Reindeer herders

With the shaman leading the way, Dorj and his group delved deep into the forest to reach the camp of the reindeer herders. As the sun began to set, the sky was ablaze with a crimson hue. The reindeer herders kept and tended to the reindeers, and enjoyed the milk and dairy products the animals provided them.

The onlookers curiously studied the group of people the shaman had brought in. It was cold, yet the kids sat on the ground, their feet exposed to the snow, playing with one another. Out of the wooden yurt, a middle-aged woman stepped out and queried,

"Tumur, who are these people you've brought here?"

The shaman who is guided Dorj and his group bowed to the woman.

"Tribe leader Botukhai, these people are here from the Borjigin clan. They want to retrieve the women who came earlier two days ago." replied Tumur the shaman respectfully.

Upon hearing the account, Botukhai's countenance shifted from curiosity to ire. "Unfathomable!" she uttered, her hand clenched. "We rescued two women who were on the brink of freezing and now the Borjigin clan desires that we return them? Not a chance! Lead these men back out of the woods," the leader of the tribe commanded.

Tumur the shaman stood up and whispered to her ears. "My lady, the man who is leading these people is the messenger of Tenger. My spirit asked me to bring them here."

The tribe leader Botukhai widened her eyes and locked her gaze upom Dorj.

Dorj stepped forward and placed his right hand on his chest and said respectfuly.

"Tribe leader Botukhai, My name is Dorj. I am Borjigin clan's Minister of Millitary Inventions. We are grateful that you saved the girls who came here. But we want to retrieve our trobesmen and head back" said Dorj with a smile on his face.

After a few moments of reflection, Botukhai responded with a grave air. "Even if Temuujin had come to request the return of the girls, it is not possible. My son Tungalag is just about to wed one of them. You are aware of the old custom of a woman joining her husband's family when they marry, so please do not interfere with matters of our tribe." with a wave of flick of her hands, twenty Reindeer herder's tribe guards has surrounded Dorj and his group raising their swords.

Squad leader Tseren and his troops unsheathed their swords to protect Minister Dorj from imminent danger.

"Are you out of your minds? My master is the messenger of Tenger and lord Temuujin's minister. If you kill him you will face the Tenger's retribution." shouted Jegei and stood in front of his master Dorj.

Botukhai, the leader of the reindeer herders' tribe, lifted her hand to signal a halt. "I have heard that your master is the messenger of Tenger, so I am asking the Tumur shaman to help you out of the forest. Is this not the greatest hospitality we can offer you? However, you still demand to take the betrothed girl back to your tribe. Even if you are the messenger of Tenger, you are not entitled to take those girls away without my permission. You may have eleven troops here, but we have three thousand troops in our forces. If you want to stay alive, get out of my sight now!"

Jegei's face has become ashen white after hearing Tribe leader Botukhai has threatened to slaughter them. Squad leader Tseren and his troops looks at Dorj and awaits his decision.

'I am weak now. If I had much force than her, then she would be this arrogant in front of me! Also if I were strong, people wouldn't accuse me of treasoning' clenched Dorj his fist and grit teeth.

"According the old customs, the girl will become your tribe member only after the wedding, till then she is still our Borjigin clan member. So I am asking you to release my tribe member, or else you will face the wrath of a khan!" said the irritated Dorj and pointed his finger to tribe leader Botukhai.

The tribe leader Botukhai laughed out loud. "For the last two nights, my son Tungalag and your tribe girl slept together. I heard that she enjoyed the nights, and yet you want to bring her back?" said while mocking Dorj.

'I didn't know that Mandukhai girl liked a Reindeer herder, but anyway even if I use force to bring her back, I must succeed or else I will still face a punoshment.' thought Dorj inwardly and calculated the outcomes.

Dorj glimpsed at squad leader Tseren and his troops. Dorj got an idea and so he took a deep breath to ease his anger.

Dorj thinks that to settle their dispute through a duel over a female is can be a better idea than an all out war.

"Tribe leader Botukhai, at this rate our Borjigin clan and your tribe is about to become sworn enemies. How about we settle this dispute by a duel?" proposed Dorj.

Tribe leader Botukhai observed Dorj's features and laughed out loud.

"By the look of your white face and soft hand, you are not a warrior. If you want to send your guard instead of you I will not accept this matter. But if you have a duel with my son Tungalag, then I will accept this proposal." replied tribe leader Botukhai. Her eyes is says she is confident that her son will win the duel.

The onlookers and squad leader Tseren, Jegei's eyes focused on Dorj. If this matter can be solved by a simple duel, they will not get dragged into a meaningless war over a girl.

'Gosh! I have never wielded a sword in my life. If I accept the duel, that girl Mandukhai will surely stay here and I will retreat empty handed. But if I decline this duel, I will lose face and retreat shamely.' thought Dorj and clenched his fist.

Tribe leader Botukhai laughed and mocked. "Are you afraid? Messenger of Tenger"

Dorj locked his eyes into tribe leader Botukhai's eyes with determination and replied.

"I accept the duel."

Jegei and the squad accompanying Dorj agaped.

"My lord, is it alright if you duel her son? We can retreat and notify that the girl has surrendered to the reindeer herders. If we ask for forgiveness, lord Temuujin may pardon your mistake." said Jevei with worry.

"No, Jegei, a man has its own pride. If I retreat now, then how can I overcome the challenges in the future? I will become a coward who will only know how to surrender." replied Dorj and grit his teeth.

"Very well. Guards, let them have a good rest this night. Give our guests food and drink. Tomorrow at the dawn, we will gather here and decide the outcome of the duel." decreed tribe leader Botukhai.

As twenty guards sheathed their swords, they directed Dorj and his party to two vacant yurts. Not long after, two maidservants came in to provide them with cheese and milk.

In the tent that Dorj's group had stopped in, Tseren the leader of the squad, Jegei, and Dorj sat down and circled the fire.

Jegei, filled with interest, probed, "Do you, my lord, know how to wield a sword? Does the messenger of Tenger learn any martial arts in the Tenger?"

Dorj sighed and took a deep breath. "No Jegei. I didn't learn any type of martial arts in the Tenger. Tomorrow It will the first time I will wield a sword." replied Dorj.

The squad leader Tseren shook his head while Jegei shut his mouth. Upon seeing Jegei and Tseren's grave expression, Dorj eased the atmosphere.

"Don't worry. Let's forget about Mandukhai, as trive leader Botukhai has said, she seems to be enjoying her stay at the reindeer tribe. I will fight at my best tomorrow and let's retreat. It's been two weeks since we had a good rest, let's sleep early and have a good rest." said Dorj and laid down.

Tseren, the sqyad leader, solemnly shut his eyes and realized that the campaign had failed. Jegei, however, was anxious that his master might be seriously injured on the following day. The only sound that lingered was the flicker of the flame; the reindeers outside the yurt exchanged occasional grunts to communicate with one another.

No matter what occurs tomorrow, Dorj was determined to remain composed. He resolved to fight bravely even if he were to sustain injuries, and upon his return to the Borjigin clan, he was determined to gain the skills necessary to protect himself. From that moment on, he knew that his future was solely in his hands. His eyes flashed with a newfound sense of purpose as he thought to himself, 'Whoever wants to challenge me, let them come!'

'Neuralink, search for weapon engineering!' commanded Dorj in his mind

'Beep! 1,234,573 results found'

An interface of search resultd ranging from Gun white powder to detailed AK47 blueprints has popped up on Dorj's mind.