Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Preparing For Guests

Dawa Tuya had been given the word she had longed for. All were safe and Anshi had defused the conflict. As she suspected, his voice had reached a peaceful resolution. The young man had found his first ally and the tribes were going to meet.

She was beyond excited as orders reached her. There was to be a gathering for three days, and she was being called upon to prepare for the sudden influx of an entire tribe of 150 men, women, and children; a tribe from the northeast that was making its way south as fall encroached. It was a tribe she was very familiar with, and she knew that people would be there with ties to her past. After decades away, she did not know who exactly, but her nerves tingled in both excitement, anticipation, and a fair-sized dose of fear. Anshi had discovered acceptance, would she?

She laid those notions away. She had chosen her course, as always and she was at peace with all her life decisions. But her task at hand was enormous and she was determined that this was her priority. Ghosts from the past would just have to wait their turn.

Now, she was in her organizational and culinary elements. It was her time to shine. She could step beyond just the usual chief cook and Mother Hen to all and finally excel at what she saw as her specialty; her inner festivity coordinator and entertainment-organizer was chafing at the bit. She lost no time in gathering the women, soldiers, hunters and herdsmen that had remained at the camp, together.

"We will need all the yurts in storage raised. All families here will rearrange their own homes and be ready to accept visitors as well. The Red Deer Tribe will also bring yurts so areas must be prepared to extend the encampment to receive them as well. We have one week to prepare; we will receive them with all honor. This is an old and prestigious caravan and will be accorded with all proper respect.

Herdsmen will accompany me to the pens and animals; only the best, will be selected, slaughtered, and hung to cure before our guests' arrival. Make sure the livestock is all well-tended and perfectly groomed as well.

Hunters will begin to gather smaller game. So, prepare your eagles to go out starting today and bring in everything you can.

Women will set up the interiors of each yurt. The best bedding, rugs, embroidery and necessities will be used, and wood, and dung for fires will be laid outside each.

It is going to be hard work, but we will have a feast fit for a legend by the time we are through." Her eyes followed each group as they scattered, dragging complaining children with them to help.

She turned to Lan Sya Mu and grinned. "Ready to bust your ass, my dear? I am going to count on you and Xiao Mian after she rests a bit. The work will help distract her from the last few days as well. We will begin her with simpler tasks and add more as she is capable."

"She has come a long way from the brat of a cousin who arrived here. I am proud of her."

"Are you going to tell her so?"

"Of course, in my own way. We, Lan, foster our talent. We are held to high standards at birth and, although she came late to us, her possibilities were always noticed. She just had to accept reality for what it is."

"Have you?"

"What?"

"Accepted your reality?"

Sya Mu stared warily at the older woman. Lying to her was not an option. She was too sharp and wise. She sighed.

"You noticed. I thought I had hidden it better."

"You have. I just have a good nose and can follow a well-hidden trail when I sniff one out."

The younger woman had gone still, her light within had dimmed somewhat and Tuya took her hand.

"I can keep a secret. You need not worry."

Direct action was called for and Lan Sya Mu spoke. "I accepted it a long time ago. A heart belongs to the one who shelters it within. It is theirs to give. Xiao Mian had to learn that one cannot just demand that organ to be handed over. Especially when it isas damaged as Ansh's is. I do understand her; I fought that battle within myself silently. Somehow, I had sense enough not to wear my heart on my armor. I had the wisdom to find and alternative way to love him"

She took a steadying breath and continued. "I have not spoken of this to another single soul. I, however, trust your discretion, Dawa Tuya.

I never allowed Anshi to even suspect my feelings. I had already seen that his broken heart wanders alone. I sensed it the day I met him. His has not healed, may never heal. But, until the time that my own does, I will follow him. I will serve him. It is all I know."

"Does he know?"

"No. only you have seen it. And it must never be something he is aware of."

"I swear he will never find it out from me."

"His burdens are heavy ones. I only want for him to be fulfilled."

Dawa Tuya looked at this strong and beautiful warrior, resolute and calm within. This Sya Mu was special. She had rarely met anyone as quietly devoted, except for Chang Yenay, Anshi's mother.

"Anshi is a very lucky man, even if he does not realize it. You are doing the right thing, and in the end, you will discover your own happiness. Someone, the right one, will earn your heart."

"If the gods will it, it will happen. In the meantime, I have found a measure of happiness, being by his side and aiding him in this quest. It is enough for me right now." She bowed and turned to oversee the selection and erection of the new yurts. Duwa Tuya gazed thoughtfully at the retreating back, straight and proud, hearing the steady, sure steps as they padded down to the storage units. Her leather armor, well-oiled with Lan sandalwood, gleamed in the morning sun. There went a Lan whose future shone as brightly as the sword at her side. She was going to be something to watch.

She spotted Lan Qiang in the distance and flagged him down. He ran towards her with a beaming smile.

"Good work out there, Childe Lan! You have greatly impressed a certain young lady."

His ears turned bright red. "I...I...hope so. How is she? Can I See her? Do you think she will want me to?"

"Young idiot. You are all she has yammered away about! 'Qiang this, Qiang that...'. I have been driven to distraction. She has barely even mentioned the Chieftain at all!"

By this time, his ears were red. He nodded his thanks and dashed to Dawa Tuya's yurt.

"Hey!" She shouted after him. "Meet me at the corrals in a half hour. You must help me, and the herdsmen select our food for this party!" He turned on one heel, bowed deeply, turned on the other, and kept on running. She laughed to herself. Young love needed nurturing and a watchful eye at times. Especially when two were suddenly running hot.

She would send him out with the hunters beginning tomorrow. As much distance as needed would be put between them while on her watch. This romance was evolving very quickly, as things were wont to do while traveling. She had seen it often and experienced it once herself. The match had not been approved and she and her husband had left swiftly, and irrevocably, together, to find their own way in the world. Traveling made for close contact and relationships developed rapidly. Love, hate, birth envy, sorrow, joy...And death equalized it all in the end.

When Anshi arrived back, she would urge him to send this information to the parents. A betrothal and a swift marriage might be necessary for those two; perhaps in Qian during the time the caravan planned to winter there.

Blood can heat quickly in a caravan. Suddenly, she found herself missing Ge Ban with her own little surge of passionate longing.

Soon enough, soon enough!