Daughter of Xanadu Part 11

I detected a look of annoyance on Chimkin's face. Suren and I had felt certain that we were on time, but instead, we had disappointed him by arriving late. We advanced and stood beside him, facing the troops. I heard murmurs of surprise when they realized I was a woman.

"Soldiers of the Great Khan!" The recruits stood stiffly at attention when Chimkin addressed them in a loud, firm voice. Chimkin held his arm out toward my cousin. "You have the honor of training with my son, Prince Suren, eldest grandson of the Khan of all Khans! Show your respect."

The men fell to their knees and put their foreheads on the ground. Suren looked embarra.s.sed. No one had ever kowtowed to him.

"Rise!" Chimkin continued. They did. He pointed to me. "We also have a woman from the court, Emmajin Beki." No mention of my father, Prince Dorji.

The men stayed silent. Some soldiers, I suspected, would consider it bad luck to have a woman soldier in the army. But these were recruits, eager to please. "The Great Khan has honored us with the command that this girl be allowed to train with us."

I gazed into the sea of faces, trying to seem more confident than I felt. I saw curiosity but not hostility or alarm. Could I keep up with them?

Chimkin did not ask the soldiers to kowtow to me, of course. No one bowed to a woman, except that Latin Marco Polo. Why was I thinking of him now?

"Make room for the new soldiers."

Two of the men in the front row moved out of the front ranks. Suren and I took these spots, front and center, and turned to face our commander, General Chimkin. I held my bow at exactly the same angle as the others and matched the stance of the other men.

I had done it! I stood among the soldiers of the Great Khan's army. A dizzying rush of excitement rose from my gut to my head, and a huge smile spread inside me, hidden behind the stern mask on my face. I was a part of the great Mongol army, which had conquered most of the lands of the world.

"Soldiers of the Great Khan!" Chimkin was referring to me as well as the others now. "Let us practice how we will kowtow to the Great Khan. Imagine you have just marched into his ill.u.s.trious presence."

"Long live the Khan of all Khans!" we soldiers shouted, in precise unison. We put our swords to our foreheads, fell to our knees in the mud, and kowtowed three times. I matched the movements of the others, antic.i.p.ating the moment when I would do so in front of the Khan himself, as part of his personal guard. I was no longer powerless. Although I was a woman, I had served the Khan by gathering intelligence. I had proved myself both loyal and worthy. Face to the mud, I was exactly where I wanted to be.

18 Training

My first day of training started well. Chimkin explained that we were to spend at least half our training on archery, mostly mounted archery. That was my strongest skill, and I looked forward to competing with these soldiers. But what made my blood rush with excitement was to hear that we would also be trained with weapons used for close combat: hatchets, maces, lances, la.s.sos, and especially swords.

The large group was split into companies of one hundred soldiers, each under the command of a centurion. Suren and I were a.s.signed to a sergeant called Chilagun, who seemed to be in his thirties. Chilagun had sun-darkened skin and bowed legs from riding all his life.

He immediately began barking out orders. His job was to break us as one breaks a wild horse, molding us so that we would work together as one. He said we were raw and untested, spoiled by too many years at court. Many of us were members of the Golden Family or pampered sons of high officials. None of us had ever taken orders from a commanding officer. I craved the discipline of military life.

Although we would ride as mounted archers, Chilagun immediately began teaching us how to march in formation. He held a whip and flicked it at us occasionally, just missing. When he made us race on foot, something I was not used to doing, I immediately fell behind. After a short distance, a cramp in my side made me double over with pain. Chilagun rode up from behind me on his horse and cracked his whip.

"Keep moving!"

"I..." I was puffing heavily, holding my side.

"So, you cannot keep up with the men, even on your first day?"

I stood straight, willing the pain to go away. He expected me to fail. They all did. I began running again.

That afternoon, we were given blunt sabers for practice. Many of the new soldiers had never used a sword before. Suren had taught me the rules for practicing with swords-how to thrust and parry without hurting your opponent. Some soldiers did not know those rules and drew blood, hitting arms and legs of their opponents not covered by armor. One nicked Suren in the lower arm.

