Messengers from the Huna came in early summer before the sun reach the highest point of the year. They asked us to harvest early, prepare, and ride to join them at their base in the eastern part of the Desert, ready for battle. They also mentioned that we should bring the mightiest warriors of our tribe, singling me out by name in their message: the Sky Wolf. We have to answer their call and bring our warriors there, but who is our enemy: the Eastern Tribes Confederation, the Yuezhi and their Western Tribes allies, the Army of the Wall People, or the Huna themselves?
Temurel decided to leave a few elite warriors here, with Aycecek leading them. If the caravan joins up with the Guardians at the Sacred Mountain in time and combines with our familiar mountain terrain, we will still have the advantage. When the warriors reach the Huna's base in early autumn before the Harvest Moon, the caravan will travel close to the Sacred Spot, where they will be safe.
The Huna had the most heavily armored horse warriors in the Confederation, while most of the other tribes' warriors were horse archers. They don't really need our warriors, but it's nice to add numbers to their ranks. With this united force, we could easily defeat the Eastern Tribes Confederation, but the Alliance of the Chinese and Yuezhi might be a close call.
Aycecek believes we might have to ride farther east to face the Eastern Tribes Confederation. However, Temurel pointed out that the Huna's base is near their former fertile lands bordering the Chinese territory, and suggesting a westward gathering if the target is the Yuezhi. This is the conclusion we have based on the current information.
Temurel dispatched messengers to the Left Wing tribes and reached out to the Zaravani, asking them to meet us before they head south to join other Right Wing tribes, To speed up Temurcin and Zarir's wedding from the Summer Gathering to quickly secure an alliance between our people and the Zaravani before the war begins. He also declared that my wedding with Aycecek will occur alongside theirs.
As there hasn't been a wedding between these two tribes before, upon the Zaravani's arrival, Azhdar suggested that the groom should undertake a trial to prove his worth to the bride before we have a blessing from both traditions. Zarir suggested a war game where Temurcin, with the help of his tribesmen, would chase her on horseback while Zaravani riders defended her.
After both tribes agreed, each side chose ten men to help the bride and groom. I was chosen by Little Iron, while Zarir picked Atashan. I felt like our eleven riders had a slight edge against their ten protectors. Once our battle gear was taken off and the preparations were complete. The chase starts, with Zarir riding farther back while shielded by the others. I tried to block the Zaravani riders several times to clear a path for Temurcin, but they were quite skillful at blocking and intercepting us. After a while, I managed to created an opening for Little Iron. As Temurcin neared his bride, Atashan intentionally rode to collide with me. Fortunately, I stayed mounted and unharmed, but he was knocked off his horse by my push. The crowd erupted in cheers as Temurcin finally reached Zarir. I got off my horse and tried to help Atashan up. "I don't need your help, idiot!" he snapped, then rode off alone.
The Little Iron proved his worth, and both tribes seemed satisfied because they had the opportunity to show their strength and earn mutual respect. Then, Temurel addressed Aycecek before everyone, "Little Flower! What will the trial for the Sky Wolf be?"
"As one who comes from the horse tribe," Aycecek declared, "I challenge him to a race. If he can catch me on horseback, I will be his bride!"
The Black Rose got on horseback and started riding immediately. Seeing this, Aylaqun yelled at me, "Quickly! Sky Wolf, get on your horse!"
Aycecek had already gained a significant lead, her dark figure a receding silhouette against the green expanse. Her mare, "Qara Salqi" the Black Wind was swift, eating up the ground with long, powerful strides.
My own mount, a sturdy spotty steppe horse named "Barsa," stood tethered nearby, already saddled. I vaulted onto his back, the familiar feel of leather and muscle a grounding sensation amidst the sudden flurry of action. Barsa shifted beneath me, sensing the urgency of the chase.
Around me, shouts of encouragement and excitement rippled through the crowd. Little Iron and the others chosen to spurred their horses forward to witness the results.
I leaned low over Barsa's neck, urging him into a gallop. The wind whipped past my face, carrying the scent of blooming wildflowers. The rhythmic beat of Barsa's hooves matched the frantic thumping of my own heart. At this speed, his spotted coat made him look like a snow leopard leaping.
The challenge was clear: catch her. On horseback.
The grassland stretched before us, a sea of emerald rippling in the gentle afternoon breeze. The sun, still high in the sky, cast long shadows from the scattered groups of onlookers.
I focused on Aycecek, her form still distant but not impossibly so. Barsa was strong and tireless. It would be a test of speed, endurance, and horsemanship.
Aycecek leaned low over her dark mare, her long braids streaming out behind her like a black wind. She glanced back once, a fleeting look that held a hint of a smile, before urging her horse to even greater speed. The gap between us remained stubbornly large.
The terrain began to subtly change, the smooth grassland giving way to patches of taller, waving grasses that brushed against Barsa's legs. I could see Aycecek expertly guiding her mare through the slightly uneven ground, her movements fluid and natural. She was clearly at one with her horse.
The thrill of the chase intensified, a pure contest of skill and speed across the open land, witnessed by our people.
I felt Barsa lengthen his stride, his footing sure and powerful on the changing ground. He seemed to relish the challenge, his movements becoming more fluid and gaining momentum where Shadow's pace appeared to falter slightly. The gap between us began to close, slowly but surely.
