Lan Ge Ban snuggled in, curled up against Dawa Tuya, seeking entry into the warm cocoon she had made. She stirred and turned into him.

" You are late, dearest"

"Those two are ridiculous. They never even stop and take a break from each other on her 'day off'. This new game of bouncing suitors off of Anshi and getting his evaluations is outrageously obvious from an outsider's point of view, and of course, Anshi finds something wrong with every one of them. They did that little song and dance all morning and all day. Now they are helping a foal being born."

"Whose idea was that?"

"Who else? Anshi. Keeps her busy and away from seeking a mate. And the fool has no idea of what he is even doing. He just finds a tiny flaw and tries to expand it to a canyon of monumental proportions. The man needs to wake up and see what is in front of him. He is completely clueless when it comes to women. And he has blinders on when one actually presents herself. "

"It's his upbringing. When a child becomes merely an object, to be stolen and sold on at the whims of another, all self-esteem is destroyed. Winning it back is almost impossible. My money is on Sya Mu. Even Minister Han backs her pursuit, and he is an excellent judge of character."

"Indeed. But it is exhausting, and it makes hunting trips insane. It is disconcerting, to listen to her as she talks about the contenders' attributes and why they would make excellent sires for her future offspring."

Tuya laughed. "I notice the recruitment lines have grown considerably for Guardian, now that Sya Mu has made herself open to entertaining candidates. I cannot wait for the first training session. There will be more hard-ons present, than the first day at the opening of a new brothel in the Yunming Red-lantern District."

"The thing is, she is serious. He will to wake up one day and hear a betrothal announcement. She is ready for a husband and a family."

"She deserves it." She snuggled into his chest and sighed. "There is nothing finer than having a good man ready..." Her naughty hand slid down. "... And oh so waiting, on a brisk summer night."

"Woman..."

Sya Mu and Anshi were up to their ankles in the muck of the foaling shed. The mare was drenched in sweat, deep groans filled the room. She would pace nervously for periods of time, then oddly, she would lie down and roll onto her back, changing side to side; typical of a mare trying to shift the position of a foal. As they coaxed her to stand again, Sya Mu, whose hands were smaller, had greased one arm to the elbow and stood at the rear. Anshi held the rope bridle and was humming a soothing lullaby to the straining horse. He spoke in a low tone.

"She is calmer. Go on."

Sya carefully slid her hand inside the birth canal, feeling the position of the foal. The sack was still intact, and she could discern nothing normal about this pending birth. The bulge of the head was not present. Instead, she felt the smaller outline of a tiny tail. She glanced worriedly at him.

"Breach."

"Damn it!"

Sya Mu removed her arm and began to search for a slender tether. The one she chose was six feet long with a loop at one end. She tossed it around her neck. She slid her arm back in, holding on to the noose.

"Be ready to switch quickly. I need to pop the sack, then I will move the foot into the canal, strap it above the fetlock, and move the other leg alongside it. This must be fast. The head will be resting in fluid, not free to breathe like a normal birth. If it sucks the water in, it could drown or get brain damage. You must pull, your upper body strength will be needed." He nodded, and his attention did not leave the distressed mare, singing, soothing.

Sya Mu felt carefully around, then ripped an opening into the amniotic sac. Little water flowed at first because the small rear end acted as a cork, sealing the opening tightly. She pushed forward, feeling for a tiny rear hoof. When she found it, she wrapped the noose further up and pulled the leg through the canal. Once it was stretched out, she brought the second leg through and the floodgates opened, flowing freely, drenching the woman at the rear.

"Now!"

Anshi moved swiftly and grabbed the leather strapping, wrapping it around his waist,  pulling as Sya Mu raced to the horse's head to gentle the groaning mare.

A few more smooth tugs, and the baby was quickly freed, falling to the ground. Anshi cleared the nose and mouth, then released the tiny hooves. It was breathing normally, and the impossibly long legs began to flail. Sya Mu turned the mare free, and the mother immediately ran to her child and began to nuzzle it.

"It's a boy. A good, strong warhorse!" Anshi announced and to his surprise, Sya Mu threw her head back and started to laugh, joyful relief erupting, and tears of happiness ran down her face. He moved towards her, surprised and worried.

He did something very unlike himself. He put his arms around her and held her as she fought to bring herself under control.

Sya Mu froze. Here she stood, with Anshi holding her... covered in filth and birth water, stinking of the stable yard and sweat...laughing and crying like a mad woman... And she was mortified because she shamefully wished it could go on forever.

She took a deep breath." Sorry, Chieftain Anshi," she stammered. She wriggled free and wiped her eyes. "I often cry when I am happy."

Truth be told, it had been this miracle of birth and the emergence of new life that had overwhelmed her. It was something she was aware of in her own self, this intense need to hold her own child in her arms. It was becoming a guiding force in her life. Watching the noses touch as the mother and child got to know one another had pierced her heart. She wanted that, badly.

Anshi watched her in turn. He sensed something profound within her, and he recognized it. This Captain of his Guardians was wanting more than her vocation granted her ,and he felt a tiny bit of panic rising.

He depended on this woman. She was both a source of calm and a major irritant to him. She was, as Lan Zhan had predicted, a major thorn in his side. And now he found the thought that she would one day have a life that was not centered around him, disturbing. He did not like it one little bit.

She backed up and looked down at her ruined tunic. "Thank heaven I changed before I walked to the stable."

"You are quite a mess. I am afraid that tunic is ruined."

"Ah well. All in a day's work. I'll slip over to the baths and soak a while then retire."

"I will follow when you are through."

"There are separate baths and partitions. Don't put the attendants out and double their work. It's not like I don't trust you. We are fellow soldiers, after all."

She left to change into a bathing tunic and a heavy robe, gathered her toiletries, and headed for the baths. He was already there, behind the rice paper dividers that separated the soaking tubs right down the middle of the room. His back was towards her, and she hastily shrugged off the robe and entered the water. It was extremely hot and scented with sandalwood, and she submerged modestly. But her eyes had their own agenda, and she glanced over as he silently removed his outer garment down to his own bathing tunic. She could see the outline of his muscular shoulders and narrow waist. The image on the shades was almost unbearable and she averted her eyes. It was all silence within. The candles flickered, and the incense burned as Sya Mu reached for a porcelain bowl and sat straighter in the tub, rising to her knees. The small splash caught Anshi's attention and he glanced over. Her silhouette was striking as she bent and hung her long hair forward and began to pour water through the blue-black mass. He was suddenly unable to break the hold and stared as she lathered it, piling it high on her head, and he could not help but follow the dark shape down the long neck to the shoulders, broad for a woman, straight across and proud. He could see the gentle swell of her modestly covered breast. He felt a sudden stirring, one he had not felt in six months, and he tore his eyes away and strove for calm. It did not work. He hastened his own bathing, suddenly wanting to get the hell out.

He felt confused.

He felt conflicted.

And he could not, would not stay another moment. She looked over, hands still full of soapy hair, and watched him rise abruptly and reach for his robe.

"Good night, Chieftain Anshi."

"Good night, Guardian Sya Mu."

He left without another word. She went on to rinse her hair. And too much remained unspoken.