The Tiger-Headed Horseman (26 page)
Read The Tiger-Headed Horseman Online
Authors: Chris Walker
Immediately Lily knew what she was to do. She grabbed paper from Lucky's saddlebag and began to write three identical letters to her allies. She was confounded as to how but knew that once again somebody in the spirit world must be providing some assistance. There had been too many strange occurrences for them to have simply been born of chance. Lily set to writing three copies of the following letter:
My dearest friends
,
Since we last spoke there have been a number of important developments. Some of you know a few of the details. I will endeavour to recount all and everything as it stands at this moment. Though it might feel strange and unusual, please let me assure you that everything I say is true and that, unless we act swiftly, then our future, as well as that of the entire nation, is in grave danger
.
As a shawoman I have spent a great deal of time in the spirit world. My guide there, whom I would trust with my afterlife, is Tsara, lover of Chinggis and wronged Empress of Mongolia. Together we have been trying to unravel the riddle that was contained within the box that was given to me by the elders of my herder community. While the meaning of some of the words is evident, others remain hidden
.
In order to unravel them further, and in order to find my father, I set out for Baatarulaan. The city is as I had always imagined it to be, perhaps worse. However, in that place of despair I have made great friends who believe in me and I in them. Danyal and Millie, together with Drudger and the Hairy Hordes, have helped me see the dangers facing our country. We are no longer simply fighting against a Khadist regime. A terrible but talented man called Tengis is making a bid to seize control of the city under the guise that he is Chinggis Khaan's presence in the real world; he calls his movement New Chinggism. He has devised a doctrine which promises everything yet would deliver nothing. He has also uncovered a source of unrivalled wealth in a material more corrupt than anything we could imagine. He has combined his false words with his ‘sunny substance’ to great effect. The people of Baatarulaan are easily swayed and he is well on the way to winning support from the majority
.
However, I have also discovered that this substance is the
same vile material with which Khad used to overthrow Chinggis's empire eight hundred years ago. Tengis has unearthed a seemingly limitless supply. How Tengis discovered the mine remains a mystery but he plans to raise enough investment from the fools in Baatarulaan to enable him to mine more mineral wealth than has ever been known. He intends to keep his endeavours a secret known only by himself and his key stakeholders. More terrible yet, he intends to employ Outsiders to undertake the work. We are all aware of the Legend of Khad. Some say it is little more than a myth, but if it is not, the fury of Chinggis may be wrought on us all. Which brings me to the latest development in my adventures
.
After I had discovered Tengis's plans in his mine I looked for a means of escape. As I did so I descended deep into the glacial pits of the mountains. There, entombed in ice, I discovered the body of Chinggis Khaan himself. He has been close to us all for all this time. (Tsara, he looks more handsome than I could ever have imagined him to be; I am sure you will be reunited soon.)
And so to work, my friends. The last news I had about Tengis implied that he was combining the Leggie with all other manner of militia and as well as any willing volunteers from among his ardent supporters. He has also ensured the loyalty of the Khadists. It is truly frightening the power he wields so long as he controls that shiny substance. Although it is perceived he will fight an election, albeit corruptly, and assume power, I know that he plans to buy even stronger protection from outside Ongolium which he will use to rule absolutely. If this happens, the future of our country is dark. But we are not without hope
.
At present he is relying entirely on the power of his oratory skills, the ignorance of fickle, greedy minds and his shiny substance. Other than the most wealthy and greedy, people have not wholly committed themselves to his cause. He remains
vulnerable until he garners support from outside Ongolium and commences his mammoth mining project
.
I firmly believe that if we gather as one we will be able to make a stand against him. We may not have the numerical superiority but we have honesty, truth and justice on our side. I judge that those bedfellows will help us gather support from among the people of Baatarulaan. Once we make them aware of his true nature and intent, they will come to our side. If it is battle that Tengis is seeking to prove his dominance, then I am happy to lead us against him. Justice will prevail. The Khadists, and New Chinggists, will finally be driven from our land and the memory of our true emperor will be reborn
.
