Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Memory Lane Is Often Strewn with Thorns

 Anshi left his yurt early the next morning, as he usually did every day. He slipped out in the dark before dawn and began to walk the camp, greeting the sentries as they guarded the parameters and leaving each man with the feeling of pride that he had singled each out for his attention. He never varied this routine; it was his obsession, this time to make sure his people were safe and secure. It eased the ghosts that haunted him and drove away echoes of terrified screams, the smell of thick, metallic blood, and the visions of scattered loved ones. This time was as vital to him as breathing.

As he neared the yurts granted to the regiment that had accompanied High Minister Han, he was startled to see every man and bodyguard already awake and active. They had gathered in a circle around Han, and they were doing calisthenics.

Each personal bodyguard was huge, well over six feet tall, and at least 200 lbs. Their builds were massive and perfectly muscled. Each movement was coordinated and even in the morning chill, lit by firelight, they gleamed with sweat.  Han surprised him. The man was as tall but slim and he was dressed simply in a white tunic and exercising with them. As if sensing his presence, the Minister wove his way through the men and walked towards Anshi, wiping down with a towel.

"Pardon my appearance but I take exercise every morning with my men."

Anshi nodded. "You bodyguards are renowned. I am impressed."

'You have heard? Yes, they have been hand-picked by me for the job."

"Then the rumors..." Anshi stopped, nonplussed at where to go with his train of thought.

Han smiled. 'Yes. Are you shocked? Every one of them is a eunuch, such as me. In our little segment of this world, people look at us as less than worthy. I decided to prove the world wrong. When I began to carve out my powerbase, I gathered and built a group that I could trust to protect me without question."

Anshi raised an eyebrow. This man was full of surprises.

Han smiled wryly. "You are not alone in finding ways to survive, rebuild, and self-protect. I went to the training schools set aside for the palace eunuchs. I went looking for those whose 'altering' came later than mine, whose physical development was not hindered at a much earlier age."

"I see."

"I offered them a chance to escape their dreary futures, The right to a semblance of dignity. I am dedicated to them and they are devoted to me. Will you join me for tea?"

"Thank you."

Han spoke to his men. "Eat and be ready in two hours. Bring food for the shift around my yurt. Thank you, you are dismissed."

The yurt was like the man, spartan, organized, efficient, and cold. There was no sense of home or indulgence. The only thing out of place was a coiled whip on a nail pounded into one of the wall lattices. Han noted his startled attention. "I keep that with me at all times. Our former Crown Prince was a...diligent master. I keep it to remind myself that nothing is permanent and that everything can disappear at any time. I want to never slip into complacency or overconfidence and his tool of personal power keeps it fresh for me. There are traces of both of us on that thing, You were not the only one punished the night he turned his back on you."

"Is this your way of bonding with me? If so, it is a curious one."

"Not at all. It is just what happened. I will remove it if you wish."

"No. It means nothing to me. I nullified him a long time ago. He matters nothing to me now."

Anshi's mind was not, however, doing as well as he had hoped. And he felt a memory press in, one he had shoved aside for a while now.