Nurhaci and Bashimur traveled westward down the old beaten path that led to the silk road on the fringes of the nomadic horse lord tribes’ lands for three days without a sighting of any nomads or merchants alike. The excitement of going on a journey had long since faded and Nurhaci was left to deal with the emotions that came with the loss of his old life and everything he used to know as well as the pain in his hands from his wounds. Riding in the empty steppes gave one a lot of time to think, and when Nurhaci wasn’t focused on the throbbing pain in his hands he was lost in his mind repeatedly going over all the events that had happened to him that led him to his current predicament.

  Bashimur did not help much in keeping Nurhaci distracted since he was a quiet man who seldom spoke and spent most of the journey watching their surroundings and keeping them from straying from the path and getting lost in these dangerous lands. Nurhaci kept up as best he could but after three days he was physically and mentally exhausted to the point of breaking and he could no longer keep everything bottled up inside. “Bashimur,” Nurhaci said, “do you even know where we are going?” Bashimur looked back at Nurhaci and studied his face for a while from atop his own horse. After a while of studying Nurhaci, Bashimur turned back in his saddle and looked forward once more. “we continue to go west,” he finally said. “Yes, I know what direction we are going,” Nurhaci exclaimed, “But we have been riding for three whole days upon this old, worn-out road and we have yet to come upon any people, nomad or Merchant alike!”          “I know,” said Bashimur, “we are far from settled lands so it will take time to see any other people but if we keep going, we will run into someone eventually.” Nurhaci grew agitated at Bashimur’s words, he was growing restless, and doubt was beginning to set into his mind with each passing day that they saw no signs of people.                  “do you even know how long it will be or are you just making guesses?” Nurhaci asked, “we do not have much food and water as it is so if we take much longer, we will starve to death before long.”   “We are no longer in your homeland Nurhaci we are far from any city or settlement,” Bashimur said turning his head back to look at Nurhaci. “the only people that wander these roads are merchants, adventurers, bandits, and nomads so it will take time to come across anyone else.”                                                                                          “I know, you’ve said that already,” replied Nurhaci, “but what about the food and water what if we run out and die before seeing someone else?”                                                                                “that is a possibility, and I wish we could have prepared better back in Noho, but we did not have the time to do so, and now we just have to hope that things work out in the future.”                                “Hope,” Nurhaci exclaimed, “we are leaving our lives up to hope!”   ”do you know better?” Bashimur asked anger in his voice, “do you know anywhere else to run to that is a better option than this? Because if so, I will gladly go that way.” Nurhaci was shocked by Bashimur’s outburst. Bashimur had been harsh at times during training but he had never been mad at Nurhaci like he was now. Nurhaci looked away from Bashimur’s angry eyes and looked off into the distance before shaking his head no. “as I thought,” Bashimur said, “Now if you have no better alternative then we will just have to keep going and hope for the best, yes we must hope that things work out and that we do not run upon any bandits until we can get some support.” Nurhaci did not respond and instead continued to look off into the distance and sink back into his thoughts not wanting to anger his only lifeline any further. The two continued on their way Nurhaci being more careful about what he said from then on.

~

  A week had passed since leaving Noho, they had still yet to see any other humans during their Journey and the food and water situation had only grown worse, making both Bashimur and Nurhaci worried about their future. Earlier Bashimur had stated that if things got any worse, they could start to kill the horses to extend their limited food supply just a little bit more if need be and pray for rain or for their path to come across a water source to get more water. Slaughtering their means of transportation did not sit well with Nurhaci but if it came down to it, they did not have much choice. It was late in the day; the sun was sinking below the horizon and night would soon be upon them. Bashimur began to look for a decent place to bed down for the night.

