Khutulun
By Fragilistic frag902@yahoo.co.uk
A bit of poetic license with history


Author's note:

Khutulun, a great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan, was born about 1260 and
is known by several names: Khutulun, Aiyurug, or Aijaruc, all referring to
moonlight. She was famous for her unparalleled beauty as well as her immense
strength, and never lost a wrestling match to a suitor, despite wrestling over
a hundred who each forfeit 100 horses to her.

Marco Polo was extremely impressed by her and wrote "sometimes she would make
a dash at the host of the enemy, and seize some man thereout, as deftly as a
hawk pounces on a bird, and carry him to her father; and this she did many a
time."

Khutulun steadied her horse next to her father's, and rubbed the animal's
muscular neck, it's hot breath leaving trails of steam in the early morning
chill. Down below them in the valley the battle was in full flow, and the
sounds of death could be easily heard from their vantage point.

Kaidu looked on with pride. His warriors were in the ascendancy and he was
confident that the battle would soon be over, and victory would rightly be
theirs.

Khutulun scanned the battlefield, her eagle eyes searching, seeking for
something. Finally she saw it. "Hyaah", she screamed, spurring her horse
onwards, the massive ebony beast charging down the hill into the melee. Men
scattered before her or were trampled in her path. She rode on, closer to the
enemy's encampment, and towards her prey. Prince Nomukhan himself was on the
field of battle, and Khutulun had decided he would make a fine prize for her
father.

The warrior princess rode on, her sword slashing and decapitating as she went.
As she grew nearer to Nomukhan he seemed to startle, then turned and fled as
fast as he could. Still he was no match for the great thundering beast, and as
she approached him, Khutulun leaned over to the right, her horsewomanship
excelled only by her skills in wrestling. She seized the man in mid-stride
with her right arm and hoisted him onto her horse, the force of the impact
knocking the air from his lungs. Dizzied, he struggled to free himself, but
was no match for her immense strength. She pinned him with one hand and rode
with the other, whooping a great battle cry of delight at her audacity.

Capturing one of the enemy served a dual purpose ' it allowed them a prisoner
to interrogate so that they could learn more of the enemy's strengths and
weaknesses, and also it had a psychological impact, striking fear into the
heart's of all who would oppose them. Their enemies knew that Khutulun could
strike at will, and carry off whomever she chose.

Arriving back at her father's side after what seemed like only moments, he
congratulated his daughter on her bravery and strength. "Truly Khutulun you
are my greatest warrior, none can match you."

She dismounted her horse and lifted prince Nomukhan high into the air with one
hand for her father to see. Nomukhan's eyes widened in fear and surprise as he
was handled like a small child by the strikingly beautiful young woman. His
feet dangled inches above the ground as the huge woman held him aloft with
seemingly no effort, his face reddening as he struggled for air.

"Why Khutulun you are hurting our guest, bring him to my tent, we have some
questions to ask of him."

Khutulun folded the man under her strong right arm and carried him easily into
her father's tent, as though he were no more than a bundle of clothing tied up
with twine.

Kaidu sat down opposite Nomukhan and stared intently into the frightened young
man's eyes. "Tell us the composition of your forces, the number of horses, and
men, and archers. Be quick."

Nomukhan stared back in silence.

"I am not a patient man, and you would do well to answer me", Kaidu
threatened.

Nomukhan looked around him at the sparsely furnished tent and considered his
options, none of which looked appealing. He was well aware of Kaidu's
reputation for barbarity and torture.

"You have met my daughter Khutulun already, yes. I think by now you know she
is not to be underestimated." Nomukhan glanced nervously at the huge woman
standing to the side of him, arms folded across her massive chest.

"If you refuse to answer my questions, Khutulun here will crush you."

Prince Nomukhan opened his mouth as if to say something, then fell silent.

The gathered crowd nodded and smiled and murmured, clearly excited at the
prospect of seeing their beautiful warrior princess inflict pain on their
enemy.

Kaidu nodded towards Khutulun, who seized Nomukhan in a flash, moving
gracefully and powerfully towards him like a panther. She lifted him from the
floor and wrapped her powerful arms around him in a bearhug. He was once again
struck dumb by her beauty and size, but what was overriding his senses was the
immense strength of the woman. He had never known anyone, man or woman, as
strong as the beauty who held him now.

A grunt escaped his lips as she tightened her hold on him, pressing him hard
against her solid chest. Her arms were like granite, not soft and welcoming
like a woman's arms should be.

Khutulun looked over at her father as she held the helpless man dangling in
the air. Kaidu sighed, and nodded. She squeezed Nomukhan with brutal force,
smashing his body against her. His ribs imploded and collapsed to loud
cracking sounds, such was the force with which she crushed him.

Not satisfied, she crushed in on him even tighter, decreasing what little
space was available to him. His body looked like it had been trampled by an
elephant. Eventually she released the broken body and threw it to the floor in
disgust, placing her foot on top of the shattered remains.