The Most Important Thing

Emorg Changyi took a long, worried look at his daughter. The years had not been gentle to the aging nomad warrior, as they usually were not to those who dwelled the Plain of Horses, and the daughter, barely reached her blossoming adulthood, was his single joy in life. Was it not children that, in the end, was the only thing of significance? The only immortality available to a man, or so Emorg believed. Yun-Men's eyes were alight with impatience and passion again, and she had clearly been thinking the Big Thoughts, as Emorg had come to think of them. Their hunting session had been successful, Yun-Men had two lanky rabbits attached to her saddle, but the girl's heart was not in the hunt. When she was smaller hunting and practising archery had been enough to make her eyes alight with joy. Not so any more.

- "Yun-Men? What is bothering you?" He really didn't want to ask, but it was better to know what was going through her mind.

- "This! This is bothering me! Our people were not always so. The T'aghurs were once more than petty brigands and wandering weaklings," the young woman answered hotly.

- "I have lived far longer than you, daughter. And our way of life has not changed in my lifetime."

Yun-Men snorted.

- "Manis Khan once led us to greatness. I know the T'aghurs have it in them. They need leadership. We could not only rule all the Plain of Horses, but Shou Lung as well!"

- "Manis Khan is but a legend, girl. A dream of grandiosity for the simple people of our tribe." Emorg could already tell that Yun-Men didn't believe him. And it was not as if he actually knew.

- "And as for leadership, there is the triumvirate..." the man went on.

- "Oh yes, the triumvirate," said the girl bitterly, tossing her raven-black plait. "Not only are all of the three morons, but what kind of leadership is that? There must be one strong enough to lead all, and be worthy of that position."

- "Yun-Men! That is dangerous talk! You will refrain from it. Do as I say, respect your father!"

His daughter turned her straight fearless gaze to him. The steely, firm edge in the expression of her slanted eyes. The high cheekbones, the firm mouth. Emorg realized he had no control whatsoever over her, and hadn't had in a long time.

- "Respect must be earned, father. I have some for you, but do not think going on demanding it of me. It means nothing to me," she answered calmly, a cold, steely undertone chilling Emorg to core.

T'aghurs were the only tribe in the Plain of Horses that was not led by a single qaghan. The triumvirate held its office, such as it was, in the tent city of Alamaqu, in the central Chigidi mountains.

- "Those insufferable fools continue to waste what little resources we have to the war elephants," Yun-Men snarled. "And I even know why. Because they look very impressive in a parade, on the streets of a city, wearing all this fancy equipment. As for actual warfare though, they are useless. They are big, slow and sluggish, and they have independent minds not fit for a war steed. But no, they just can't admit they are wrong, can they? While there are starving children in the tribe, they would waste food and men on useless beasts."

- "What would you do then, Yun-Men, if you are so much wiser than our own leaders?" Emorg asked tiredly.

But Yun-Men apparently had given it thought, and continued without missing a beat.

- "I would disband the elephant troops, sell the beasts, and set up a cavalry. We are riders and archers, we only need to put those skills in warfare purposes. I would banish the triumvirate and ... the leadership should be given to someone who is fit to a position to lead our tribe into what we are meant to be. No-one would get a free ride and all privilege would have to be earned."

Her eyes scanned the arid plains as they rode, like the eyes of a hunting falcon.

- "Will you please not talk about this to others," her father pleaded. "I could not stand it if you were executed or exiled. You are the only thing left for me."

Yun-Men laughed.

- "Fear not, father. I fear no mortal man, or a woman. Let anyone try to get me." Her grin was wolfish, her hand shifting to the hilt of her axe.

- "The most important thing, though, is belief," the girl went on. "Our people have minds of hunted grass-eaters. We need to gain minds of predators instead. There was a time there was such a spirit. It is in us, it is just sleeping a deep sleep." She smiled, more content now.

Emorg shivered. He cared for little, as he anticipated not living long any more. All the same, he felt frightened.