  They had found the place they would sleep for the night and Nurhaci was about to dismount when he noticed that Bashimur was sitting in his saddle deathly still staring off towards the north, concern upon his face. Nurhaci followed Bashimur’s gaze and there he saw two horses in the distance with riders on their backs. As soon as Nurhaci saw the two riders in the distance, he was reminded of the stories he was told as a kid about the bloodthirsty bandits from the steppes who swiftly road around killing and pillaging all they could without mercy. “w-who are they?” Nurhaci asked. “Quiet,” Bashimur snapped back. By Bashimur’s tone alone Nurhaci knew that these people could mean trouble for the two of them. The thought of that scared Nurhaci as much as being attacked the night of his father’s death. Nurhaci nervously watched the two people off in the distance. He wanted to run away and was tempted to voice his opinion to Bashimur but after he was told to stay quiet, he didn’t have the courage to speak up. So, he sat there in silence watching and waiting for the situation to change in some way.

  They sat there in their saddles until the last rays of the sun vanished into the distance and darkness fell upon the land and they could no longer see the strangers. Bashimur let out the breath he had been holding in and turned to look at Nurhaci. “Come get some rest I will stay up and keep watch for the night.”

“But aren’t you also tired and need some sleep?” Nurhaci asked.

“I’ll be fine don’t worry and get some sleep.” Nurhaci was hesitant and wanted to argue with Bashimur and was going to offer to take a watch himself to let Bashimur get some rest as well but he knew that Bashimur wouldn’t agree with him so, he got off his horse and prepared to bed down for the night.

   Nurhaci thought that he would not be able to sleep with the events going on, but his worries were unfounded. Almost as soon as he laid down and closed his eyes, he was asleep. He fell asleep so quickly that he did not even know where Bashimur was or what he was doing. Sometime during the night, Nurhaci awoke to voices not far off from where he was sleeping. Nurhaci immediately jumped awake and looked to the place where the voices were coming from. He found Bashimur sitting around a fire with two other men. They were all staring at him and were no longer speaking. The three had apparently heard him wake up and now Nurhaci had become the center of attention. “Come over here,” Bashimur said waving Nurhaci over with his hand. Nurhaci walked over to the fire nervously, well aware of the eyes following his movements.

  Nurhaci took a seat by the fire near Bashimur and began to get a good look at the two men he did not know. By their skin tone alone he could tell they were not Mansurian they looked more like Bashimur than himself so he could guess that they were both steppe nomads commonly called horse lords. One of the men seemed to be middle-aged and around Bashimur’s age while the other man looked to be only a few years older than Nurhaci at most. They both had brown hair and their features seemed to be related in some way. The four of them sat there for a while, no one speaking, making Nurhaci restless under the gaze of the two men. “Nurhaci,” Bashimur said catching Nurhaci’s attention, “We are guests in these two men’s territory” Nurhaci nodded at Bashimur’s words, “where are we then?” The two men laughed at Nurhaci’s question almost as if Nurhaci should know what tribe owned the territory, they were in. “We are in the steppes Nurhaci, the ancestral homeland of the horse lords,” Bashimur said giving Nurhaci a harsh look as he spoke. The two men continued to laugh at Nurhaci causing his face to flush red in embarrassment.                   “I know we are in the steppes I meant what tribe’s land are we on,” Nurhaci said flustered.                                                                                                   “We are of the Yemere Tribe,” said one of the two men.                                     “I see,” said Nurhaci contemplatively. He was trying to figure out if he had ever heard the name Yemere before but since there was not much information in the wider world about the horse lord tribes, he could not think of a time that he had ever heard the name.

  At Nurhaci’s pondering look the two men began to laugh again this time even louder than before greatly confusing Nurhaci. Bashimur saw the confusion in Nurhaci’s eyes and leaned over to whisper into his ear, “Yemere was one of the founders of the horse lord tribes and his lineage dates back further than the founding of Noho.” Nurhaci was shocked at Bashimur’s words, he never knew how old the tribes were that were living on the steppes, he was beginning to realize that there was a rich history here in this land that he was blind to up until now. The discovery of something new to him was making him more and more excited about the journey that he was on and the fear and trepidation that he had been feeling as of late began to fade away. “our ancestors were the first men to settle the steppes and made it our own,” one of the men said.                “I see,” Nurhaci said in response. Both men nodded at that.                          “they will be accompanying us and following us as we travel through their lands,” Bashimur said. Nurhaci looked at Bashimur and back at the two men confused as to why they would be coming with them. “They will be ensuring that we stay away from their settlements and the other members of their tribe,” Bashimur explained.                                                                                            “it would be for the best if you stay away from the rest of the tribe,” The older man who had been the only one talking said. Bashimur leaned back into Nurhaci’s ear, “we have not earned the right to visit the clan and these two are warriors from the tribe protecting the tribe and keeping outsiders away from their homes.” Nurhaci nodded coming to understand that these were a cautious and secretive people.                                                                                          “A trade caravan passed through our lands not too long back we will take you on your way and help you catch up with them starting tomorrow but for now let’s get some rest, our lands are relatively safe so nothing bad should happen through the night.” The man said thus ending the talk and the four of them began bedding down for the night knowing they would need to be up and off early the next morning.

