The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Knowing they couldn't reach Chono Gate by nightfall, Yaman gave the order to camp. Soon, the familiar routine began. Some soldiers headed for the river to swim and bathe, while others gathered by small fires to grill the fish they had caught.
Night slowly fell over the camp. The once dim little fire began to brighten, pushing back the fading light. Against the natural noises of the night, the familiar sounds of brotherhood still echoed – laughter, murmurs, and quiet conversation.
Ankhtsetseg sat within the confines of her tent, peering out the window. Not far off, Chinua and her seven men sat around a fire, grilling fish and laughing freely. Ankhtsetseg sighed, turning away from the scene of easy camaraderie. She looked at the three maids in the tent, then at the table laden with a sumptuous meal she couldn't bring herself to touch. She seemed to have little appetite.
Hye stepped into the tent. "Your Highness," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I've come to see your injuries."
"My injury is nothing serious," Ankhtsetseg assured him. "Yagan already applied medicine."
Hye said. "I'll report back to Chinua then."
Ankhtsetseg's eyes widened just slightly. "Chinua?" she asked, a note of surprise in her voice. "You called her Chinua? By her first name?"
Hye met her gaze calmly. "She prefers it," he said. "She prefers to be called by her first name."
Ankhtsetseg looked at him, a slow realization dawning. "It seems," she murmured, "you know Chinua very well indeed."
Hye looked out the window and saw Chinua laughing at something Drystan said. "I don't know her well enough," Hye replied, "but enough to know what she likes and doesn't like."
"Tell me something she didn't like," Ankhtsetseg said immediately.
Hye blinked, finding the question strange. He stared at her, but she didn't meet his gaze, her eyes instead distant as she watched Chinua and the others outside the tent window.
"Chinua doesn't like to use her royal status to make herself superior to others," Hye said. "Chinua has a heart to protect Hmagol and bring peace to the citizens."
Ankhtsetseg sighed, her gaze fixed on the scene outside. "No wonder," she murmured, "everyone likes her, even..."
Hye looked back at Ankhtsetseg, and the sight of her struck him. Beneath the royal title, he saw the lonely look in her eyes, the expression of someone whose purpose was to be a gift, without a voice of her own. A lump formed in his throat. It was just like Nabi. Sweet Nabi, who ran away from her wedding, came to him for refuge. A choice that ultimately sealed her fate.
With sudden, unexpected force, Hye grabbed Ankhtsetseg's wrist. "Come on!" he urged, pulling her towards the tent flap.
"You can't do that!" Yagaan's voice was sharp with outrage as she chased them. "Let go of Her Highness's hand!"
Ankhtsetseg, however, wasn't focused on the force. Her eyes darted around the tent opening, her voice a panicked whisper. "What are you doing? This is inappropriate!" Her fear was clear: not of Hye, but of being seen behaving inappropriately in public.
"We are in the wilderness, who is going to judge you," Hye said, trying to keep his voice light despite the tension. He turned and gave Ankhtsetseg a warm smile, hoping to soothe her fears. "Besides, you are a princess and the future empress of the great Tanggolia Kingdom. Who dares to say bad things about you?" Ankhtsetseg looked confused, not fully convinced, but before she could reply, Hye waved his hand frantically towards the camp. "Hey! Chinua!" he yelled. Yagaan skidded to a halt beside them, her eyes narrowed at Hye.
"Guys, Hye is bringing the princess here," Drystan muttered, looking confused.
Khunbish immediately rose slightly. "Your Highness should not be here," he said, his voice formal.
Hye smiled, though his eyes held a hint of urgency. "Why not?" he asked the others. "I think she'd be safer outside than trapped in that small tent." He looked at Chinua, seeking her support. "Am I right?"
Chinua patted the ground beside her. "Here," she said simply. "Sit here."
Ankhtsetseg hesitated, looking at Hye, who gave her a warm, encouraging smile. She sat next to Chinua, then looked around at the men sitting around the campfire grilling fish, their faces flickering in the firelight.
Hye walked across from Chinua and sat between Khawn and Drystan. "Is the grilled fish ready?" he asked.
Khawn said, "Almost."
Chinua grinned, holding out a piece of grilled fish, the smoke still rising from it. "Here," she said to Ankhtsetseg. "The taste of this grilled fish is much better than anything at the palace." She chuckled slightly. "Once you've tried it, you'll miss this taste and atmosphere every time you eat fish."