At first, no one would practice fighting me. Finally, one of the smaller men, egged on by his comrades, shyly agreed. "Don't make her look bad. Let her win," I heard one say to him. Within a few minutes I had pinned the short man down with my sword.

A large well-muscled man swaggered up to take his place. I could tell by his stance that he expected to humiliate me. I heard someone call him Bartan. I bowed to him before the practice fight. This time, the match went on a little longer, but I defeated him, too, using a swift, dexterous move Suren had taught me. A small group of men gathered around us. Bartan rose from the mud. He looked at me with narrowed eyes, as if I were the enemy. When he walked away, others went with him. "She cheats," I heard one say.

After that, the men were reluctant to fight against me. Suren saw this and challenged me. We fought a good fight, using the skills we had practiced in Xanadu, each of us carefully avoiding a victory so that the other would not be humiliated. When the other soldiers saw how skilled we were, some stopped to watch.

Distracted by the attention, I missed a move, and Suren won the match.

"Ah, see? She's human," I heard one man say. Had they thought me a G.o.ddess?

After that, it was easier to find men to fight during practice. There always seemed to be others watching, offering advice for my opponents. Some liked the novelty of clashing swords with a woman.

Chilagun wandered the field, observing us without comment. When I felt his eyes on me, I put in extra effort, hoping to win his respect. The exertion and sun built up heat under my armor, and lines of sweat dripped down my face.

At the end of the day, my arms ached but I had held my own. Chimkin commanded us to stand at attention in rows once again. He was joined by a white-haired portly man, whom he introduced as General Abaji, one of the Khan's top military advisers. I recognized him from the Khan's banquets. He outranked even Chimkin, as I could tell from Chimkin's deferential manner toward him.

"Soldiers of the Great Khan's army!" General Abaji's voice was firm and loud. He was still vigorous despite his age, which must have been over fifty years.

"Listen well. On the first day of Tenth Moon, we will divide you into three groups. Most will stay in Khanbalik for further training. A company of thirty soldiers will travel with me on a reconnaissance mission, to gather intelligence. Another thirty men will go with General Chimkin on another journey, in a different direction. Learn well and prepare for the day when we select the best among you for these two missions."

My heart pounded. Surely, Chimkin's journey would be to the West. Even though it was only for reconnaissance, I now wanted to avoid it. It would be easy for the generals to insist that I stay safe in the capital. I a.s.sumed that Marco, his father, and his uncle had also returned to the capital from Xanadu. So if I stayed, I might be able to see Marco again before he left for home. But that a.s.signment would be humiliating. The best option would be to join Abaji's mission, whatever that was. I had one month to prove myself.

After Abaji finished, Chilagun led us to our quarters. We were to stay at the army's training camp every day of Ninth Moon, with no more than half a day's rest every ten days. The soldiers were to sleep on pallets in long, low wooden buildings surrounding a courtyard of hard-packed earth. Where would I sleep?

When we arrived in the courtyard, Chilagun took me aside. "My orders say you are to be treated like the other soldiers," he said gruffly.

"Yes, Sergeant." My muscles ached so much it was hard to stand at attention.

"But we have had to make separate sleeping arrangements for you."

I nodded. He marched me to a small room on one side of the courtyard and left me there. I was expected to sleep alone, something I had never done. Of course there would be no maidservant to help me. What was more, this was a drafty square building made of wooden planks, not a ger ger covered in felt and designed to withstand the wind. I took off my leather armor and propped it in a corner. Standing in that small room, I felt more exposed than I had in the company of the other soldiers. I sat on my pallet, exhausted, head in my hands. covered in felt and designed to withstand the wind. I took off my leather armor and propped it in a corner. Standing in that small room, I felt more exposed than I had in the company of the other soldiers. I sat on my pallet, exhausted, head in my hands.

At dinner, I sat with Suren and met several other recruits. A few avoided me, but some came to converse with us. Suren chatted easily and made friends quickly. No one knew what to say to me, but I didn't mind. I sat quietly, listening to their chatter.

