The Tiger-Headed Horseman Page 24

  Landing on the ledge of a barred window, Tsara took stock of her position. There were Khadist guards patrolling the outer wall but none seemed to be watching the courtyard around the tower. The walls were twenty metres high and had only one gateway which was manned by four sentries. The enormous portcullis gate was operated from a room nearby. Those on the wall concentrated their efforts outside the wall, so confident were they that nobody could ever get that far. Tsara knew that men were fallible, though; she just needed to figure out how to take advantage of this when the time came.

  Turning her attentions back to the tower Tsara easily fitted between the bars and entered the dungeon within. There were five floors with one large open room on each. Inmates seemed to be able to move easily between floors using large stone staircases. From what Tsara could make out there were no doors in the tower. The only door was the exit on the ground floor which was made of thick wood and bolted from the outside.

  Tsara flew from floor to floor. Decrepit-looking individuals caked in filth cowered in corners. Some played games with chicken bones. Others sat in circles silently. Others talked. There was no light and no warmth. The tower was a bitter place. Tsara felt her soul being corroded with every second she spent there. On the top floor Tsara found three people and immediately recognised the soul she was seeking. It had the same glow she had come to love while she had been alive within Lily. The man she was looking at was almost as much a father to her as he had been to Lily. He sat with two companions quietly contemplating their fate. Tsara flew between them and came to rest beside Lily's father.

  ‘I have news of Lily,’ said Tsara. She hadn't been at all sure how to open this discussion, what with her being a bird.

  The three men turned to stare at her calmly. They had all been in the tower so long that their sense of wonder had all but disappeared. Tsara could empathise. After a mere five minutes she could understand how that could happen in the tower. ‘Are you the father of Lily?’

  ‘I am Baatar,’ said the man. ‘I am Lily's father. What do you know about my daughter?’

  Tsara was a little surprised by his lack of emotion but had come to appreciate that nomadic herders could little spare time for emotion as they eked out an existence on the Steppe.

  ‘I am sorry to have to tell you,’ said Tsara, ‘but Lily is dead.’

  Tsara felt guilty at saying this. Lily had never really existed in the greater scheme of things but her father had not known that. Again Baatar remained emotionless.

  ‘That is indeed sad news,’ said Baatar, ‘but why have you come to tell me? Are you a shawoman?’

  ‘No,’ said Tsara, ‘I am from the spirit world. How can you manage to live here?’ Tsara knew the stupidity of her question the moment it escaped her lips but her understanding of life and eternity was founded upon emotion; none of the people in the tower had any.

  ‘What choice do we have?’ answered Baatar. ‘Anyway, once you have locked your door, you are the emperor in your own domain. It is how we cope.’

  ‘My name is Tsara,’ she said. ‘I was the lover of Chinggis Khaan.’ The two other inmates stirred at this mention.

  ‘I see,’ said Baatar, ‘you were the mother to Chinggis's children, at least to the two he bestowed his name upon?’

  ‘Indeed,’ said Tsara. She was beginning to discover that birds were able to shed tears. ‘Sukh and Bolorerdene were my children.’ The two inmates shifted closer to her.

  ‘Sometimes from bad news there comes good,’ said Baatar.

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Tsara.

  ‘You have informed me of my daughter's death, tragic but part of life's pattern,’ said Baatar. ‘I can now reunite you with the offspring that were so cruelly taken from you by Khad. Please come closer.’

  The circle moved towards Baatar. The two inmates who had remained silent so far came into Tsara's sights – they had noble faces.

  ‘Tsara, may I present to you Sukh and and his sister Bolorerdene. They are from a long line of Khaans who have been kept prisoner in this tower. Indeed, you may find many other relatives in this hellish place. The true blood children have retained the same name throughout time awaiting the return of their mother.’

  Looking into their eyes Tsara sorely wished she was in human form so that she could embrace the descendants of her offspring. She had to make do with letting them stroke her head, which was a little demeaning.

  ‘We must get out of here,’ said Tsara.

  ‘Impossible!’ said Baatar. ‘Many have tried, and all have failed.’

  ‘Do not give up so easily,’ said Tsara. ‘I can do things unimaginable to humans. Meet me at the exit.’ Tsara flew off through a nearby barred window.

