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As dawn breaks over a moveable city [br]of ten thousand yurts,

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Queen Boraqchin is in [br]for a rude awakening.

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A rogue sheep has slipped past her [br]servants and guards

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and bolted into her yurt,

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where he springs into bed [br]and bleats in her ear.

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Although she’s the formidable khatun [br]of the Golden Horde,

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a huge kingdom in the Mongolian Empire,

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Boraqchin has a hands-on [br]approach to ruling.

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She’s been married to Batu Khan,

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the fearsome grandson [br]of Genghis Khan himself,

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since she was fifteen –

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and while her husband is out on his raids,

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she juggles the duties of flocks, [br]family and empire at home.

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This makes her the manager – [br]and the mover – of a city of thousands.

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Twice a year, Boraqchin moves the city [br]between two seasonal camping grounds.

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This ensures constant water [br]and lush grass in summer,

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and protection from harsh winds in winter.

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The whole operation requires [br]weeks of strict planning,

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liaising with the other camps in her [br]domain, strategic delegation –

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and the patience to move at the speed [br]of dawdling animals.

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Today is moving day,

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and she’ll have to direct throngs of her[br]ladies, commanders, slaves and animals

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up the river Volga for the summer.

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As Boraqchin steps outside,

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she’s greeted by a commotion –

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her unwanted visitor is now running [br]circles around her stewards.

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They’re attempting to stow her possessions[br]securely into wagons.

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Boraqchin orders them [br]to get it under control –

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but she’s the only one quick [br]enough to catch the stray.

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She next supervises her ladies who are[br]unpinning her yurt

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and lifting it onto its custom wagon.

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It requires a team of twenty oxen to pull,

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and Boraqchin wouldn’t trust anyone [br]to steer it but herself.

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Next, Boraqchin and her woolly companion [br]meet with the guards.

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She orders them to keep close watch[br]on her husband's special reception yurt

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and port-able throne during the journey.

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They’ll also act as outriders,

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and she tells them how to secure the [br]route, surround her for safety –

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and keep the animals in check.

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But when the sheep finally breaks free [br]and makes for the fields,

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the guards can barely keep up

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as it scampers through crowds [br]packing up their yurts.

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Exasperated, Boraqchin rides down [br]to the pastures herself.

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When she gets there,

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she catches sight of the troublesome sheep[br]wriggling into the middle of a flock.

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When she follows him in,

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he’s nestled next to a ewe, his mother.

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She’s pregnant,[br]and seems to be in pain.

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With a start, Boraqchin realizes [br]that this ewe’s impending delivery

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has been forgotten in [br]the flurry of moving day.

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There’s no time to find a shepherd –

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instead, Boraqchin rolls up her sleeves, [br]greases her arm

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and helps the ewe give birth to two new [br]additions to the empire.

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Leaving the lambs and their mother,

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Boraqchin dashes back to the camp.

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Here the final touches have [br]been put to packing,

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and vehicles are starting to line up.

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This vast procession starts with the queen

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and two hundred wagons [br]filled with her treasures.

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Next up are the junior wives and crew,

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then the concubines –

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and this is only Boraqchin's camp.

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After this comes the second imperial camp

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led by another senior wife,

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then two more camps, also led by wives.

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Boraqchin has been checking in [br]with them for weeks to ensure

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a smooth departure and orderly queue.

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But they only make up the [br]royal portion of the line –

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behind them winds [br]the entire civilian city,

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which includes holy men [br]with portable chapels and mosques,

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families, tradesmen, and shepherds.

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Finally, Boraqchin settles into her wagon.

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It’ll take weeks to reach [br]their destination –

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but over the course of the journey,

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she’ll keep everyone expertly in check –

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from her proud children [br]and attentive subjects,

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to the most meandering sheep [br]at the back of line.