  The desperate food and water situation that Bashimur and Nurhaci found themselves in was fixed by the two Yemere tribesman who provided them with food and water for information on affairs outside of the steppes, which greatly relieved Nurhaci, putting him more at ease than he had been in a while. They rode for many days not coming across the merchants, or anyone else for that matter, which Nurhaci had assumed was due to their new companions more than there being a lack of people around. he had guessed that they had been intentionally avoiding anyone else like they said they would do on the night they had met. During their journey Nurhaci’s hands had fully scabbed up and the pain had greatly lessened over the past few days and he was able to get more use out of them allowing him to be of more help to Bashimur on their travels.

  After they had traveled for almost a week with the tribesmen the situation changed after many monotonous days of riding the same direction and seeing the same scenery with little change from day to day. Apparently, there were some changes that the tribesman saw that Nurhaci could not, regardless of how much he tried to. they came to a stop and looked back at Bashimur and Nurhaci from the leading position they had taken during their journey together. “This is the edge of our tribes grazing lands, so we depart from you here,” the older man said with a wave. “thank you for guiding us,” Bashimur said, “How much further from the caravan would you say we are?”. The two men looked to the west ponderingly for a moment. “Just keep heading west another one of the tribes who have rights to these lands will contact you soon, as we did, and they will be able to better explain to you the situation.” Bashimur nodded, “I see, thank you again, brothers,” the two men nodded to Bashimur first then Nurhaci then they both rode off to the north and soon enough they were gone from view while Bashimur and Nurhaci watched after them. After they passed away into the distance Nurhaci looked at Bashimur, “So the Yemere tribe is not the dominant tribe on the steppes?”. Bashimur shook his head at Nurhaci’s words, “No there is no dominant tribe out here there are those clans that are larger than others, but they do not function the way you are used to.”                      “How so,” Nurhaci asked.                                                                            “These tribes do not fight for dominance like in other places, instead they fight each year for the land to settle in for that year called grazing rights so that their animals can graze there for the year.”                                                              “So, the tribes don’t conquer each other like our clans in Mansuria,” Nurhaci asked.                                                                                                      Bashimur shook his head, “No they do from time to time if a clan is small and deemed unworthy by the larger clans but this doesn’t happen as often as it does in other places, maybe a few times a decade if some tribes find themselves on hard times.” Nurhaci looked on ponderingly for a while taking it all in since this was all new to him, things he never knew about his clan’s closest neighbor. “if they are so decentralized and spread along the plains then how come they have never been conquered before?”                                 “Some have tried in the past, mainly the dragon empire in the south and some others to the west but in times of need the tribes come together and send their warriors to battle together in defense of their homeland.”                             “that’s incredible,” Nurhaci said in wonder.                                                      “No one knows the steppes better than them and their cavalry makes the best skirmishers in the world putting an attacking force through hell as long as they stay here,” Bashimur said just adding to the wonder that Nurhaci was feeling. “How devastating would it be if they united and attacked other nations,” Nurhaci asked really starting to get into the conversation. Bashimur thought for a while trying to come up with a good answer. “Hard to say,” Bashimur said, “but I do know that many would die and before it all ended many great nations would fall before the hordes of horse lords attacking them.”                                          “Wow,” Nurhaci said wide-eyed, “I can’t imagine what that would be like.” Bashimur laughed at Nurhaci’s reaction bringing Nurhaci back into reality and embarrassing him as he realized the stupid look he had on his face. “You aren’t the first whose thought of this,” Bashimur said reassuringly, “Many have wanted to see the devastation that my people united under one banner could bring.” “Then why haven’t they,” Nurhaci asked. “The different tribes are very prideful and want to rule themselves,” Bashimur said, “They all have their own elders and their own chiefs who relate to them better than any other tribe’s leaders could so they don’t usually come together unless it’s due to necessity.”         “But they do sometimes take in other tribes,” Nurhaci pointed out.              “Yes,” Bashimur replied, “and when that happens many choose to die or flee than to bend the knee to the new tribe’s leaders.”                                                “I see.” Nurhaci now saw that uniting the tribes would cause a lot of bloodshed if it were to come about quickly. “Come let’s get going,” Bashimur said, “there is more daylight left and we need to make up as much ground as we can so we can swiftly catch up with our target.” Nurhaci nodded and they both started off once more.

