Free Forged in Honor (1995) by Leonard B Scott Page B

meet the old bus that had stopped in the mission courtyard.
    As Stephen stepped down from the bus Sarah wrapped her arms around him. "I've missed you so much!"
    Stephen returned the hug and kissed Sarah's forehead.
    "You are as lovely as ever, Second Mother."
    Sarah pushed him away but still held his arms. "Let me have a look at you! My, aren't you handsome. Oh Stephen, I'm so proud of you." She hugged him again as Henry stepped forward and patted Stephen's back. "You do look awfully good, Stephen. We were worried that you wouldn't be able to catch a boat upriver. There have been so many rumors-"
    "It was no problem, Pastor," Stephen replied, extending his hand.
    Henry pumped his arm. "We have prayed for you every day. The university must be feeding you well-you look fit as a fiddle."
    Stephen smiled, but he was looking past the pastor for the person he most wanted to see.
    Sarah saw his searching eyes and shrugged. "He said he would be here. I don't understand where he could-"
    "AYEEE!"
    Stephen turned toward the sound and the approaching rider who galloped full speed into the compound. Joshua yanked the horse to an abrupt halt and jumped from the saddle in a dead run.
    The two young men collided in a jolting embrace, then Joshua roughly pushed Stephen away. "By the gods, you stink of the city and civilization!"
    Stephen's face contorted. "And you stink of pony and campfires!"
    Joshua grinned. "I've missed you, brother. The Teacher and I have-"
    "The Teacher is still-"
    "Alive? What and who could kill the Master Horseman, except maybe Mother. She is killing him with her meal she's growing fat."
    Henry laughed, put his arms around both young men, and led them toward the house. "It's true. If the Horseman weren't seventy years old I'd be a very jealous man. Sarah invites him over for dinner almost every night."
    "You men are terrible!" scolded Sarah. "The Horseman appreciates my food. Henry and Joshua just gobble it up and don't say a single nice word."
    "Where is the Teacher?" Stephen asked.
    "Up north," Joshua said. "There's been a lot of trouble with the bandits again. Since the army broke the truce the Chindit has had his hands full. The Teacher is training more militia to help the northern villages. I was helping him, but he sent me to see you."
    Reaching the porch, Sarah pulled back a chair for Stephen.
    "Sit. I've got some roasted goat and potatoes. I'll get the food, and then I want you to tell us all about the University of Hong Kong."
    Stephen waited until the small woman had disappeared into the house before pinning Henry with a worried stare.
    "What is going on? I saw hundreds of people on the road.
    They were all heading for Namti."
    Henry exchanged glances with Joshua. "It's not a good time for the Shan, Stephen. The military has been attacking other minority groups in the south. The army has only sent small units to the north thus far, but the rumor is that a large force is coming to find the Chindit and his army. The Shan you saw are seeking refuge in the lowlands."
    Stephen's face became a cold mask. "So the great Chindit leads an army. He won't stop until the Ri is destroyed by his foolishness."
    "Foolishness?" blurted Joshua. "Don't dare say that! He's fighting for what we trained together for, the Ri and the people. The army has driven the Mon, Karp, and Kachin people off their lands, and now they're in refugee camps dying of hunger."
    Stephen raised his hands, and his expression changed to one of submission. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I apologize."
    Henry shook his head. "You're both right. It's terrible what's happening to the other minorities, but fighting causes all to suffer. I would have said prayer was the answer a few years ago, but now ... I just don't know anymore."
    "I'm going to have to go back tomorrow," Joshua said.
    "The Teacher needs me."
    "Then I will go, too," Stephen said. "Tomorrow we'll ride north together, as we used to."
    Sarah came back to the porch with food and an