge. The sun had not even risen yet so she was stupefied to find Lan Zhan and Wei Ying standing on the porch.

"Emergency," stated Lan Zhan in a terse voice. Wei Ying smiled worriedly. She ushered them in and ran to get Yenay who entered tying a robe over her sleeping tunic.

"Tell us. " She was as blunt and terse as Lan Zhan."Has something happened to A'Qiang? Was he injured during swordplay training?"

"No. But he has followed our uncontrolable daughter to search for Anshi and the Lost Eagle Tribe."

"Oh no. Oh, those foolish children!" Exclaimed Qinyang

The enormity hit the mothers and Qinyang took Yenay's hand.

Wei Ying interjected. "Qinyang, why was she allowed to leave here? Did she not tell you we planned to go to Lotus Pier for a few days after she left?"

"No. She never mentioned it. She arrived here as planned. Gave us all gifts and stayed until dawn the next morning. She began cramping and begged to be allowed to return to sleep in her room at the bungalow. A'Qiang escorted her to the Bungalow and then was to stay at Cloud Recesses until she was ready to return, so he could escort her back."

Lan Zhan interjected. "Unfortunately, she has managed to deceive all of us. A'Qiang has decided to help her rather than contact any of us. She has him wrapped around her finger."

Wei Ying turned to his husband. "We do have the Tracking Talisman that I had sewn in the hem of her cloak..."

Yenay pointed to the cloak by the door. "The blue one hanging there? She left it as a gift for A'Zhen."

Lan Zhan walked slowly to the garment and removed it from the peg. He stood silently and Wei Ying saw him caress it gently before turning to his husband. Wei Ying walked over and put his arm around his shoulders.

He heard his husband speak quietly. "I hope she remembered another one. Wool. The nights are still cold, especially in the North." Wei Ying patted his arm, trying to soothe him.

"We will check when we get home, my Love, but I am sure she did. She may be silly and headstrong about this crush on Anshi but that would not keep her from neglecting the basics like clothing and food. It seems that she has outwitted us all. Thank the Gods A'Qiang thought to leave us a note. We would still be at home, thinking she was here. So the brat figured out my Talisman trick..."

"Oh, Wei Ying, they all had that figured out a long time ago," said Qinyang. "Nobody had the heart to tell you."

He sat down, deflated.

"We must contact Anshi. He is closer to their projected path than we are. Perhaps he can intercept them." Yenay's suggestion was approved and after the butterfly was sent. they began to make some breakfast. It was going to be a rough day.


**********

Anshi sat at his desk, listened to the tiny butterfly deliver his message and could not believe his ears. Four days into his journey and now...this.

All of his compassionate talking, all of his hope for understanding, had come to nothing. Xiao Mian was totally out of control.

He had his hands full as it was. The little chinks that always appear in such an enormous undertaking were beginning to show and there were decisions that he needed to make every few minutes. His siblings pursuing him across the world was not part of his plan. The time for niceties was past and now he was fed up. He was positive his brother had followed to keep Xiao Mian safe and he understood A'Qiang's kind heart and devotion. But this intrusion was intolerable. Slowly, however, a plan began to take effect in his mind and he sat down to work it out it. He started to take brush in hand to outline...what?...three months? Yes, three months would be just enough. If he wound it up sooner, all the better.