I remember when the Khan came, our tribe was one of many on the steppes West of Qara Qorum but we had grown in number under the protection of the great Genghis Khan and his empire. In return for his protection our finest warriors had ridden south but we had not heard from them for many many seasons, our tribe grew and prospered and many boys had become men without knowing the hardship of steppe warfare. But this changed when the Khan came.
From the east he rode at the head of his horde, still small as it was back then, in another age this would have caused panic, sent women fleeing and called our warriors to their saddles. Instead a crowd gathered of old men, young warriors barely entering manhood and women eager for news of the outside world, the Khan met us and requested our shelter for him and his horde, eager to oblige we promised a hearty welcome and a feast if he would tell us news of the outside world. The feast would change my life and so many others.
At the feast the Khans warriors stepped forward and told us great tales of our steppe brothers conquests to the South in the lands of the Kitad, of the glory, the honour and the wealth they had secured. I was one of the many young warriors who listened to these tales wide eyed, in awe of the battles and conquests they described, finally after many tales of heroism and glory that set a young warriors heart racing the Khan stepped forward and told an altogether different tale. The Khan spoke not of others past glories but of the glory yet to be won, the glory he would lead his horde to away to the west. When the Khan finished he looked at the warriors and asked if we would not join him and seek our own glories and wealth as part of his horde, those willing were to report at dawn mounted and ready.
When the next day came I was there astride my mount, I had said my goodbyes to my Father, he told me to never forget these steppes no matter where I rode and wished me much glory. I was but one of many from my tribe who rode West with the Khan that day to join what we be known as the Red Horde, boys who would become molded into fierce warriors on our travels. And despite all I have been through since that dawn, I have never seen my tribe again for we left the Mongolian steppes behind us and rode into history.