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  Nurhaci followed behind Bashimur and thought about what it would be like to see hordes of the horse lords riding to battle and conquering distant lands. He did not want to admit it, but he found the prospect exciting and deep down he wished to see it for himself.

  It took two days for the two of them to notice that they were once again being watched as they had been before they had met the Yemere tribesman. Bashimur decided to ignore their watchers and just cautiously make their way through the land they were trespassing on. “If they want to make contact,” he said, “then they will on their own terms it would be futile to go chasing them.” “But if we can find them we can enlist their help,” Nurhaci said back.    “Maybe,” Bashimur replied, “or they could see our actions as being aggressive and kill us. The risks outweigh the rewards.”                                              “You’re right.” The conversation ended and the two continued riding ever westward seeing no man, other than those watching from a distance, and very few beasts. It took him a while, but Nurhaci noticed the lack of animals in this area which was different from the places they had been traveling through in the days past. “Where are all the animals, we have hardly seen anything other than a few rabbits for the past couple days?” he asked Bashimur. “Someone has been settled here for quite some time and have depleted this area's resources,” Bashimur replied. Nurhaci looked all around them into the distance curiously. “Well,” Nurhaci said, “If someone lives in these parts then why haven’t we run into them?”                                                                                                       “But we have,” Bashimur said with a chuckle.                                          “When,” Nurhaci asked, “Where?” once again he looked all around trying to find these people he had apparently already seen. At Nurhaci’s actions, Bashimur began to laugh aloud causing Nurhaci to feel much frustration. He began to give Bashimur a not so kind look from behind and if his eyes could shoot arrows they would have pierced his skull already. “Don’t look at me that way,” Bashimur said as he attempted to contain his laughter somewhat successfully. “Then answer my question,” Nurhaci spat. “They have been watching us for days now,” Bashimur said answering Nurhaci’s questions with a chuckle. Nurhaci looked all around again squinting trying to see as far as he possibly could. “You’re telling me there is an entire tribe settled near here?”                           “An entire tribe,” Bashimur said running his fingers through his scraggly beard as he thought, “No, a few houses at most. A tribal chief and his aides wouldn’t dare to settle this close to a road that brings in outsiders.” “What do you mean?” Nurhaci asked confusedly. “Every summer the tribes wander freely inside the territory they fought for in the spring,” Bashimur explained, “The many houses can choose to leave the area where the clan settles for winter and freely roam within their territory. They tend to stick together with their family for safety but sometimes they settle alone if they are large enough or brave enough. And from what I can guess by those watching us a few houses at most have settled this area.” Nurhaci sat there upon his horse for a moment silently soaking in this newfound knowledge. “You can tell how many houses have settled this area based upon our observers alone,” Nurhaci finally said, “How can you tell?” “These are my people,” Bashimur said looking to the sky in thought, “I used to live like them, and I know their customs deeply.”                                            “You said houses settle a place together for protection, what do they need protection from this deep in the steppes?” Nurhaci asked. “Beasts for one,” Bashimur said, “but most of all its protection against the tribeless raiders who usually prey upon outsiders but don’t hesitate to attack other nomads that they deem to be an easy target.” Bashimur and Nurhaci were so engrossed in their conversation and their own thoughts that they failed to notice the lone man riding up to them until he was almost upon them. When Bashimur finally noticed the rider, he brought his horse to a stop and held his hand back to Nurhaci commanding him to do the same. “Shit,” he said, “I got careless.” “What do we do now?” Nurhaci asked nervously from his position behind Bashimur who was acting as a shield for him. “Quiet,” Bashimur snapped back which quickly shut Nurhaci up. They were both sitting there silently as the newcomer brought his horse to a halt right before them and gave them both a once over before turning his attention solely to Bashimur. While the man took a good look at Nurhaci and Bashimur, Nurhaci studied the man as well. He seemed to be middle-aged and by the aging lines on his face and the way he held himself atop his pitch-black steed he seemed to know how to use the sword upon his hip and the bow slung across his back. “You two looking for the merchant’s heading west?” he asked in a stern voice to which Bashimur nodded yes. “Well then, you’re in luck, not two nights passed they were set upon by raiders and lost many guards and merchants alike,” the man said not even batting an eye at the mention of death, “Last I heard they are currently licking their wounds about a day’s ride up the road.” The man pointed further down the road leading west indicating that was the way to our query. After that, he turned his mount and headed off to the direction of those who had been watching Bashimur and Nurhaci these past few days. “Thank you for the directions my good sir,” Bashimur called out to the man as he rode away but he did not turn back or respond he just continued on his way. “He didn’t look familiar,” Nurhaci said watching the man’s back as he rode away, “I don’t believe I’ve seen him among those watching us.” “Because he hasn’t been watching us,” Bashimur said spurring his horse forwards along the road. From the tone of his voice and the way he sat in his saddle Nurhaci knew that Bashimur would say no more so instead of talking anymore he too spurred his horse on and followed Bashimur.