Ankhtsetseg took the grilled fish on a wooden stick from Chinua. The smoky aroma met her first bite. It tasted particularly good, she thought. Was it well seasoned, or simply because she was so hungry after the day's events? She took another bite, then smiled faintly. It wasn't the fish alone, she realized, but the feeling of being here, in this environment, that made it taste extra delicious.
"Good?" Chinua asked.
Ankhtsetseg nodded. "I never believed a slightly charred fish could taste so good," she said, surprised. "Any special seasoning?"
Chinua smiled. "No," she said simply. "Just a little salt."
Ankhtsetseg looked at her. "Really?"
Hye smiled gently. "Your Highness," he said, "the taste of food does not depend on the seasonings, but on who you eat it with."
Ankhtsetseg looked at Hye, and a warm smile touched her lips. "You are right," she said.
Reaching for another fish, Chinua was ambushed as two arms clamped around her neck. Her right forearm shot up, blocking the choke. Exploding to her feet, she seized his pants with her left hand, bent low, and backed away from the circle, using the motion to sweep him off his feet and to the ground. Chinua twisted, landing atop him, securing control.
Her right knee pressed onto his neck; her hand trapped his right wrist. His free left fist landed a blow to her right ribcage. Chinua rolled left, maintaining her iron grip on his arm. Her left boot found his neck, her right slammed down hard onto the side of his face. Gritting her teeth, she slowly began torquing his arm. He thrashed, desperate to escape, but her hold was absolute. A gasp of pain, and he quickly tapped the top of her foot.
Chinua quickly let go of his hand, stood up, and stretched out her hand. "I've told you since our last fight," she said with a grin. "The next time we fight, I will definitely defeat you."
He grabbed it, pulling himself up. It was Taban. He flexed his arm, wincing slightly. "You weren't kidding," he admitted, a smile touching his lips.
Chinua reiterated playfully. "Why are you here?"
Taban shrugged. "Just escorting villagers to Nong City to trade," he said. "On the way back, I ran into Bair. He asked me to scout ahead, see if Yaman's group had reached the intersection yet."
"We encountered a small problem that caused our delay," Chinua said, immediately following up with, "Where are the villagers?"
"They were downriver with other soldiers," Taban said. He grabbed a small leather bag from his waist and threw it to Chinua. "Here," this is what you and your men risked your lives to get from Tanggolia."
Chinua quickly opened the bag Taban had thrown her. Inside, she discovered a handful of brown-red roasted peanuts. She grabbed one and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly. A small smile played on her lips. "Well," she said. "These taste better than Hye's."
Taban held out the bag of peanuts. "The villagers made these," he said. "They're meant to be traded on the open market." He looked between Chinua and Hye, his expression sincere. "You've not only helped our soldiers," he told them, "But you've genuinely improved the villagers' lives." A grin spread across his face. "Honestly, if the general says yes, you two might get a statue built!" He chuckled, then grew serious again. "And those water canals you suggested? Villagers and soldiers worked together and finished them." He patted Chinua's shoulder. "When you come back from Tanggolia, you absolutely have to visit us in Lao-Da Village."
Chinua smiled and said, "I will."
The sight of Amgalan and Heng walking towards the campfire made Chinua drop the fish in her hand. She hurried towards them. "You two are here too?" she asked, surprised.
Amgalan, a gentle smile on her face, replied, "We are here with other villagers."
Chinua's attention went to Amgalan's round belly. "When is the due date?" she asked immediately, her concern evident.
Amgalan smiled gently. "Soon," she said. "Maybe within the next two months."
Chinua sighed, her brow furrowed with worry. "You're so pregnant, Amgalan," she said. "How could the third brother allow you to travel?"
Amgalan's smile didn't falter. "When I decided to marry him," she explained, "I knew that sometimes I had to do things on my own. Besides, I didn't come alone. I have Heng, the best doctor in the village, right here by my side."
Heng, standing nearby, nodded. "Don't worry, Chinua," he said calmly. "Although this is her first child, her pregnancy is going well so far."
A wave of excitement washed over Chinua at the thought of being an aunt. She smiled warmly. "Bold," she said decisively. "That name is perfect for the eldest son of the third brother."