  Baatar looked reluctantly at Sukh and Bolorerdene. All three shrugged their shoulders before begrudgingly trudging their way down through the squalor towards the doorway. The tower had sapped all hope from them but they figured this interruption by a bird from the spirit world was at least a distraction from their normal dreary routine. They stopped when they reached the thick wooden door. Nobody stayed on the ground floor; it was too cold and was largely the domain of rats and other vermin. As they stood in the dank darkness, they heard something clawing at the door outside. A scraping noise was followed by a heavy clunk. A chill breeze pushed the door ajar as snowflakes invaded the tower. Baatar looked at his friends with wonder. It was the first time any of them had felt hope since their arrival. For Sukh and Bolorerdene it was the first time in their lives. Baatar pulled the door open and the three rushed outside into the blizzard. Tsara circled expectantly around their heads.

  The falcon flew ahead of the escapees. They slowed as they approached the portcullis gate. Baatar watched on in amazement as Tsara swooped between the guards, dislodging their helmets and causing them to give chase. She was clearing the way for them. Opening the gate a fraction, the falsely imprisoned trio slid underneath and out into the scrubland. Clinging to the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings they headed for freedom.

  It was a straightforward escape that took no longer than half an hour. Once he was safely away from the tower and guards, Baatar wondered why he had never thought of it previously. But then he had never had a talking falcon to assist him before. Tsara led them towards Danyal's yard, where Millie waited to greet them.

  30

  Sukh, Bolorerdene and Baatar were treated by Millie as returning heroes. She fed them sumptuously and gave them the finest rooms in her home to sleep in. Returning to the kitchen she sat back down at the table.

  ‘How are our plans progressing?’ asked Tsara. ‘Fill me in on what happened after the battle.’ Danyal, Drudger and Millie were each more than a little sceptical about the talking falcon but it seemed so strange a thing to happen that they accepted that it had to be true.

  ‘So,’ asked Danyal, ‘let me get this straight. You are a falcon but you are actually not; you're a spirit called Tsara that claims she was Chinggis's lover and also claims that she was Lily while Lily was alive, bless her soul, and have come back to the real world in the shape of a falcon to resurrect Chinggis and save Lily's father before engaging in battle intent on destroying Tengis?’

  ‘Yup!’ said Tsara. ‘That's about it.’

  ‘Oh, OK,’ said Danyal, ‘for a moment there I thought you were going to come out with some far-fetched story. So what do you want to know, Tsara/Lily/falcon – what should we call you?’

  ‘Tsara would be just fine, thank you,’ said the bird, a little peeved by this cool reception. ‘The last I remember you safely evaded Tengis's cavalry on the battlefield. What happened after that?’

  Danyal and Millie explained the aftermath of the battle. Together with the nomadic soldiers they had escaped to the safe camp Elder Chuluun had sent his people to before the battle. Once they had regrouped, they realised that over a quarter of their number had perished. Rather than losing heart, it had given those who had survived a renewed sense of outrage. There and then all present pledged to continue their struggle
against Tengis and to fulfil their promises to Lily.

  Danyal, Drudger and Millie had returned to the city. It had been most harrowing for them. When they had set out for the Steppe they had had the jovial company of the Hairy Hordes; the return leg was made in abject silence. Since they had been back in Baatarulaan they too had been calling for support against Tengis. Although it was dangerous to speak out openly against the Khadist regime, they had succeeded in swelling their numbers significantly, selecting a new horde from among the lowest echelons of Baatarulaan's underworld. Elder Chuluun, too, had vowed to travel widely and rally support among the outlying herder communities. He now knew the extent of Tengis's troops and that they needed to bolster their numbers dramatically if they were to stand any chance against him.

  Once Danyal, Drudger and Millie had finished their account, Tsara replied in kind telling them what had happened since Lily had been killed. It served to fuel their desire to take action. She also informed them about Chinggis. They all agreed that, accompanied by Chinggis, Elder Chuluun would have no difficulty engaging other communities to join their cause. They had been expecting word from Elder Chuluun for a few days, and Danyal had begun to worry about the delay.