The Man was right and in less than a day they found the caravan they had been looking for, for the past few weeks. They could see the caravan in a distance set up in a defensive formation with the wagons encircling the various people within the circle of sturdy looking wagons. As they got closer to the group Nurhaci could see mounds of dirt littering the land around the road. He could guess that these mounds were the fresh graves of those who died around three nights past. “Will they just let us ride up to them?” Nurhaci asked. “Only one way to find out,” Bashimur said unfazed by all the eyes looking at him from within the encirclement. The closer they got the guards, who all wore an assortment of armor and weapons from plate armor and great swords to leathers, iron daggers and bows, drew their weapons and looked at the two with hostility. Bashimur stopped his horse and held up his hands in a non-threatening manner. His actions did not change the way the guards and merchants looked at them however as they still had their weapons drawn and glared at Nurhaci and Bashimur with murderous intent. “We are both just travelers heading west and hoped to catch a ride with a caravan,” Bashimur said as calmly as possible trying to ease some of the tension in the air. His words seemed to have not helped any as no one responded to him and nobody lowered their weapons. It seemed that things would end poorly for Nurhaci and Bashimur until a man dressed in elegant clothes stepped forward and stood among the most well armored and equipped guards in the group. “Where do you come from?” the well-dressed man asked the two. Nurhaci did not dare answer and make the situation worse, so he left the negotiations up to Bashimur to handle. “I am a mercenary and have been selling my sword to the people of Mansuria for many years now,” Bashimur said still holding his hands up as not to seem like a threat. “And him?” the man asked pointing to Nurhaci. “This is an orphan that I found during my work,” Bashimur said giving Nurhaci a look that meant to go on with his story. “Can he fight?” “Yes,” Bashimur replied, “I’ve been training him since I found him, and his skills aren’t bad for a boy his age.” The well-dressed man stood there rubbing his chin as he studied both Bashimur and Nurhaci for a moment. “Well as long as you can pull your own weight I will hire you both since I have found myself shorthanded recently,” he said before waiving his hand at his guards, who all lowered their weapons, and walking back to the group of people in the center of the encirclement where many tents were set up. Bashimur nodded to Nurhaci before guiding his horse into the wagon encirclement. Nurhaci followed Bashimur and joined him in the encirclement. Not even a full month since his father’s death and leaving Noho the city of his birth Nurhaci found himself being hired as a mercenary at only thirteen years old. Bashimur looked back at Nurhaci and said, “Now the journey can really begin.” Nurhaci could only smile at the prospects of what was to come.