were in as fine condition

as Huang had hoped.

Better yet, they were clearly

glad to see Atun, nickering,

bringing their heads toward him.

“Your horses do you great credit.

I’ll take you to Captain Li next.”

“Captain Li?”

“The head of King Xau’s personal guards.

I’d like to hire you, and Li checks

everyone who works in the royal stables.”

“Thank you, sir.” Atun’s eyes alight.

Well then, a good morning’s work.

Huang fussed with his tunic a little

while the young man composed himself.

DECISION

Four hours before Li,

captain of King Xau’s guards,

had time to question Atun.

Late afternoon by then,

the sun a hole of fire overhead,

Atun in the shade of the sentry station,

sweat dripping from his silver armbands,

standing still as a statue

precisely where Li had left him,

as if he had not moved all afternoon.

Perhaps he hadn’t.

Li handed him a water bottle,

led him across to a stand of junipers.

“Huang said you want to work

in the stables.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You were a horse warrior,

but now you want to be a stablehand?”

Li didn’t try to hide his skepticism.

Anyone with access to the stables

was a potential threat to the king.

“Yes, sir.”

“Why?”

“To serve King Xau.”

“Why?”

Atun silent,

a look of desperation on his face.

“Why did you leave?

Because you’re a poor warrior?”

“No!” Fury in that single syllable

before the man mastered himself.

“I’m the third best archer

in the horse tribes.”

“Then why leave?”

Atun lowered his gaze,

said all in a rush,

“When I was twelve,

I saw the king with the horses,

the wild horses,

hundreds and hundreds of horses,

so many that their hooves

on the grass were a thunder.

He was only a boy,

but they came from the hills

to follow him. To serve him.

As I would do.”

A rawness to that spill of words.

Li’s tunic stuck damply to his back.

He dipped his head to Atun, said gently,

“And so, having seen this, you wished

to look after the king’s horses?”

Atun looked at Li. “No, sir.

I wanted to be his guard—

I didn’t know there are only eight of you—

I’ll serve him any way I can.”

Li silent then a long while.

Huang eager to hire Atun as a groom.

To approve that an easy decision,

a safe decision.

That did not make it the right one.

∗

Dusk deepening to night

in the Peach Courtyard

as King Xau ran up to the tree

his daughter was hiding behind.

He made a show of searching

high up in the branches,

the ripening peaches swaying.

Ying giggled and he darted round,

picked her up: “There you are!”

“How did you find me?! I stayed still!”

“You giggled.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“Time to sleep.”

“I’m not tired!” said Ying,

but her head drooped on his shoulder

as he carried her over to Shazia,

who was reading by lantern-light.