As dawn breaks over a moveable city of ten thousand yurts, Queen Boraqchin is in for a rude awakening.
A rogue sheep has slipped past her servants and guards and bolted into her yurt,
where he springs into bed and bleats in her ear. Although she’s the formidable khatun of the Golden Horde,
a huge kingdom in the Mongolian Empire, Boraqchin has a hands-on approach to ruling.
She’s been married to Batu Khan, the fearsome grandson of Genghis Khan himself,
since she was fifteen – and while her husband is out on his raids,
she juggles the duties of flocks, family and empire at home. This makes her the manager – and the mover – of a city of thousands.
Twice a year, Boraqchin moves the city between two seasonal camping grounds. This ensures constant water and lush grass in summer,
and protection from harsh winds in winter. The whole operation requires weeks of strict planning,
liaising with the other camps in her domain, strategic delegation – and the patience to move at the speed of dawdling animals.