Heng smiled and said, "What if it's a girl?"
Chinua said, a thoughtful look on her face. "Bold suits girls too. The first-born, like his father, will be as strong as steel."
Amgalan chuckled lightly. "I will share your opinion with him," she said.
Chinua's eyes lit up. "Oh, father asked me to bring you and third brother a gift!" she exclaimed. "Come and sit down and have dinner with us. I will ask Khunbish to get you the gift from father."
Heng and Amgalan followed Chinua to the small campfire and sat next to Khawn and Drystan, their long-lost friends. After a while, Khunbish emerged from Chinua's tent carrying two small, beautifully carved wooden boxes.
Chinua took the box from Khunbish. "This small box is for the third brother," she said, her voice turning serious. "Father ordered that only he can open it." She then smiled, handing Amgalan the larger box. "Father said this is his wedding gift for you."
"Chinua," Ankhtsetseg said, looking from her to Amgalan. "Third brother? Who is this brother you're talking about?"
Chinua smiled gently. "Third brother, Mönkhbat," she clarified. "And this is his wife—" She hesitated, then smiled at Amgalan. "Our elder sister-in-law, Amgalan."
Ankhtsetseg's surprise was evident. "Royal brother Mönkhbat is married?" she exclaimed. "I had no idea! When was the royal wedding held?"
Chinua looked between Amgalan and Ankhtsetseg. "Sister-in-law Amgalan is not a member of the royal family," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. "So, there is no royal wedding." She paused, then added, "Moreover, the third brother cannot return to the capital without a royal decree."
Ankhtsetseg realized her words might have stung. She looked at Amgalan, her voice soft. "I'm sorry," she said. "I completely forgot about that."
Amgalan smiled gently. "Don't worry," she said. "I understand how things are."
Chinua spoke up, offering a reassuring look. "Don't feel bad, Your Highness. I didn't know either. I only found out when I was sent south to deliver supplies to his soldiers."
Ankhtsetseg's gaze lingered on Amgalan. It was striking how ordinary she seemed – the wife of Hmagol's most respected prince, in dusty, plain clothes. Ankhtsetseg's thoughts drifted to the palace, to the lavish royal weddings she'd witnessed, including her own, glittering with thousands of guests and nightly fireworks. A wave of shame washed over her as she contrasted that luxurious life with Amgalan's appearance. On impulse, she pulled the gold hairpin from her carefully styled hair and held it out to Amgalan.
"I had no idea the royal brother was married," Ankhtsetseg said, holding out the gold hairpin. "And I didn't prepare a gift. Please, just let this be a gift for the wedding."
Amgalan looked at the sparkling hairpin, then back at Ankhtsetseg, a warm smile on her face. "Thank you, Your Highness," she said softly, "but I cannot. We aren't newlyweds, and honestly, your presence is more than enough."
Ankhtsetseg didn't give up. "Then," she said, her voice firm, "take it as a gift for the newborn baby."
Chinua reached out, grabbing Amgalan's hand. She took the sparkling hairpin from Ankhtsetseg's hand and placed it firmly on Amgalan's open palm. "Take it," she commanded gently. "It's from the royal sister, for the newborn." Amgalan looked surprised. Chinua smiled. "If it's a girl," she added, "this golden hairpin would be perfect for her."
Amgalan knew further refusal was impossible. "In that case," she said with a smile, "I'll accept it." She tucked the gold hairpin securely into her waistband, then rose to her feet with Heng's steadying hand. "We should return to the other villagers now," she said. She bowed slightly to Ankhtsetseg. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness." Then, turning to Chinua, her voice softened. "I'll see you later. Please know, the whole village is so grateful; they want to hold a thank you banquet for you."
Chinua gave Amgalan a firm nod and a smile. "I will visit," she confirmed. "But only after I've sent the elder sister safely on her way to Zhugow City."
Ankhtsetseg watched Amgalan, Taban, and Heng walking away, waving at Chinua with warm smiles on their faces. A profound realization dawned on her. Back in the palace, no one really takes Chinua seriously; they saw her as the little ugly black duck they hated and badmouthed. But out here, she saw the truth. Outside the small, golden cage that other royals dreamed of locking themselves inside, that little ugly black duck was beginning to take the shape of a phoenix and expand her kingdom with men who are willing to die to protect her and her orders.