Anshi and Han moved quickly through the passageway past the Northgate entrance. It was entirely underground and had been well-lit in advance by Han's bodyguards, who escorted them the entire way. Well built and maintained. it was ample enough that the entire Royal entourage could easily escape to safety, and it actually extended deep under the shallow river and into the mountains beyond. Han explained that it then connected to a natural cave system that allowed them access to miles of cover until they could reach one of the distant strongholds used as a temporary palace and fort. Built the century before, it had withstood time and nature well, remaining dry and strong.

He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You need never fear while you travel. I will always remain safe and return to your side if you need me."

Anshi's arm tightened around Han's waist for a moment. The guards acted as if nothing was strange about this. In fact, several broke their dour expressions with grins. Their love and devotion to this man were clearly evident. They seemed equally ready to protect Anshi as well.

40 minutes later, they came to a halt in front of a small door which, when opened, filled the darker corridor with a flood of light and Anshi realized they were on the side of a hill overlooking the caravan below. As his eyes adjusted, there stood Ge Ban and Sya Mu, waiting for the group. They bowed to their chieftain who bounded out arms wide to embrace them. Anshi breathed the air deeply. He could feel the tension from being at the hated palace leach from his body. Han smiled sadly. His Anshi would never fully relax within those walls, and he knew it. Only the freedom of the road would ever give him a true sense of safety and peace. But by the time Anshi turned his smile back to him, he had composed himself and cheerfully greeted the two Lans.

He grabbed Han's arm and led him over to look down at the yurts. All pitched and nestled in for the winter. People were milling about, and animals were grazing. Children were playing games, foot racing, and practicing with their bows. His heart swelled at the sight. His face brightened even more intensely as he turned to Han. "Come on! Let's go down!" and he offered his hand to help him down the hillside. Han radiated the same brightness back at the younger man.

Ge Ban and Sya Mu were stunned and allowed the others to precede them. Ge Ban looked at her saddened face.

"Sya Mu what is going on?"

She spoke quietly. "Our Anshi has fallen in love and is loved in return."

"You mean he and High Minister Han have..."

"Yes. Look at the glow they have as they catch the eyes of each other. "

"How do we ...I mean...What ..."

"Be happy for him. His heart has finally opened to someone. Who cares who it is? He has found someone to love him. Someone whom he loved for a long time but he could never see. Just be happy for him, Ge Ban."

"You are right, dear girl. And you are extraordinarily brave."

She looked at him in surprise." You knew.?"

"Yes, and when I brought it up with Tuya, she did not confirm nor did she deny. You are a loving and courageous woman."

"I am a soldier and whatever my Chieftain needs from me, he will have it."

She resolutely followed her Chieftain down to camp.

Tuya took one look at the lovers and knew. She was standing next to Maral who offered up a prayer to Anshi's parents.

"He is well. He is loved."

Qiang and Xiao Mian saw it as well. As soon as he could, Qiang sent a butterfly off to Lan XiChen. "Anshi appears to have found someone. You will never guess who."

Later that evening, when a reply came back, it read, simply, 'It is Han, is it not?" He turned to Xiao Mian and muttered, "How on earth did he know?" She laughed. "He is Lan XiChen. How could he not?"

Han noticed, among Anshi's intimate group, a new warmth toward him "and he began to suspect that something had tipped them off. He leaned in closer to his lover and whispered. "You can let go of my hand now. I think people are becoming suspicious. Anshi grinned.

"And what if I don't want to? What if I kissed you right here and now?"

Han jerked hos hand away. "Are you mad? And do something with your face, it's..."

"Shining like yours? Tend to yourself, Minister Han."

They did try to tone it down somewhat, but they failed miserably. The damage was done among the core group of Lan and Anshi's family who were doing an admirable job of hiding their awareness. The rest of the camp seemed clueless. It needed to stay that way. The treaty was two weeks away from official signing and nothing must interfere, so Anshi invited the five of them into his yurt. It had been set up the way he preferred, and he stood there, facing their grins.

"Han, Join me."

Han stood shy and proud, next to his Singer.

Anshi spoke with a loving voice. "You have seen that High Minister Han and I have had a ... reconciliation, you might say."

"Ahhhh," said Maral. "Reconciliation."

Ashi cleared his throat. "We, um, have reached a new level of understanding and we have set aside all past miscomprehension. We have reached an agreement on all points of the treaty and the official signing is in fourteen days. Until then, the Queen has requested I stay in quarters at the palace in case any questions arise. I will check in every day and Lan Ge Ban and Uncle Maral will continue the daily routine for the caravans. Are we in accord?"

Everyone nodded their heads, still grinning at him.

Dawa Tuya walked over and patted his arm. "Whatever has happened between you is your business. We are just pleased that the tension has eased, and you are happy. But the world can be a cruel place, my nephew. Please proceed with caution. You could both be in danger. That place is not as accepting as Cloud Recesses and Lan Zhan and Wei Ying still have obstacles even there."

Anshi smiled. He hugged her hard and thanked her for her concern. "And you are right. It is just that it is all so new, and we have come to ...I have come to understand how he has always been by my side, even though I could only see him as an enemy. I do not know how to control this thing I thought I would never find."

Tears glistened in Han's eyes as he heard his lover stumble, trying to express these new emotions. And Sya Mu softly left the group. She felt sore at heart and need a place to hide quickly. She needed to shed tears of another kind.

After Anshi and Han left to go back to the palace, Tuya turned to Maral.

"Do you think they suspect anything?"

"Not with those heads stuck in the clouds."

"This must not leak out, or all will be ruined. "

"Just you and I and a few in the palace are aware. You have kept the younger brats completely unaware as well?"

"Of course. What kind of a fool do you think I am? Those two would go running straight to them with this kind of information. We just need this one week. Then, it will all be over."

"I doubt they will ever see it coming."

The two smiled at each other.