I know of the perils involved for all of you but implore you to believe in me. If we fail to seize the moment, our nation will be lost in darkness for future millennia. Now is the time. Bring together all the forces we can muster. To Danyal and Millie I ask that you seek to swell the Hairy Hordes into an even more formidable fighting force. To Elder Chuluun I beg that you speak swiftly with the other herder communities and marshal every able body. My dearest Tsara, I ask that you do whatever you can from the spirit world. I seem unable to find a doorway to your world at present but feel that we will be joined again imminently
.
To you all I say good luck, good will and good speed. Let us meet at the point marked ‘X’ three days hence on the night of the next full moon
.
Lily
.
Carefully packing the letters into each of the saddlebags Lily inspected the horses before they set off. A short black stallion was intended for Baatarulaan. Lily felt it was aptly coloured; black seemed a popular colour among the city's residents. She kissed the stallion on the nose and it set off. To her herder
community Lily was sending a dappled mare. The horse had a fearsome face with a temperament to match; even the normally over-amorous Lucky had kept several paces away from her. The horse gave Lily a knowing nod before disappearing towards the horizon.
The horse proposed for the spirit world was a white stallion of whom Lucky seemed rather jealous. Lily brought the two horses together. Given her love of Tsara, it felt important to Lily that both beasts accepted one another. The white horse seemed particularly fond of Lucky and struggled to avert his gaze from Lucky's rear. This really didn't make Lucky feel any more confident, no matter how handsome and fashionable the white horse was. Lily tightened the patent black-leather saddlebag and was astonished at just how well its colour and design coordinated with the overly manicured mane of the stallion. The horse accepted her compliments gratefully and, swishing his mane in Lucky's direction, gave Lily's horse a wicked wink before galloping away.
‘What a show-off!’ said Lily.
Lucky nestled his head under her arm. He really did like his mistress. The pair settled back into their camp. There were four days before the full moon arrived. They would need as much rest as they could afford before then – although neither of them were quite sure why.
24
The full moon rose high above Ongolium. Across the Steppe the silhouette of Lily riding Lucky slowly came into view. She was heading back home towards her winter campsite. She and Lucky were now a full day's ride from the river that had helped them both escape the strange interior glacier. Rounding the last of the enormous boulders that acted as sporadic landmarks for her winter camp, Lily turned her head expectantly, excited about seeing her home again. It had been a long time since she had first set out for Baatarulaan and much had happened. Searching out the horizon for the cluster of gers, Lily was dumbstruck. Normally there were no more than a dozen gers; more than enough tented homes for the seventy or so members of her herder community. As she looked towards the camp, she stopped counting at one hundred gers.
Some of the younger herder children rode out to greet her.
‘Lily!’ they cried.
Although she had spent most of her life as a stranger among her people, Lily was still loved. Since she had become leader of her community she was revered. The children jumped from their horses to embrace Lily and Lucky. The herders were taught to ride from an early age and such acrobatics which may have seemed incredible to city dwellers were second nature to those who lived on the Steppe.
With one swift movement Lily jumped from Lucky and stood
cuddling the children. Lily reminded herself how good it felt to be home. Her home had changed, though; there were hundreds if not thousands of strangers here.
‘What's going on?’ asked Lily.
‘They started arriving two days ago,’ replied the children.
‘Who are they?’ asked Lily. She looked around at the strange faces. They looked familiar yet distant.
‘They say that they are your friends,’ said the children.
Lily ventured towards the mass of people milling around and near her ger. She noticed with relief that her door was still closed; she had meant to do the dishes before setting off but hadn't quite got around to it. A huddle of men sat on the ground nearby.
‘Excuse me,’ said Lily. ‘would somebody mind telling me what on earth is going on?’
‘Lily!’ cried Elder Chuluun, who now ran towards her with a surprising agility. ‘My girl! How happy I am to see you! Please join us.’
‘Elder Chuluun, please,’ said Lily, ‘what is this?’ She waved her hand around the camp.