Aycecek, skilled rider that she was, navigated the rougher patches with grace, but the Black Wind's advantage on the flat was diminishing. I could see Aycecek glance back, a flicker of surprise in her expression as Barsa's spotted form drew nearer.
The terrain was now our ally. Barsa's inherent sure-footedness and powerful build were allowing us to gain ground. The cheers from the spectators intensified, sensing the shift in the race.
The uneven terrain continued for a stretch, and Barsa moved with a powerful, ground-eating stride. I could see Aycecek urging Qara Salqi onward, but the mare, built for the flat plains, couldn't maintain her earlier blistering pace. The gap between us narrowed steadily.
The cheers of the tribes grew louder, a wave of sound washing over the grassland. They sensed the climax of the chase.
I leaned forward on Barsa, urging him with a low call. His muscles bunched and released, each stride bringing us closer to the dark silhouette ahead. Aycecek glanced back again, her expression now a mixture of determination and perhaps a hint of playful challenge.
Then, the terrain leveled out again, a smooth expanse of shorter grass stretching before us. For a moment, Black Wind seemed to regain some of her lost speed, the distance stabilizing. My heart pounded, the wind roaring in my ears.
But Barsa had found his rhythm. The earlier rugged ground had awakened his powerful stamina. Inch by inch, we continued to close the distance. I could now see the details of Aycecek's dark braid flying behind her, the set of her shoulders.
With a final surge, I urged Barsa forward. He responded with a burst of speed, his spotted coat a flash against the green. We drew alongside Qara Salqi.
Aycecek turned her head, a wide smile now gracing her lips, her dark eyes sparkling. For a heartbeat, we rode neck and neck, the pounding of our horses' hooves a shared Arhythm.
Then with a slight lean, I extended my hand towards her and touched her arm. She then held my hand while we rode together for a short distance before halting. Aycecek raised my hand and announced, "From this day, I belong to the Sky Wolf!" The tribes erupted in cheers.
Once the preparations were complete, a large bonfire was lit for the blessing ceremony. The two couples had their hands tied together by a blue and gold cord, symbolizing the Sky and Fire, as they faced Aylaqun and Arvaya, who represented their tribes. Arvaya, Azhdar's wife and the mother of Zarir and Atashan, came from the noble horse warrior Aspabara clan of the Daha.
"Spirits of the Steppe, ancestors who ride the winds! Look upon these unions before us. Just as the rivers flow together, may the lives of Temurcin and Zarir, Kirisen and Aycecek, intertwine to bring strength and prosperity to our peoples." Arvaya spoke, then sprinkles drops of mare's milk towards the four directions.
She continued, "From the rising sun, bring them warmth and new beginnings! From the vast north, grant them resilience! From the setting sun, bestow peace and wisdom! And from the fertile south, may their unions bring abundance!"
Next Aylaqun began her prayer, "Oh, Sky Father! Great Spirit of the Mountains! Hear us as we bless the couples. May your boundless sky watch over them, and may the strength of our lands be the foundation of their bonds."
Aylaqun circled her brazier with burning juniper around both couples then spoke, "May the warmth of this sacred smoke cleanse their paths and bring them harmony. May their spirits soar, and may their loyalty be steadfast."
"May the strength of the lion and the swiftness of the archer dwell within them. May their spirits be free as the horses. May their bonds be as enduring as gold." Arvaya announced. Then Aylaqun added, "May the wisdom of our ancestors guide them. May the resilience of the wolf strengthen them. May their hearts beat as one, with courage and devotion."
Arvaya and Aylaqun approached the couples together. Arvaya held a shared cup of mare's milk, and then the two noble ladies announced in unison, "May the blessings of our ancestors and the spirits of our lands be upon you."
After Zarir and Temurcin each took a sip from their cup, followed by Aycecek and Kirisen. Aycecek raised the cup slightly and said, "May our tribes be forever bound in peace and kinship!"
As evening fell, the tribes celebrated and began the banquet, with plenty of sheep and horse meat, millet bread, fermented horse milk, and cheese and cakes from the Zaravani. The sound of drums marked the rhythm of the steppe as some danced like soaring eagles.
After the feast, Aycecek and I went to our new yurt. I gently guided her inside. She moved with a quiet grace, her eyes reflecting the warm light. The blue and gold cord still bound our hands together, a tangible reminder of the vows we had exchanged and the blessings we had received.
A small brazier in the center of the yurt emitted a subtle fragrance of sweetgrass, a gift from Aylaqun for our new beginning. I reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
"This is our home now." I spoke with a soft and affectionate voice. Aycecek looked around the cozy space, a small smile gracing her lips. We stood for a moment, the only sound the gentle crackling of the lamp and our soft breaths. The cord between our hands felt significant, a connection that went beyond the physical.
Then I carefully led Aycecek to the pile of furs and we sat down together, still bound. She looked at the cord and said with amusement in her voice, "They are insistent we keep this until the morning."
I nodded, our eyes meeting. There was a quiet understanding between us, a shared anticipation for the life we would build together. I reached out again, my fingers tracing the delicate patterns woven into her tunic. Aycecek leaned into my touch, the warmth of her hand seeping through the fabric.
The celebrations outside had quieted to a low mumble of voices and the distant beat of a drum. Inside our yurt, a peaceful intimacy settled between us. I felt as if some invisible string bound us together, weaving a newly built path across space and time, intertwining our steps in this direction, pulling us closer and closer. This immeasurable force that we call fate had brought us to this silent promise of the night and the many nights to come.