Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Watcher

The dove was brought to him and the news shook him to the core.

That Brat, that indulged, pampered fool that I spent so much time and planning, to use ... ALIVE? He couldn't have had the decency to perish like the others? Did he survive slavery in and out of the palace? HOW??? Not a word in nearly two decades and he is still breathing the same air as I?

And he has returned.

A reason. He must have a reason why. What does he know? Anything? Everything?

He stroked the bird, a pretty pale-grey thing with russet and green feathers. Strong and one of the best he had ever bred. Then he twisted its fragile neck and let it drop to the ground. It convulsed a few times as he stared down at it at his feet. He called for his aide.

The man entered; his attention was drawn to the dead bird on the thick blue rug. He swallowed and averted his eyes.

"Send another bird. I want to know everything your spies have learned about the happenings twenty years ago. I want to know where he has been. How he built such a caravan, thrived. I already know where he accumulated the wealth. They will suffer in their time as well.  I want everything on all of his backers. Everything. Dismissed. And our Patron's condition...find out if he has improved."

As the aide began to leave he stopped him, a strange and twisted grin on his face.

"And that server who broke my drinking cup last night? Drag him out and beat him slowly to death. Make an excuse, accuse him of something heinous. I want some music of my own tonight. I will call it The Song Of A Dying Slave. Make sure it lasts a while.  And remove his tongue first, he must not be allowed to let anything slip out that could harm me. Go."

As the sounds floated in from outside, he poured a strong cup of liquor from a secreted stash and slammed it back, reveling in the burn as it passed down his throat.

"Once I finally meet up with the golden boy, I will need to play this very carefully, very cleverly. How to handle Anshi? It depends on what he remembers from that night. If he remembers little or nothing, he could be a perfect pawn if I groom him well. If he remembers too much, he will lie at my feet like that dove.

At the combined camp, the spy was being watched. The operative who saw the bird leave reported quickly back to Lan Ge Ban. The older man was deeply disturbed. The spy was one of the guides hired very recently, within several months. A time that fit with the first rumors of Anshi's appearance in the region. He was hired to keep the caravan on course. The messenger dispatched had not headed back East toward Cloud Recesses but West toward Qian. It had headed directly across the windswept Steppes at top speed. If it had been a dispatch for Lan XiChen, he would have been made aware of it. If it had been a Qian messenger pigeon, it would have arrived there in several days. His operative was given orders to intercept any other missives that followed. They were to be brought back unopened and handed directly to him. In the meantime, after Anshi and his uncle separated tonight, he would approach Anshi about tonight's occurrences. Security needed to tighten, especially with the feast coming up tomorrow.

Anshi looked grim. He knew that meeting with others during this journey would be chancey. Someone had wanted him and his tribe destroyed that night long ago. He frowned in frustration. His memory of that night was so spotty, and just a whisper in his ear was his only clue to the identity of the murderer of his family. He had been as thoroughly eradicated that he might as well have simply died with all the others. But the owner of that voice wanted that little five-year-old to suffer the fires of hell before he succumbed. Who hated him that much? It was beyond his comprehension.

"Double the detail watching the spy. And take Arslan into our confidence. I want this man to have a friend, someone to drink and gamble with, who can funnel false information to his master whenever we need to do so. Also, see if Lan Sya Mu feels up to a little dangerous beauty work. She was trained by my mothers, Yenay and Qinyang at Lan XiChen's request to do that, as part of her assets for this mission. "

"I recall she was quite good at it, once they overcame her initial resistance."

They shook their heads at the memory of the tough soldier's horror of the subversive training so foreign to her Guardian's nature. The first time on delicate heels had placed Sya Mu flat on her rear end and left her with aching bruises and a highly damaged sense of dignity. But she persevered, knowing it was one more skill in her arsenal that she could use to protect Anshi.

"She would slap us both silly if she heard us right now," chuckled Anshi.

"She will have no objection to dazzling an enemy agent, Sir. She is completely dedicated to your safety."

"I trust her with my life, as I do you. Make it happen, Ge Ban. I have not survived this life for so long only to lose it on the Spice Road. Our finalization of the treaty is vital and so is my personal quest. Are you sure that our relations with the Dowager Queen and The High Minister are still sincere and remain strong for the time being?"

"Yes. Are you sure we can trust Minister Han?"

"Yes. As sure as I can be. He has always placed Qian and its welfare above all and he has a firm moral code. He is an austere, cold, and unlikable man, but a man of honor who does not go back on his word. I do not like him, but I do trust him. He wants this treaty."

"Should we make inquiries to see if people have been asking around about you in Qian?"

"I would be at ease with that as long as only the Minister is made aware. If this is not a personal matter and the treaty is the object of the spying, he needs to be alerted from his end."

I will send a man by sword tomorrow."

Good. Now get some rest and increase the guard around me and my family."

"Yes, Sir!" It was going to be a long night for Lan Ge Ban and his new team. And it was a long time before Anshi drifted off to sleep.