After a few miles he came upon a village that wasn’t war torn for once. It was quite fruitful, with buildings instead of rag tag tents. He strolled right into the village, which was bustling. Children played around the entrance as he walked right in. He went to a food stand that he saw.

“How have you gotten so much food?” Altan asked the street vendor.

“We are lucky enough to have a lively pasture and water sources.” The old man smiled at Altan, boasting heavy wrinkles under his eyes. 

“Hm..” Altan eyed the food. “How much?”

“You seem like a restless warrior, I offer this to you for free child… don’t stress yourself. Find peace.” 

Altan nodded, he truthfully just wanted to food. He grabbed a piece of meat and bread and filled his wine bottle with water. 

“Thank you old man, blessings.”

Altan exploded the village in search of a comfortable place to sleep because of nightfall. He went from door to door.

Eventually he came upon a house of a young family who were the only ones kind enough to let him in. 

It was a man and a woman with a tiny baby, the woman was pregnant.

“Thank you for your kindness.” Altan thanked them. 

“No problem at all!” The man replied as he set up an extra futon for Altan. 

The woman was cooking dinner and the man invited Altan to eat with them. The family ate with Altan. He appreciated their openness. 

Soon after the family fell asleep. He slept and woke up before meeting the sunrise. He took extra food with him before the family woke up, but only a little as he didn’t want to burden them. He left, leaving the village and continuing south.

Just a few hours later Batus army came upon a bustling village. They came upon an old street vendor. 

“Food for me and my men, now.” He commanded the street vendor as if he was under his command. 

“Oh! Alright..” he dished out a few rations for them and water. 

His army left without a word in search of a resting place, they had been riding on horseback without sleep. 

They went to the biggest hut they saw and barged in. It was the hut of the village elders. 

“Me and my men need rest now, provide us with futons.” Batu commanded. 

The elders, shaken by the warriors placed enough futons for all of them. 

For the first time Batu slept without tussling in years. 

His men at their fill of the elders food and took their resources. 

They made quite a disturbance in the village and eventually the village chief was alerted. 

The chief entered the elders hut along with two of his second in commands. 

Batu raised his brow. “And who may you be?”

“My name is Anu son of Baatar, I am this villages chief.” 

Batu and his men laugh. “This little village has a chief?!”

“This little group of men is called an army?”

Batu and his men went silent. “Is that a challenge?”

“No, but I would like you to vacate our village, you’re causing quite a disturbance.. I will defend my home if I have to.”

Batu held his men back. “I respect that.. we’re heading south now.”

“Batu! We could’ve easily pillaged that little village, we would have more supplies!!” One of Batus men claimed. 

“May I ask of your name?”

“Dulguun.”

“Dulguun… when a man has honor he shall live another day.” Batu wears a new undercoat and coat that he collected.

“What does that mean?” Dulguun asked. 

“I’ll let you figure that out.” Batu hopped on his horse and his men followed. “We are headed southbound.” Darkness crept over the sky.

Altan slept in a clearing on the ground. It was uncomfortable as hell, but he was tired- after trekking all day that is. Crickets chirped next to his ears as he tried to sleep. It was gonna be a long night.

Batu and his men passed through a clearing and onto another town again, yet this town was rundown. The only building that was in tact was a brothel. Batu and his men entered. 

They took resources, ignoring the women. They left the village in the dead of night as the sun rose.