They mounted in silence. The wind changed direction, bringing the first smell of snow. The Mongol Shuudan had done their duty — but the winter, and the true enemy, was still coming.
"Three days late," whispered Baasan, the youngest. His breath fogged in the cold. mongol shuudan ilgeemj shalgah
Baasan grabbed the man's sleeve, begging for water. As he did, he slid his thumb across the blue wax seal on the nearest bundle. The wax crumbled. Fake. Real seals had a hairline of red thread baked inside. They mounted in silence