The next morning she got up well before dawn and a bleary, half-asleep armorer answered her demanding call outside his door. She was carrying her everyday armor and demanded   access to the armory, immediately. Shocked, he complied and stayed far away from her as he could. 

"The chain mail of this old set is loose on spots. I want some repairs done immediately. I have orders to accompany the Chieftain on a hunt this morning. What can be done?"

"Very little right away. I need to heat the forge and match up or make the links needed. It will take several days."

"Tsk, that simply won't give me enough time."

"I have several sets that would do with a little adjustment."

"Show me." He obeyed, bringing them forward for her approval. She studied them, not pleased, then pointed to one in the corner. "That one."

"Captain, it's a bit different than your old one."

"Would it fit?"

"Yes."

"Then that's the one. Get it ready. you know my measurements. Deliver it to my yurt by dawn."

She handed him a heavy purse and he opened the drawstring.

"For your trouble."

"Yes, Captain!" His face brightened. 

She hurried back and made preparations, ate a breakfast, big   enough to fill a camel driver, and sat for a while.

"Humph!  The best defense is a good offense. Glad he has something to hold over me, is he?  Time to yank a few tail feathers out of that peacock's display!"

The armor was delivered, and she sent orders for her horse to be readied and brought around. Then sent a message to Anshi that she would meet them at the aviary.

She plaited her thick, ebony hair into a fat braid that reached her waist, sat at the table and opened her makeup box. She was planning a full-frontal attack this time, based on a lesson taught her as she and several other female soldiers sat drinking with the legendary General Hu Ming Loi.

"Girls," the Great One began. "Make yourself up before a campaign. Consider it your warpaint. Glow as you enter the fray. There is nothing more satisfying than that moment when your enemy looks down the length of his blade and see a pretty, soft looking woman confronting him. He hesitates just that vital split second and it may, just may, give you an edge. And if it happens, that advantage may cost him his life." They had laughed and she had never tried it. But today, she planned to knock Anshi's little threat loose in the dust before he could even consider using it.

When the four men rode up, she was waiting, eagle on her wrist. Her face was flawless, and the sun was even more impressed than the moon. The armor she had chosen glowed, the silver-gilt links glinting in the morning air and it fitted every curve she had. The plait hung below the matching helmet. like a black chain down her back.

Nar Arslan, Ge Ban, A'Qiang and Anshi pulled up short, jaws dropping at the sight of her. 

"What, you've never seen a soldier wearing make-up before. or is it the new armor? That old crap needed to be retired."

She turned to Anshi and batted her eyes at his green ones. "So Chieftain? Which do you like the best? The armor or the dress last night?" The three men turned to stare at Anshi, who blushed deeply while an amused look of concession crossed his face.

"Excellent counter-offensive, Guardian Lan."

"I prefer to call it a strategic disarmament, Chieftain Anshi." She turned Wudi around and began to lead the men to the hunting grounds. Anshi and Ge Ban rode up beside her.

"I'm interested in what comes next, Lan Sya Mu." Anshi ventured.

"I had a lot to think about last night after our talk. I am in my prime, Chieftain, as a soldier and as a woman. And you are right, and so is Ge Ban. I have been stuck in a rut way too long. I have carried a torch for the same man for years.'" Ge Ban began to cough and shot Anshi a dirty side-glance, which was studiously ignored. 

"I am not a second-rate person. I deserve better. So, this woman is going to test the waters. And the caravan is full of suitable candidates for a husband. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I...I suppose so?"

"And I have you to thank for bringing it to my notice. I very much look forward to future night-time talks. Having a good friend, a man willing to listen as I bounce my thoughts off of him regarding possible husband material, would be invaluable.  I look forward to your opinions. And there is no better time than now to start."

She began a checklist of what she had in mind.

"A nice face is a must. I like fine eyes as well. I want a fit man, tall, muscular..."

The men began to lag back, ears burning. She noticed and rode back to round them up.

"Am I embarrassing you? It's nothing more than I hear every day. I thought it was appropriate material for a chat." This time she took up the rear, keeping them moving ahead of her, and increasing her patter to a non-stop monologue.

"As I was saying, strong thighs are a good measure of a decent breeder. I wish to raise a large family of solid soldiers, so strong thighs and lots of stamina..."

A'Qiang glanced back at her in horror. She ignored her youngest cousin. 

"...are a must. Yes. I should have done this ages ago. What a waste, moping for someone I could never have."

"You told her what I said in confidence about the man who did not love her?" Ge Ban spoke through gritted teeth.

"I was trying to make her feel better about herself..." Anshi whispered.

"Oh, brilliant move Chieftain Anshi. She is never going to let me off the hook now."

"You seem to have lit a fire under her now." Stated Nar Arslan. "She's a stunning woman, Captain Lan is, and if she is serious about putting herself out as marriage material, we will have nothing but trouble, Sir!"

"Stunning? I hadn't really noticed. I mean I always thought she was nice looking, until last night."

"What did happen last night?"

"NOTHING!" He shouted. Then whispered again. "I was just trying to become better friends."

A'Qiang added. "Just how good of a friend were you trying to be to my cousin. Chieftain? She is acting pretty crazy right now and I, as her closest male relative in this caravan..."

"Oh shut up, A'Qiang."

"Shut up? Did you just tell me, your brother, to shut up?"

"Gentlemen?" There came a sweet an innocent voice from behind them. "We have arrived. You have gotten the eagles agitated and we also do not need to scare off game, do we?"

She dismounted as smoothly as molten gilt and stroked her eagle's breast-feathers, saying, "Up you go my beauty. Fly high and show them what a real huntress can do!"

She turned, hands on her hips, and said, "Let's go! Sitting and doing nothing is not filling the pots at home. Do we women need to do everything by ourselves?"

She shook her head. "I hope the men back at camp can show me more than the four of you have today! If not, this search for a mate will take a very long time!"