‘They are here for you!’ continued Elder Chuluun. ‘They received word and they came. Does it not please you? We have been watching your activities in Baatarulaan closely. Matters are far worse than we had imagined. It appears that Tengis is in league with Khad. We must stop him and quickly. If he gains the ascendency, it will be too late. Please sit here. May I introduce you to the other community elders?’
Elder Chuluun made the appropriate introductions to leaders from neighbouring herder communities. His final introduction was to two faces Lily knew well and was relieved to see. She ran towards them.
‘Millie! Danyal!’ exclaimed Lily. ‘You're here!’
‘Well, “X” marks the spot,’ said Danyal, pointing to Lily's ger.
Its roof had a cross motif in red stitching spreading across the thick felt cover.
‘It's a full moon, is it not?’ asked Millie. ‘That was the arrangement, unless I am mistaken?’ She hugged Lily close to her chest. ‘You have many friends. But come, sit with us. We have a long night ahead of us. There is much to prepare before we face Tengis. We are having . . . what did you call it again, Elder Chuluun?’
‘A
quriltai
,’ replied the old man.
‘It's an assembly of tribes,’ continued Millie. ‘It's what the herder communities supposedly do while they are preparing for battle. Come, sit, listen in. Elder Chuluun is quite the quiet little strategic mastermind.’
Lily joined the assembly. After the initial joy of meeting one another, silence soon descended as they began to discuss tactics.
‘We are outnumbered,’ said Elder Chuluun, ‘but we are nomads; they are city dwellers. I mean no disrespect by that.’ He offered his hand in peace to Millie and Danyal. ‘Your Hairy Hordes are hardly typical city dwellers; they are far more like us nomadic herders. We are used to endurance and fortitude. We are hardy soldiers willing and incredibly bloody-minded – in both ways. We number almost eight hundred. I suspect Tengis will bring almost double that number, although we won't know until we see them. As expert horsemen, I propose that at least sixty per cent of our number act as light infantry carrying bows and arrows, two for every man, as well as our usual sabres for closer-range combat. The remaining forty per cent will act as lancers and attack the heart of Tengis's troops. Does anyone have any questions?’
There was a general murmuring in agreement, although Lily could sense that they were uncomfortable about their numerical disadvantage.
Elder Chuluun was aware of this, too. ‘Do not worry. We will remain mobile. There is no way Tengis's men can come close to our riders. Our mobility will enable us to readily outmanoeuvre them and take control of the battle. We need to pit what strengths we have against our enemy's weaknesses. Our riders will draw their troops out into the Steppe where our lancers will plough into them.’
‘What about the Hairy Hordes?’ asked Danyal. ‘Where do you want us?’
‘I want you with the lancers,’ replied Elder Chuluun. ‘You will act separately, as you are always wont to do. I don't want to advise such a robust fighting outfit, but once our riders infantry have drawn the enemy into the Steppe, perhaps the Hairy Hordes could lead the charge into their midst?’
‘It would be an honour,’ replied Millie. ‘We will not disappoint you.’
‘Although there are likely to be more of them,’ said Danyal, ‘it does sound as though we have the upper hand.’
‘Don't undo your bootlaces until you have seen the river,’ answered Elder Chuluun. Danyal scratched his head, though he presumed he had just heard something profound.
‘If we are finished, can I take some rest?’ asked Lily. ‘I am exhausted.’
‘You have four hours,’ said Elder Chuluun. ‘We march out of camp at six. If my estimates are correct then the enemy will be camped an hour's march from here near the mountains.’
Lily excused herself as the members of the gathering bid one another goodnight. After Lily had seen to Lucky, she entered the family ger and lay back on the furs that lined the rear of the tent. Within moments she had quickly fallen into a deep sleep. That night she dreamed about Tsara. Her spirit friend assured her that all would soon be well. She also confirmed that it had been she who had helped corral Lily's supporters together; she
who had sent the horses and she who would look after her tomorrow during the battle. Although it was to be Lily's first encounter with warfare, the prospect exhilarated her and her dreams were filled with thoughts of her imminent victory.
