"Qimai, have you chosen the camp site?"
"It's chosen! Great Chieftain, it's on that terrace by the river. I looked it over myself. It's high, the soil is firm, it's sheltered from the wind, close to water but not right on it. It's an excellent place to make camp!"
"Mm. Let me see."
Dusk sank into the Forest Sea, and the Heilongjiang flowed with red clouds. Maha Aguda said little. He simply rode the strongest horse, carried the largest bow on his back, and held the longest wooden pole. He urged his horse up to the terrace, first looking at the flood marks the great river had left behind, where the growth of long grass showed a clear, sparse change. The camp terrace stood more than a man's height above those marks. At this height, even if the fickle Heilongjiang suddenly backed up in the night, it would not be flooded. It was far safer than the flat ground in those river bends.
"Tch! Hah!"
Maha Aguda spurred forward, and the warhorse leapt up in a few bounds onto the solid terrace. Then he thrust out the wooden pole and jabbed hard at the terrace, especially at the reed roots near the riverbank, making sure there was no loose, floating mud. After that, he circled the terrace again, looking at the small earth ridge behind it that blocked the wind. It could stop the damp river breeze and make it easier to light and keep a bonfire burning. Finally, he took out his bow and shot a Bone Arrow toward the riverside. It landed right at the edge between the river water and the riverbank, convenient for drawing water but not too close. Only then did Aguda nod his tiger head in satisfaction.
"Good! Very good! Qimai did well. You