YESUGEI: If I was to tell them that on our way their nephew, a fiancée no less, spent the night under the dome of Dai Setsen’s yurt, then Temujin’s mother’s relatives will not be offended. On the contrary, they may even be delighted. But you are well aware of our intertribal habits. If we were to be noticed going alone, we would definitely be ambushed. With this in mind, I took with me a dozen armed Taishuyt (a tribe) soldiers. Right now, they are letting the horses drink nearby, waiting for us on the banks of the Kherlen River. DAI SETSEN: Well, then, as they say, a flower to a flower! We will call all those people here. We will turn this into an event – for Yesugei the Warrior himself is visiting my abode and staying overnight – we will turn it into a general holiday. YESUGEI: Well, be it your way then. The Dai Setsen hearth is one of the sacred hearths of our area. But let’s hasten to notify the relatives of my beibishe, Hoelun-Ujin, otherwise, they will worry about us and start to ask what has happened. DAI SETSEN: That’s all alright! (To his wife). Satin! You know that nimble shepherd who’s carving the carcass? Send him to the relatives of Hoelun-Ujin! Tell him to say – ‘Yesugei the Warrior, together with his servants and son are spending the night in the home of Dai Setsen, and they will arrive tomorrow before noon.’ Send him off hastily. There is only one path he will have to ride on between a couple of villages, and he will have plenty of time to return before dusk falls. Satin, having politely bowed in a way that says, ‘it will be done’, backs away and leaves without turning her face from the two men. Temujin sits next to the golden eagle, serving food, admiring it, and stroking its back. Dai Setsen treats the guest with kumis and, stirring it, falls silent, deep in thought, before starting a conversation. DAI SETSEN: Yesugei myrza (lord), I had a special dream last night. I dreamt of a tremendous samruk bird from a fairy tale, which, whirling around, flew in the azure sky. Sometimes it would tremble, as if crawling along on biting winds, and then it would dive into the farthest part
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