Once, one man used a crude word, then caught himself, looking in alarm at me. Suren laughed. "Don't worry. She's heard it all." After that, they didn't censor their words in my presence. I enjoyed the illusion of being an ordinary soldier.

Not long after dinner, though, I returned to my small room, alone. I had my own privy, but I suspected that some soldier might be tempted to look through the wooden slats. To my horror, I discovered that my monthly courses had arrived, several days early. My body had slapped me, reminding me that I was, after all, female. How could I wash my monthly cloths here? At court, a female servant took care of this annoying task.

I emptied my bag, looking for something I could use. At the bottom, I found several clean white cloths. Apparently, my mother had packed them.

Later, without removing my clothing, I snuffed out the candle and lay down. After feeling hot all day, my body felt stiff and cold, and a heavy weight tugged at my belly. In the darkness, I could hear every sound from the men's barracks across the courtyard. From this distance, their easy laughter seemed mocking. In my loneliness, I imagined that they were talking about me, a young woman by herself, sleeping across the courtyard. Would Suren stop them from saying rude things about me? They had joined the army to protect women and children, and having a female soldier in their midst confused that view.

That night I barely slept. After the sounds died down in the courtyard, the quiet seemed more ominous. I watched the faint light under the door flap, imagining shadows of feet outside. Once, I heard a loud cough that seemed to come from just outside my door. I sat upright, clutching my sleeping fur around me. My insides went cold as I sat frozen in place, listening to phantom footsteps.

What would I do if some man came into my sleeping quarters? Would I scream? Soldiers were supposed to be courageous, yet I feared my fellow soldiers. How could I show valor in battle when I was quaking in my own bed?

By daybreak I had made a decision. At the morning meal, I sought out Suren and told him I could not sleep alone. He searched my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts. "Shall I arrange a guard for you, to sleep by the door?"

My eyes said yes for me, even though the request betrayed weakness.

"I will arrange it." His voice took on a tone of authority I had never heard before. He saved me the embarra.s.sment of asking myself.

That night and every night afterward, a guard kept watch outside my door. My nighttime fears were eased.

I had never worked my muscles so hard, day in and day out, morning, afternoon, evening. We raced on foot and on horseback and practiced standing archery, mounted archery, and swordsmanship. We also learned how to wield hatchets in battle, against enemies made of straw.

The other soldiers, all sixteen to eighteen years old, were at the peak of their physical strength. In many ways, I could not match them. I surprised them with my endurance and could beat most of them in archery. But no matter how hard I worked on swordsmanship, most of the men surpa.s.sed me quickly once they received proper training. And I was always one of the last in foot races.

I was frustrated, since as a child I had been on more equal footing with boys. Now they were far taller and stronger than I was. Their muscles had continued to develop, and despite my efforts, I could no longer make mine stronger than theirs. By bedtime each day, my arms and legs ached so badly I had trouble sleeping although I was overcome with fatigue.

After the first few days of euphoria, my mood dropped. The sheer exhaustion drained my spirits. Training was more routine and less exciting than I had expected. On the surface all was well. I was treated with respect yet pushed hard to my limits.

I could not understand my moodiness. I had promised myself I would be tough, and I refused to complain. But sometimes when Chilagun shouted an order at me, my instinct was to shout back. I had to keep reminding myself that I had achieved my highest dream. Coping with the reality of military training was much harder than dreaming of it.

Some days I didn't perform as well as I knew I could, even in archery. When my arrow was far off target, I imagined the men laughing at me. This increased my anger at myself. When I tried to channel that rage into my performance, my arrows flew farther but did not hit center. I began to get headaches. Often I wished I could escape to a quiet place by the side of a lotus pond in the Khan's garden in Xanadu.

I missed Marco. I thought of him often, especially at night, in the solitude of my room. When I looked up at the green trees, I thought of his eyes. A horse's date red mane reminded me of his beard. One soldier had Marco's deep laugh, and whenever I heard it, my head turned quickly. I was always disappointed to see the wrong face. I regretted my betrayal.