  Everyone was exhausted and so agreed to retire for the night. Tsara was given a blanket to stand or lie on; she still couldn't decide which was more comfortable. Danyal had thoughtfully placed a cuttlefish shell, some wholegrain seeds and an eggcup filled with water near the blanket.

  Waking early the next morning, Lily's father Baatar was the first to venture downstairs. He had never been in a house of more than one storey other than the prison tower and Millie's home was ever so slightly more impressive than that place. He walked from room to room wondering what on earth the pictures in wooden frames depicted; he had a business brain, not an artistic one. Back in the kitchen he awkwardly bid Tsara good morning. Baatar doubted he would ever get used to speaking to a falcon. As the pair stood in silence, a hasty rapping noise came from the outside door. Peeking through a crack in the wood Baatar saw that a young boy stood on the step hopping on the spot excitedly. He opened the door a little.

  ‘Yes?’ enquired Baatar.

  ‘Sir, sir,’ exclaimed the young boy. ‘I have news for you, sir. It comes from a long way away, if you know what I mean.’

  ‘I'm afraid I don't,’ said Baatar. He took the letter and started to close the door. The young boy wedged his foot in the frame preventing it from closing. ‘What?’

  ‘Sir, sir,’ said the young boy, ‘the man that gave me the letter said that you would give me a coin for my troubles if I delivered it as fast as I could.’

  ‘From what I can tell,’ said Baatar, ‘you're late.’

  ‘Not my fault, sir,’ said the boy. ‘I had to find the man with the letter; he wasn't where he was supposed to be.’

  ‘I fail to see the point,’ said Baatar, ‘the only thing I shall give you is a piece of advice – don't be late in the future!’ With that Baatar shoved the boy's foot out of the way and closed the door hard against the outside world. He watched contentedly through the window as the young boy began to make his way away before opening the door and flipping a small shaman trinket in the child's direction. Elated, the boy ran off.

  As the echo of the closing door rang out of the kitchen, Danyal and Millie entered the room.

  ‘Who was that?’ asked Danyal.

  ‘Some boy with a letter,’ said Baatar. He handed the envelope to Danyal, who hurriedly opened it.

  ‘It's from Elder Chuluun!’ exclaimed Danyal. ‘He is arriving today on the outskirts of the city. He says that with Chinggis's help they have raised a considerable force. We are to sneak out of the city to meet them this afternoon.’

  ‘Can we trust the letter?’ asked Millie. ‘We know the sorts of tricks Tengis is capable of.’

  ‘It is signed “Lily”,’ said Danyal. ‘That is good enough proof for me.’ They all concurred.

  That afternoon Drudger readied horses for them to ride out of town. So as to avoid suspicion they ventured forth in pairs: Danyal and Bolorerdene; Millie and Sukh; Drudger and Baatar. Tsara flew overhead keeping watch for anything untoward. If Tengis had suspected there was any opposition to his reign, then he was keeping it very quiet. As Danyal rode through the streets, he felt that there were fewer intimidating Leggy members hanging around on street corners demanding to see your papers than there had been for years.

  On the outskirts of the city they all met up again and Danyal used the map that was crudely scribbled on the bottom of the page to lead them out into the borderlands that separated the city from the Steppe. The map directed them towards one of Millie's agricultural sites, and within half an hour they were out of immediate sight of the city. Following a rough track a few kilometres from Baatarulaan they began to round a broad rise in the landscape. As they did so they began to see troops massed, armed and ready for combat.

  Danyal raised his hand in peace. The soldiers nearest him bowed slightly. Evidently they knew who he and his party were; they were expected. The track wound around the bend a good deal further than they had expected. With each step hundreds more soldiers came into view, each on horseback and each carrying two bows and two sabres as well as a number of nasty-looking weapons Danyal didn't recognise. The party from Baatarulaan was awestruck

  ‘My friends!’ shouted Elder Chuluun. He rode through a mass of genuflecting bodies towards them. ‘I am so glad you received my message. What do you think?’

  ‘It is quite something,’ replied Danyal.

  ‘Bloomin’ brilliant,’ said Drudger.

