Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

It Is All Relative

Dawa Tuya had one special dish to prepare. She had started early in the morning, but only after she and Lan Ge Ban woke before the camp and had attended to some much more urgent needs.

The pair had nestled together after Ge Ban had retired, exhausted after a night of messaging both Cloud Recesses and Qian and restructuring security around Anshi, Qiang, and Xiao Mian. It had to be strong but subtle so that the watcher among them would not notice anything out of the ordinary and any increase would appear normal due to the influx of strangers entering the encampment in a slow but constant flow. The festivities were a good cover for the changes and they would just quietly remain in place as things broke down and the slow fall progress to the Pingyaun Monastery and then to Qian began.

They were both worn out and fell asleep almost immediately. As was their habits, both woke before dawn and that was when they spent time alone, hands slowly moving over one another, lips meeting, passion building. Both seasoned and beautiful, their lovemaking was slow and satiating, like fine and perfectly aged wine. Mellow and expertly fashioned. Afterward, Ge Ban bathed Tuya washed and oiled his body, and helped with clothing and armor. They shared one final Good Morning kiss before tending to their duties for the banquet this evening.

Tuya stood outside and breathed deeply. As she walked to the pits, the scent of the meat inside was mouthwatering. She lifted some of the leaves covering the opening and was assailed by the rich aromas. Oh yes, almost there. Perfect, perfect. She gave orders to the pitmen to add more wood for the last few hours of roasting and then moved to the kitchen yurt and began to fix the main course for a private lunch for the two Chieftains. A quarter hump and the tenderloin from one of the older two camels had been cooking overnight on a low fire, She tested it and found it to be well tendered and ready.

Dawa Tuya unlocked her spice cabinet and removed the things she needed. They were kept secured because they were worth their weight in gold. Literally. Precious commodities, were all made possible because of the Spice Road and the caravan traveling across the steppes. Her people, Anshi's people. Hardy adventurous, fearless. She was proud to be one of them. And her pride was showcased in this one simple, yet luxurious dish.

Black peppercorn, dried cumin, masala, fennel, hibiscus, basil, ginger-garlic paste, coriander, and dried red chilis were carefully ground and added to the camel pieces they covered tightly. Her secret ingredient was cinnamon, used to offset the pepper, chilis, fresh tomato, and fragrant spring onions. As the seasonings simmered, saturating the meat and slowly reducing the liquid within for the rest of the morning, she checked the banquet area, seeing that all was set up properly.

When she returned, Tuya checked her rice, pure white and ready for several healthy pinches of saffron.

All was perfect. Now she turned attention to herself and took a soaking bath. The long silver locks came first as she washed them carefully, pulling argan oil through them after the final rinse, she wrapped them up in a cotton towel and scrubbed every inch of her lean and beautiful body then oiled as well. Finally, she walked behind a screen and stared at the dress hanging there, Dark green, heavily embroidered from neck to hem, the colors radiant as gems. It had been her mother's and was the one garment carefully preserved from her youth. She slipped it on and it fit perfectly. The silver hair was swept up, pinned upward and an opaque veil covered her lower face with only her huge, carefully made-up eyes, lined with kohl showing. She nodded to the soldier who showed up to announce that the Chieftains had entered Anshi's yurt for luncheon.

Until then Tuya had been focused and calm. Now she felt her heart begin to race, her palms grew sweaty. She led her assistants in, each carrying bright earthenware bowls in Anshi's colors filled with the fragrant, golden rice. A stronger man delivered the ornate metal pot that held the still-simmering meat. You could hear it popping within.

She bowed low, ignoring Anshi's raised eyebrow when he saw the veil.

"Chieftains, your luncheon." And she left, remaining outside in a vestibule. She watched them but they could see her. That was a good thing for Tuya because it afforded her a view of the seasoned chieftain. She felt her eyes film over. He had not changed much; taller, and brawnier but had the same all-seeing eyes, high nose, and sharp cheekbones, He was jowlier, but not much, and the black hair she remembered was almost fully grey. His voice though shocked her. It had just been changing when she fled suddenly with her husband. It was so deep now. A man's baritone. She struggled to regain her composure.

"Gods, that smells delicious!" Exclaimed Chieftan Maral. "Just the smell takes me back to my childhood. It was my favorite, camel stew!"

"Our cook is amazing. She is a culinary genius and runs this camp like a General. I do not cross her."

"Best not cross any nomadic woman, nephew. They will roast your heart on a spit. I would like to meet her while I am here."

"I will arrange it.'

Anshi ladened a bowl with the saffron rice and then did the same with the savoy stew. He laid them before his guest. Maral took a large bite and a look of shock ran across his face. He chewed slowly, eyes closed, and swallow, Then he sat frozen in place, a look of disbelief and wariness.

"Where is this woman?" He demanded, his words harsh and raw.

"Uncle is something wrong? Is the dish not to your liking?"

"Bring her to me.' Answered Maral brusquely.

Anshi squared his shoulders and looked gravely at his uncle. "I need to know if there is a problem before I bring someone under my protection to another that seems..."

"There will be no need, Chieftain Anshi. I am here and will come before Chieftain Maral."

Tuya stepped around the corner and moved to the center of the room and two pairs of very similar eyes met one another. She knelt on the floor and bent, laying her forehead on her crossed hands. She bowed, motionless, The elder man rose and made his way around the table, and stood before the woman. Anshi, on high alert, had his hand resting lightly on his sword's hilt. He would intercede, he decided, only if forced. And if force was needed, he would defend Tuya.

"Who are you? There is only one person who would add cinnamon to camel stew. Only one, that I am aware of."

Tuya kept her head bowed and replied. "Many good cooks may do the same. Why ask me this?"

"Many good cooks do not take this amount of care. It is a dish made for someone well-loved."

"I put my best into every meal. Why is simple camel stew so important to you?"

Maral took a step forward. "Because I lost someone dear to me when I was a boy. I came back after a long hunt, and she was gone. No one was allowed to speak of her. She made the best camel stew in the world."

Anshi was stunned when his uncle sank beside Tuya and looked at her for a full minute. Maral waited patiently. Yet when he saw a tear splash on the folded hands of the woman, he placed a gentle hand on her bent back.

"A silly trick was it not? Did you doubt I would recognize your cooking, Khamgiin khairtai egch, (dearest elder sister)?"

Dawa Tuya slowly began to straighten, and he gently untied the veil from her face and let it drop. He moved his eyes across her face and said, "Why the dramatics? You were always quite good with those as I remember."

Her tears rained down. "Because I was unsure of the welcome!' She wailed and through herself in his arms.

He held her and stroked the silver hair. "Silly Girl! Isn't this a switch? You were always one to comfort me. I never had the chance to return the favor until today."

Anshi stepped back and spoke softly. "I will leave you two for a while. And Avga egch (Aunt), you and I must talk about certain lapses in your work background when you are through. You failed to mention a few things to me."

"Thank you, Uyel (Nephew). We will certainly talk."