Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Minister and Chieftain

Two days after the first feast, after hangovers had receded and the celebrants began to plan for departure, Dawa Tuya was checking the progress at the pits where the Yak had been slowly roasting for 24 hours. She reached out and teased a small piece of tender meat from a haunch and nibbled. Perfect.

"No more fuel. There are enough coals to keep it hot for a few hours. We will remove it at noon, and I will need all hands to slice and pull. Lan Mian? How are the barbeque sauces coming?" She queried.

Xiao Mian was gently bouncing Arslan and Baloramaa's Little Mouse on her hip. The naming ceremony was to be held for her in another month and the parents refused any hints as to the girl's name. "The hot sauce is waiting for your final tasting. the sweeter one needed a bit more honey and the curried sauce is delightful. Oh, BLAST...!"

Tuya laughed as the baby hurled curdled milk down the front of Xiao Mian's tunic. "Ah me, if it isn't a camel, it's a baby...You have a knack for eliciting a certain response, dear niece!"

"I'll run off and change then put our darling to bed. See you back at the cooking yurt."

As Xoa[Mian turned she and Tuya noticed a distant and dark movement in the sky. Tuya squinted her sharp eyes and shaded them as she peered into the distance.

"I believe the visitors from Qian are approaching. " She signaled a soldier. "Run to Ge Ban and let him know the Minister is arriving, estimating 20 minutes. Have him alert the Chieftain. Have you seen Lan Sya Mu as well?"

"She was heading toward the herding corral a little while ago. Hey, when did she start wearing makeup?"

"Never mind. After you speak to Lan Ge Ban, run and find her. Be extremely discreet when you share this with her. Understand. Run."

Xiao Mian spoke. "Been wondering that myself. "

"She may have an admirer. She is a woman after all."

"That's your opinion."

"Stop being cheeky, Miss. Look at your Aunt Yenay...Run along and curb that tongue of yours."

Anshi had just gotten back from an early hunt. Hot and sweaty, trying to calm his eagle and settle her down, he cursed as Lan Ge Ban brought the news that the contingent from Qian had arrived. He interrupted his General abruptly

"My little Princess is upset and I cannot leave her. HE is 5 hours early. If he insists on greeting me, he can join me here. She is more important than a Minister who cannot be prompt."

A deep baritone responded and High Minister Han walked around the embarrassed General. Anshi had only a brief second to glare at the hapless Lan Ge Ban.

"Please excuse the General, Chieftain Anshi. I insisted on paying respects immediately."

Anshi continued to stroke the bird and only spared a cursory glance for Minister Han. "It is an honor that you have come this long way, High Minister Han. Please stay where you are and speak softly. You know how highly strung a hunting eagle can be. I cannot leave her until she is settled."

"I remember."

Han remained quiet and watched as Anshi uttered small, soft whistles and hummed bits of a song to his Princess. Her jerky, nervous movement began to respond to them, her raptor eyes glued to her master. The High Minister drew a deep breath when the Singer placed a bit of raw meat between his lips and offered it to her. Cautiously, she took it and swallowed swiftly. For a moment Han was simply Han, who wanted, suddenly, to be a kept eagle. He closed weary eyes and beat the thought away immediately.

Anshi glanced at him and broke the reverie.

"She has calmed. I wish to retire for a bit to wash and rest. We can come together later, and you may present your proclamation. I imagine you are weary as well. Shall we meet at my office yurt in three hours?"

Han nodded. Anshi had handled him deftly, as a good and clever leader might. Kept him distant. Subtly expressed his displeasure at having his day interrupted. Grabbing the momentum from Han and resetting any possible strategy the older man may have had. Nicely done. They were playing the game of politics as equals now. Han felt a growing excitement about this challenge. In truth, 48 hours of flight had exhausted him, and he could do with a nap. These quick few minutes had settled his nerves as well. Anshi was safe and healthy, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he bowed and followed General Lan Ge Ban to the guest quarters near Anshi's own yurt.

Anshi, so close and yet so permanently far away.

Another watcher, separate from the one being ardently pursued by Lan Sya Mu, wrote a message regarding the arrival of the Qian High Minister, rolled it tightly, and slipped it into a leather pouch. This was tied tightly to the leg of the strongest bird in the coup that had been placed in to mix with the Lost Eagle birds. He watched until the bird flew around the cove of trees at the top of a rise and returned to feeding the pigeons.

As soon as the spy's bird rounded the trees and was out of sight, it was quickly netted and returned secretly to the encampment. The message was brought to Anshi.

"Hmmm. Send it back out as it is but have the men waiting to shoot the next one down. No misses. I want to see those orders before the spy. Let's use them for as long as we can."

Lan Ge Ban saluted and took the pigeon secretly beyond the cove and re-released it into the sky.

Anshi bathed and sat  down behind his desk. His mind wandered back to the High Minister. He knew that the man's unwelcomed presence was going to be unavoidable, especially since the missive written by the Minister's own precise hand lay before him. The beautiful scroll was in dark blue and the white parchment, written in rare dark blue ink was perfect. Everything done with great care and the information that had recorded the spy's capture and interrogation was in great detail. His first impulse was to burn it. It personified the man to him. Deep, multi-layered, twelve steps ahead of friend and foe alike. It was too personal and he wanted rid of it. He decided to wait in case it was needed but shoved it at the bottom of a trunk, far back in a dark area of the yurt. The man, dammit, had been correct in coming and his Queen had been clever in sending a royal proclamation he would not be able to ignore.

Well, so be it. The more men he could have at hand to use the better. The fact that Han was here was galling but he would tolerate it. The cementing of this alliance was vital to both sides and his personal feelings would not get in the way. He decided to meditate awhile and begin preparing to introduce the newcomers formally to the caravan and accept the Queen's Proclamation.