  ‘What about the young lady who made this all possible?’ asked Elder Chuluun. Danyal and his company looked skyward. Elder Chuluun looked bemused. He was expecting to see a glamorous lady riding side-saddle. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘We're looking,’ replied Drudger. ‘She ain't always easy to spot.’

  ‘Why on earth are you looking up there?’ asked Elder Chuluun.

  ‘What with her being a falcon and everything,’ said Drudger. ‘I'm guessing she likes to fly high; puts perspective on things, I'll wager.’

  ‘A falcon?’ said Elder Chuluun. ‘Wh–what on earth are you talking about man? Chinggis! Chinggis? Come over here, will you? This fellow is saying that you are wed to a falcon. Shall I scold him for you or would you like the pleasure?’

  ‘As a matter of fact I am,’ said Chinggis. ‘Tsara is a spirit; she takes the form most suited to her needs while she is in the physical world.’

  Elder Chuluun rode away, slowly mumbling to himself about what he had heard being incredulous.

  Chinggis turned to the new arrivals. ‘You must be the friends of Lily that Tsara has told me about. I am indebted to you. My name is Chinggis Khaan and I am here to assist my friends in any way I can.’

  ‘It looks like you've done a pretty good job corralling the troops,’ said Danyal.

  ‘He who wants to build high must dig deep,’ said Chinggis.

  ‘Who are they?’ Danyal pointed towards a group of horsemen wrapped in black from head to toe. They carried no bows or sabres but had a multitude of the more interesting weaponry which Danyal had noticed on his way into camp.

  ‘Ah them,’ said Chinggis – he immediately knew to whom Danyal was referring – ‘They're the Ninja Nomads. Fearsome fighters and fearless frighters. I had no idea they still existed. They were my elite squad back in the day. It took some effort to track them down but here they are. Five hundred of the scariest men you will ever meet.’

  This appealed greatly to Danyal, who was yet to recover from the loss of the Hairy Hordes. ‘Can I meet them?’

  Chinggis beckoned over their leader and Danyal was readily taken up into their throng; they had heard all about the Hairy Hordes and had many questions to ask about urban warfare.

  ‘How are preparations coming along?’ asked Millie.

  Chinggis informed them that they had arrived the previous day, over nine thousand of them. During the night their numb
ers had been swelled by over a thousand as people fled the city to join them. Tengis was not nearly as popular, or even feared, as he liked to believe.

  ‘They are bringing stories about Outsiders,’ said Chinggis.

  ‘We knew that,’ replied Tsara. She swooped out of the sky and landed on Chinggis's shoulder.

  ‘Yes,’ replied Chinggis, ‘but we didn't expect them to be here so soon or there to be so many of them. From what we have heard there are five thousand Outsiders marching towards Baatarulaan as we speak. Tengis seems to be planning a complete coup of a country he already controls. He wants to replace his own security and Leggy with hired thugs. That shimmering substance has a lot to answer for.’

  ‘What should we do?’ asked Millie.

  ‘We must ready ourselves,’ said Chinggis. ‘We must all be prepared to be as brave as Lily and willing to lay down our lives in the name of justice and peace if so required. For now, though, we rest. We can talk of violence tomorrow. For now I want to meet my descendants.’

  Chinggis jumped down from his horse. He was deceptively agile given his muscular frame. He walked towards Sukh and Bolorerdene with his arms wide open. A broad grin filled his face. ‘You must be my great great great great great great great great great great-grandchildren!’

  31

  It had been many years since Chinggis Khaan had last ridden into the city he had created. He did so proudly, leading from the front at the head of his army. Ten thousand troops rode behind him. Every one of them was intent on destroying Tengis and Khad. Not a single person stirred at this early hour. The streets lay deserted. Trashy neon lights offering videos, fun and shows that were apparently ‘three times more exciting’ than any other flickered in the dawn.

  ‘Morindoo!’ shouted Chinggis.

  The ancient call inspired them all. Each soldier pulled tight their helmet and readied their bows. Aged between fifteen and sixty, each and every able man living on the Steppe had answered to Chinggis's call. More importantly, their numbers were bolstered by every woman skilled in hunting, fighting and killing. There were many such women on the Steppe. The army rode slowly onwards, deeper into the city.