Cousins

Standing beneath the night sky with his horse by his side, Chuo saw his cousin Fu approach. They were both older now, neither of them the fresh-faced youths they had been when the campaign had begun twelve twelvemonths prior. Both of them with beard and moustache upon their countenances and with their fair share of scars upon their body, Chuo having a scar running across his right eye and cheekbone, they were no longer the boys that had left home anymore than Qing and Run had been the girls that had left home.

"You don't seem very happy to be the second most powerful individual in the Khan's Host." Commented Fu.

"We should have all gone home six twelvemonths ago." Stated Chuo. "I'm tired of this war and bloodshed."

"We wouldn't have been home long, Chuo." Uttered Fu, crossing his arms. "This is our lot in life, cousin. The Tuyuhun Clan has served the Tuoba Clan since the reign of Liwei Khan and it will until the reign of the last Tuoba Khan."

Sighing, Chuo nodded. That was how things would be. His children, Fu's children, their children's children, they would always be in the service of the Tuoba Clan. He just wished there was more peace in the world, less reason for them to be called upon. Alas, as long as the Rouran Khaganate would raid the northern borders of the Tuoba Wei Khanate, such dreams had little chance of being reality unless the Rouran Khaganate suddenly fell and the Tuoba Wei Khanate expanded their territory northwards.

Expand their territory northwards? How much further were they to go? As far as the Rouran capital Ting? After that what then? Would Buri Khan turn his gaze southwards and march upon the Southern dynasty Liu Song in an attempt to unite China under a single monarch? Chuo hoped not. He wanted to know peace again, he wanted to see home again, he wanted to see Alun once more. He had only known her briefly, but that was all that he needed.

Closing his eyes, Chuo saw Alun before him. Then he opened his eyes once more and he saw the camp of the Khan's Host, his cousin before him.

Taking a breath, Chuo asking his kinsman: "Will you and Qing marry when this is all over?"

"I hope so." Fu answered, placing a hand on the back of his cousin's horse. "We both have to survive this campaign first. Do you think your father and mother still live? What about your sisters?"

"I hope so." Replied Chuo. "The thought of returning home to discover we are the last of the Tuyuhun clan is a thought I would rather not think."

"How are we to be sure that the Tufa Clan did not attack home in our absence?"

"My sisters are both the best warriors in our area, Fu." Stated Chuo. "I am sure they must have made short work of the Tufas."

"Considering how you have improved one could say you are now one of the best warriors in our area." Commented Fu, giving his cousin a smile.

"I am still the same I have ever been. It still takes me multiple tries to hit a target with my bow."

"You know you are not, Chuo! I dare say you might even have even surpassed your brother! You have survived twelve twelvemonths of fighting. he had only survived two battles before he was killed."

Chuo found it difficult to argue. As great a fighter as his brother had been, the fact was he had seen little combat and it was the same with his sisters. It did not change the fact that he did not see himself as much improved.