The Gathering

We rode hard for a couple of hours, until, in the distance, I was able to discern a gigantic cloud of dust, probably from a thousand horses moving about.

As we approached, I began noticing groups of people under flat tents at the top of the dunes. Such covers would be invisible from the other side while providing shade to the lookouts. Truly these people had adapted well to living under the elements. They didn’t need great walls or moats, nature provided them, and they simply adapted to the terrain.

I couldn’t help but smile and appreciate them as a culture. Truly, the Mongolians of old were very clever.

We finally stopped a few feet away from a grand wall of people and horses. Chief Khashi led his horse through the wall, but his men joined the formation.

“The first test” Khu whispered “We must cross to the other side without showing any fear or hesitation like Khashi did.”