After dinner, the soldiers would sit in the cool night air, drinking airag airag and talking. Many expressed disappointment that they could not immediately join the main army in the final conquest of southern China. That would be the big victory. and talking. Many expressed disappointment that they could not immediately join the main army in the final conquest of southern China. That would be the big victory.

The soldiers had heard rumors about the intelligence-gathering missions. They all a.s.sumed that my uncle Chimkin would lead a mission to the desert lands of the West. Abaji's mission would be to the Southwest, to subdue the king of Burma and prepare for the invasion of India. Many men had heard that a battle against the king of Burma was likely. Most of the men wanted to join this mission, to have their first taste of war.

Early in the morning of the first of Tenth Moon, the leaves on the maple trees had begun to turn red. All three hundred of the recruits lined up in the same field where we had met a month earlier. Only sixty soldiers would be selected to go-thirty on each fact-finding mission. I stood with Suren in the front row, awaiting judgment.

Sergeant Chilagun read out the names of the thirty soldiers who had been selected to go with Prince Chimkin to the West. I held my breath, hoping I would not be among them. Suren expected to go with his father, but his name was not read. The men selected marched off behind Chilagun.

My name was not called. I sighed with relief. Perhaps my words to the Khan about Marco's homeland had influenced this decision. But why had Suren not been selected? Maybe Chimkin wanted us both to stay in Khanbalik. Suren and I exchanged nervous looks.

General Abaji came forward to read the list of the thirty soldiers selected to go on the other mission, under his command. Again, I held my breath, this time hoping to hear my name. The first name read was that of Suren, son of Chimkin. He closed his eyes and raised his eyebrows with a relieved smile. But my name was not next. As Abaji read the rest of the list, I stiffened my back and reminded myself that I would do whatever I was a.s.signed.

"Soldiers, follow me!" General Abaji said.

Suren started off, then turned as if expecting me to follow. "Emmajin!" Suren's voice sounded incredulous. "Come on!"

I looked at him, not understanding. General Abaji had said my name, and I had been so certain I was not selected that I had not even heard it. Not until Suren called me did I realize what had happened.

I would be going on the mission to southwest China, as a soldier. Even as I breathed out in relief, I wondered: Could I find a chance to say good-bye before Marco left? Even my happiest moments now had an edge, because I kept thinking of him.

19 Departure

Ten days later, when we left Khanbalik, I could barely contain my excitement. We were headed to Carajan, a mountainous region just this side of the border with Burma. Troops from Burma had been crossing the border and clashing with our Mongol soldiers, and the Mongol commander in Carajan had urged the Khan to send a much larger army. Abaji's mission was to a.s.sess the gravity of the situation and make a recommendation to the Khan. We would need to invade and subdue Burma before moving on to the bigger prize, India. My fellow soldiers, especially the recruits, hoped we would have a chance to engage in battle with the Burmese. I had packed and repacked my bags for a six-month journey, but I did not feel ready.

When Suren and I reached the south gate, after saying good-bye to our families, fifty soldiers-thirty recruits plus twenty experienced soldiers-were rechecking their horse packs and getting ready to leave. Traveling with us would be another twenty people: cooks, horse boys, servants. The supplies went on a caravan of pack mules tended by a group of mule boys. Everything seemed chaotic.

In the half-light of dawn, I heard horses whinnying, mules braying, pots clinking, men swearing, leather belts creaking. Clearly, the caravan would not be ready to depart at c.o.c.k's crow. I left Baatar in the area where the soldiers were a.s.sembling and ventured into the area where the mules were being loaded. What possessed me, I'm not sure. Maybe curiosity, maybe a premonition. There, among the mules and mule boys, was a foreigner rearranging his wares in heavy saddlebags on the side of a mule. He wore no hat, so I easily recognized the reddish curly hair. He was clearly swearing in some silvery foreign tongue that seemed familiar.

Marco Polo.

I stayed still, watching him until he turned slowly. A shock shot through my body as I saw the familiar face. What was he doing here?

