Chapter 11 ~ Visitors
Spring came with a resounding bloom. The women took back their fields for planting and the men began re-training again, setting aside primary hunting times for the younger men. Su Lin continued her quest for children. A month into spring, she awoke feeling ill for many days in a row. Shoving the sick feelings aside, she got up, dressing out for the fields; they usually passed by lunch. The morning brought Lan, heavy with child, out to the fields. She greeted Su Lin warmly then her face suddenly looked shocked. "Su… when was your last flow?" she asked.
Su Lin looked taken back, but answered, "About a month ago. Why?"
"You look different." Lan said, rubbing her swollen belly, "Like me before I found out about the child."
Su Lin's hopes rose. They soared as another month passed without her flow. She took Jade out riding one day, passing by the training fields, easily picking Shan Yu out from the group of Huns. It amazed her how far she had come from her China and her raising. Her she was, riding unabashed on a large, fierce Hun mare, married to the most feared Hun warrior, a member of the Hun community, and possible carrying a child of her Hun husband. Her time there had been nothing but good. She slowed Jade on that same hill where she realized that she loved Shan Yu. Stopping the mare, she gazed over the valley that had come to be her home. Off the far side of the valley, a contingent of riders came galloping towards the city. Their horses were not the stocky, squat horses of the Huns but the tall, elegant Imperial stallions.
Su Lin turned Jade and cantered back into the city. The entire city had gathered to see a small band of Imperial soldiers. They had demanded to see the Hun Emperor. The leader exited the hall. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice holding a demand more than a question.
"The emperor wishes to know about his daughter, the princess Su Lin." The head soldier said, leering down at the Huns.
"Shan Yu!" the leader called, the great warrior weaving his way to his leader. "Where is your wife?"
"His wife?" the head asked, his voice full of shock and disdain.
"Yes, Su Lin has been wed to Shan Yu." The emperor replied, clapping a hand on the warriors shoulder.
"That is not what the emperor asked for!" The head retorted, his voice rising to a shrill sound.
"It has been done." The Hun emperor said, his voice final.
The surrounding Huns parted as Su Lin rode Jade through them to halt in front of the Imperial soldiers. "What's going on?" she asked, her question directed towards Shan Yu.
"The Imperial troops have come to—" Shan Yu began but the head cut him off.
"You would do well to teach your woman to hold their tongues in a man's presence." The head said.
"You would do much better to learn who you are addressing soldier." Su Lin replied, swinging off Jade.
The head stared down at her before pulling his sword. The Huns pulled their weapons. A tense moment past. "Careful soldier, you cut me down, everything my father and I did was for nothing." Su Lin said, looking up the sword.
Realization dawned on the head's face. "Princess?" he asked, earning a nod from Su Lin.