The air was thick not with sea salt, but with the smoke of a thousand new incense burners and the dust churned up by an army of artisans. Weeks of frantic, brilliant work culminated in the preparations for the Khuriltai. This was not merely a political meeting; it was a testament to the supremacy of the Great Khan, a lavish extravaganza meant to dazzle vassals from the farthest reaches of the conquered south to the sternest warlords of the steppe.
Within the central tent, larger than any balay in the islands, Khublai Khan surveyed the architectural plans. His posture, still that of a lifetime warrior who had ridden across continents, occasionally betrayed the immense weight of the Xinese bureaucracy he had tamed and now adopted.
The Khuriltai of the Khans was originally meant exclusively for the four brothers to consult one another and to be together. When Ghenghis was alive, Khuriltais were held in secret at Kharakhorin. These were days of fasting, prayer and hunting. This way Ghenghis and the four brothers renewed their ties and their loyalties to the Great Khan. But Ghenghis died. His four grandsons divided the Khannate into 4 appenages and set directions for themselves. The Khuriltai became irrelevant. But out of habit the 4 brothers would get together to pray fast and hunt.
After Khublai conquered the Middle Kingdom, Khublai began to host his own Khuriltai. Khublai knew his brothers would be amazed at the technological sophistication of the Song. The Khuriltai became lavish affairs. The traditional contests of the kharaks and boastful noisy rivalry in archery matches, horse racing and mastery, lassoing and wrestling became events at these affairs. But boat racing, kite flying, dog shows that were traditional to the Xinese were integrated into the program of the Khuriltai. The parades of jugglers, acrobats and the fireworks, these activities were somewhat alienating to the Kharaks. Not to forget the 24/7 of singing and dancing at the theatres and big opera houses.
After Khan became Emperor of Xina kite flying became an obsession with Khublai. The parade of the silk weavers was a visual feast. And the highly choreographed dances held khan in awe of this ancient culture. The theatre performances, the circus acts engrossed Khan. He was often enamored by the performers. And he became addicted to the opera. A habit his Kharak companions could not fathom. What was most alienating to the traditional tundra monks Khublai had brought along with him to the forbidden city, was dragon boat racing and the fluvial parade.
AS for the traditional Kharak hunt., it became ritualized. The prey is already wounded before the Xinese temple monks would allow Emperor Khan to be part of the hunt. Also the palace hunting grounds had only deer, rabbits, peacocks, pheasants, ducks and other water fowl. There were no wild boars with foot-long tusks of the steppes that charged when provoked and cornered. There were no giant bears or tricky rams. No tigers.
Khublai's hunt was accompanied by an entourage with trumpets and concubines. The entire palace at XanaDu would be decked out with banners and lamps. The entire hunt is so orchestrated down to details to the final act when the Emperor kills the prey. Then,magical fireworks would light up the sky. Rice wine would pour like melted snows. It was a more performance and ritual than an actual hunt.
The three other Khans: Ariq,Hulagu and M?ngke snickered about this amongst themselves but knew that only Khublai, as emperor of the 6 Xinese nations, had grain in the bulk they needed. No other group of people except the Xinese could produce such a surfeit in grain. They knew that Khublai had lost his instincts as a hunter. But they also knew without Khublai, they and their appenages would go hungry. They could not afford to offend him.
Everything was on the table at the Khuriltai at Xanadu. Whole roasted boar, deer, fowl, fish, eggs, fruits, nuts, milk, many kinds of grain. There was honey and mushrooms from the forest. Fish, shrimp crabs, seaweed, agar from the coastal villages. There would be three days of festivities, a bash for the entire capital. Then there were lavish parties and sex orgies at the private residences of the wealthy.
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At the Bazaars, exotic perfumes, oils, spices were on sale, rare manuals, wines, jewelry, bolts of silk, cotton, wool, the finest brocades, carpets, ceramics could be found. Parades and street performances would go on till midnight.
On the seventh day the sending-off party of the Khans was scheduled for the entire city to wish the 3 visiting Khans and their entourages an uneventful way home. Laden with gifts and partied out the Khans would take to their horses and Xina would return to its clocklike daily precision.
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Three Khan brothers from all parts of the vast Khanate came to Xanadu to partake of the celebrations. The hooves of thousands horses from Kharkassus,Quorasan and Kharakhorin thundered toward Xanadu. Caravans from the different vassal states made their way to Xanadu. Camels, oxen and donkeys laden with fine crafts, delicacies of all kinds were taken to the capital by people of all color, dressed differently, speaking different languages, waft with exotic perfumes.
"The Khurilta's are fabulous Urdie! Are you not excited to attend?" Asked Udayan
"Yes partly I am excited" Urduja replies.
"Tala and Liwanag have volunteered to accompany you as your handmaids." Udayan informs her.
"Volunteered?" Urduja asks. "You forced them. I don't need handmaidens mother".
"You do and they volunteered. You have loyal friends. You will make an excellent Mutya."
"I just wanna surf"
"I understand. But if you don't do this we will go hungry. We are dependent on Khan for riceYou must charm the Khanate court. You are our ambassador. We can't offend or alienate Khan. He must consider us friends. And you will surf. All you must do is learn to speak perfect Turkic and learn the "Way of the Warrior", says Udayan. Then you and your handmaidens can come home.
"And what is that mother ? the "Way of the Warrior?"
"I don't know I was never a vassal heir . The Song were different from Khan. You'll find out and tell me.", replies Udayan innocently.
"That doesn't reassure me".Urduja sighs. She is resigned to her fate.
That year, the Khuriltai at Xanadu was particularly lavish. Again, Khan had a bumper crop of grain because Khan was no longer burning farmlands and raiding the grain stocks. Khan had become emperor through cunning and skill and because he is lucky. Some men are lucky. Khan converted to Buddhism that year. Also, Chungnyeol, like Udayan, was accompanying his twelve-year-old son, Cheongsun, to the Khan court as vassal heir. Khan had given Chungnyeol his niece, Qutlugh-kelmysh's hand in marriage. Cheongsun was a Khagan, a minor Khan. His name was entered in the book of Khans
"Queen Shima of the Medang will send a delegation. And the Little Kingdoms by the Sea will all be present". Tala is thrilled. "Even the Tamil Court will send a delegation".
"But aren't they enemies of the Cholas . The exiled Chola King sought sanctuary at Khans court." Liwanag is perplexed.
"They fight when no one's looking." says Tala
"They don't mind killing cousins. As long as it's done tastefully,"Urduja says. The three surfers giggle.
"I'd love to meet Zhenjin. He must be so handsome. He has been rescuing daughters and wives from that horrid suttee and offering them sanctuary in Xina.", gushes Liwanag.
Yes, that's good news. If Khublai is a grotesque monster how did he have such a handsome son? Asks Urduja.
"It could be a mask" avers Tala
"He could be ugly monster too beneath the mask", says Liwanag
"When no one's looking" , says Tala
"We must've ready for everything. You don't have to stay with me. You are just volunteers", Urduja says.
"I stay with you Urdie" says Liwanag
"For the cocoons", Tala says.
"For the Tawalesi" says Urduja .
They form a circle.
"Thank you Tala and Liwanag ", says Urduja close to tears as she understands the sacrifice they are making. They will stay in land. A place where they cannot surf.
"We stay together" say all three. They embrace. Tears run down their faces unabated .
It is a footnote in the Journal of the Sky Temple that Princess Urduja was received at the Khan Court as vassal heir. Not an heir to a large kingdom. Just the daughter of a sea gypsy., No one paid any attention to Urduja and her friends. She is Urduja, surfer, Mutya, sea gypsy, ocean born.