He smiled coldly and bowed his head. "Emmajin Beki. You look different as a soldier. I had heard you were a.s.signed to this mission." His voice, so close, washed over me like cool water on a hot day. I had not expected to see him again.

"And you you are a.s.signed to this mission?" Why would a merchant, storyteller to the Great Khan, go on our reconnaissance mission? are a.s.signed to this mission?" Why would a merchant, storyteller to the Great Khan, go on our reconnaissance mission?

"I am on a.s.signment to the Great Khan."

"Because of me?"

He laughed ruefully. "Not everything I do is related to you, Princess Emmajin. The nature of my duties is secret; only General Abaji knows."

That piqued my curiosity. A foreigner who knew something I was not allowed to know? "And your father and uncle?"

"They are to remain in Khanbalik. My uncle's illness has returned."

"I am sorry to hear it. I see your ankle has healed."

He nodded. "Mongolian medicine. Your ways of treating broken bones are far superior to ours. The doctor ma.s.saged and pressed my leg and foot daily, and somehow the break is healed. It works better than my father's prayer."

"Perhaps you were cured by your father's prayer."

He laughed in spite of himself. I had missed hearing that sound.

A horn blasted, and I returned to formation.

My mind spun. What would it mean to travel with him? As delighted as I was to hear his voice, I dreaded his presence, a reminder of both how easily I had fallen for his charms and how bad I felt about betraying him. How could I focus on my duties as a soldier when Marco was nearby? Just being near him confused me and made me conscious of being a woman. I had worked hard to toughen myself into a soldier.

We rode out of the city's south gate in formation, in full uniform, with helmets. A small crowd gathered along the roadside to watch us, just as I had done as a child. I scanned the crowds, hoping that my parents or sister would come to wish me farewell, but I did not see their faces. I held my head high, remembering the military parades I had watched.

In my sixteen years, I had never left Khanbalik heading south. As the houses grew farther apart, I felt increasing exhilaration at the unknowns of the journey ahead. We traveled southwest, along well-paved roads lined with willow trees. It seemed a time of fresh beginnings. I resolved to maintain my soldierly demeanor around Marco.

Less than an hour outside the city gates, we came to a marble bridge over a large river. As we crossed it, I could see that Abaji and Marco had dismounted to examine the bridge. I wondered how the two of them had met. The bridge was exquisite, made of stone, with marble columns. Each column stood on a base shaped like a lion, and a second beautifully sculpted marble lion sat on top of each pillar, gazing at another lion across the road. There were hundreds of lions, and each was unique.

"Beautiful sculptures," I heard Marco comment to Abaji. "What is the name of this bridge?" I rode past them, averting my eyes, before I could hear the response. I imagined that Marco looked up and watched me as I pa.s.sed.

I enjoyed the pleasures of travel familiar from my yearly journeys to Xanadu: the snorting of the horses, the sun on my back, the breeze on my cheek. I loved watching the countryside, and the new views from each hilltop delighted me. I was riding straight into the heart of Cathay, where Mongol soldiers were obeyed but not necessarily welcomed.

The first day was a relatively short journey-only thirty miles to the city of Cho-chau. We arrived at a hostel and rubbed down our horses. We were called to gather in formation in the courtyard, and Abaji addressed us.

"Most of you know Captain Todogen," Abaji said. "He will be in charge of our group of fifty during this trip. He will name the sergeants."

It was my young uncle, the one who had let me ride in the victory parade. I wanted to wave at him, or grin, but I knew better.

A tall man with the biggest ears I had ever seen, Todogen quickly named five men who would be sergeants, each in charge of a squad of nine men. It was the way the army was organized, in groups of ten, one hundred, one thousand. I had not expected to be chosen as a leader of nine, and I was not.

But Suren was chosen, and I was a.s.signed to report to him. Suren had been promoted after a month's service, and I still ranked at the bottom. Yet what Mongol soldier would report to a female sergeant? It strengthened my resolve to work harder than Suren did, to earn the respect of the men and the officers.