Disclaimer: the characters in this story are not mine. They belong to Disney.
Chapter Seven
"I told you we'd find one," Minghan said matter-of-factly as they approached the ger. The large, dome-shaped tent was a welcoming sight. There, they would find food, and lodgings with any luck.
"Welcome to our home, travelers! Come in, and tell us your stories!" a short, stocky man said enthusiastically as he walked briskly to greet the five. "I am called Batu. I live here with my daughter Bolordene. We will see you are well cared for."
"Your generosity is greatly appreciated," Minghan and the others followed Batu into the spacious tent, where a young girl was cooking something over an open fire. Judging by the smell, the fire was probably fueled by dung. The five followed Batu's example and sat in a circle around the fire, and Minghan continued, "We are warriors trying to make our way home. We have no spare clothes or tools."
"I grieve to hear your misfortune," Batu said solemnly, "But perhaps after a short stay with us, you can regain your strength and replenish your supplies."
"Thank you very much," Minghan said gracefully, "I seem to have forgotten my manners. I am called Minghan. My traveling companions are Houlun, Bourtai, Borchu, and Khaidu." He named them as they sat clockwise around the fire.
"I am pleased to meet all of you," Batu replied with a smile.
Bolordene bowed low as she prepared seven bowls of mouton and rice, and gave one to each of the men sitting around the cooking fire. When everyone had been served, she sat back down and ate her own dinner.
The five Huns devoured ravenously, and when a bowl was empty, Bolordene promptly refilled it. Minghan grinned with knowing mischievousness when he noticed the young girl blush as she filled Houlun's bowl.
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The cooking fire had long been extinguished, and the smoke hole in the ceiling had been covered. While everyone else slept comfortably in beds of soft leather, the slender archer lied wide awake in ponder. Here, in the privacy of his mind, he could admit that he had always hated Shan Yu. He found him too bold, and his tactics too dramatic and brazen. He never once listened to me... Minghan thought angrily, Maybe if he had, there would be more than five of us left.
He recalled all too vividly how the bulky warlord had disregarded Minghan's cleverly made plans. Shan Yu may have been stronger than me when it comes to brute force, but I could outwit him any day. Indeed, lack of wit had been his downfall. Minghan remembered one incident in particular, when Shan Yu suggested they storm the Tung Xiao pass and confront the Imperial Army. The archer had warned him that such a battle was unnecessary, and that the army could be avoided. However, Shan Yu could never resist a chance to cause chaos.
What made even less sense to the slim middle-aged man was Shan Yu's order for the entire army to charge toward a small contingent of boy soldiers in the snow-covered mountains. The Huns were so many, and their enemies were so few. With less than fifty well-aimed arrows, they could have made short work of them. Instead, he ordered the entire army to advance down the mountain, putting them right in the way of the avalanche...
Thanks to the cleverness of one effeminate Chinese soldier, thousands of fine Mongol warriors met their deaths within such close range of the Imperial City. Minghan had to admit, he admired the pretty boy's strategy.
Suddenly, he heard someone stirring. He assumed whoever it was had been thrashing in their sleep, but then he heard soft footsteps across the dirt floor of the ger. He rolled onto his side and watched as Bolordene knelt beside Houlun. She stroked a lock of oily black hair away from the young man's gaunt face, and he woke with a start.
"How long have you been there?" he whispered fiercely, not wanting to wake the others.
"Not long. Only a few seconds," she replied, "I know there is something your leader didn't tell us. What are you hiding?"
"Minghan isn't..." Houlun paused, "Well, I guess he has become our leader now. You, my dear, have a very active imagination. We aren't keeping any secrets." Any of the other Huns would not have humored the girl and would have gone back to sleep annoyed, but Houlun was as curious about Bolordene as she was about him. "Do you have a guilty conscience, little one?" he asked, cupping her chin. "Do you ask because you yourself have something to hide?" He was toying with her. Minghan found it an interesting interaction. He meant to stay awake and eavesdrop, but sleep finally found him.
The next morning, as usual, Minghan was the first to wake. Only Batu had risen earlier, and he was starting a fire. The slender man sat up, and Batu smiled at him when he saw his guest was awake.
"Good morning, my friend!" he said cordially. "Now, you mentioned that you had no clothing or tools. I may be willing to provide you with these if you stay here a few days and help me with the household chores. What sorts of things do you require?"
"That's very generous of you," Minghan said. "The one thing I personally need more than anything else is a good bow and some arrows, but those take time to make," He stroked his beard and continued, "We could also use some flint, and some good knives. And clothes, obviously." He pinched the sides of his tattered, unraveling pants for emphasis.
"Knives and bows can be easily made," Batu mused, "And there is a small town not far from here where you can purchase clothes and what ever else you may need. I can give you a few things to trade for them."
"Thank you. I extend my gratitude on behalf of all of us," Minghan replied, "Though I object your statement about bows. It's an intricate process, and it can take as long as a week. Would you allow us to stay for so long?"
"Take all the time you need, my friend."
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A few hours later, after the other four warriors had awoken and eaten a small breakfast, Batu took them to the pasture near the ger, and showed them where his cattle grazed. These beasts had many uses. Their horns, sinew, and skin could be used to make bows for archery, and their meat could be dried for traveling.
Batu slowly approached a bull and tied a lead rope around its neck. This angered it, but Khaidu quickly cut its throat with Batu's butcher knife. Houlun had a bucket at the ready to collect the blood; it was a good source of water and protein, and too valuable to waste.
The bull fell with a thud.
"Thank you for your help, my friends," Batu said. "I shall allow you to keep what you need from this animal."
"We are very grateful," said Houlun.
The three of them carried the bull back to the ger, where Minghan was sitting by the fire with Bolordene, Bourtai, and Borchu.
"I'm going to need some water to make my bow. Do you have any to spare?" Minghan inquired.
"There is a small stream which runs through my father's pasture, but at this time of year it is rather dry," the adolescent girl answered.
"We have a fresh supply of food, thanks to our gracious host," Houlun announced as he entered the dwelling.
"I didn't mean to overhear, but did you say you need water?" Batu asked.
"Yes. I need to boil the bull's hide and horns. Your daughter tells me there is a stream nearby. Are there any fish? A rendered swim bladder is the best way to adhere the string to the rest of the bow, but hide glue will do, temporarily." Minghan explained.
"I'm sorry, but there are no fish," Batu said, "But I will send Bolordene to fetch you some water all the same."
"I mean no argument, father," Bolordene interjected, "But do you really mean to send me in to the pasture alone? Shouldn't I take one of the warriors with me to protect me from being trampled, and to help me carry the water?"
Minghan could tell from Batu's expression that he was cautious of allowing a travel-weary man to be alone with his preteen daughter.
"I'll go with her," Houlun volunteered.
Batu looked apprehensive, but the archer whispered assuringly in his ear, "I'll keep an eye on them. If he tries anything, I'll punish him myself."
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A/N: I changed my mind a dozen times about what I wanted this chapter to be, but at least now it's finally finished. I'm sorry if the chapters with the Huns are starting to read like a bad survival manual. Anyway, chapter eight will be more about Mulan, Shang, and the others. Feedback is always appreciated.
