Tiger Found

For his few short years Bara-Bars had known little but conflict. His parents were dead. Although the Ayimag-Nastaj usually saw to it that he had food enough to survive, the other boys saw, in his small stature, only an easy victim.

Each day had presented a new struggle. For food. For acceptance. Little more than a fight to live. Then Mareda had come to him and Baga-Bars had dreamed of gaining honor as a Tsereg-warrior. But his first battle had ended in his disgrace.

Although he had been ordered to flee that battle with an important message he felt the shame of a sul-coward. Then, lost and wounded, he had failed even the simple task of a message boy. Finally, even his life was gone. His life had been restored by the Nastaj-Bugu-Han in brown robes.

Baga-Bars had felt awe and not a little terror at the powers commanded by this Nastaj-Han. The Er-hun's offer of friendship had filled Bara-Bars with a joy that he had never known. But now, the Bugu-Han was gone. Seemingly forever. This loss was more than his young heart could bear and he fell weeping like an xatun wishing that death would take him once more.

Presently his grief was interrupted by the arrival of a Tangsug-Otog-Xatun. She wondered that a Tsereg should weep so. When he told her of the loss, she wept also. Holding him in the cold comfort of shared sorrow.

As if from a distance, Baga-Bars heard Maraeda whinny and stomp his feet. He ignored this, wishing only to bury his soul in his grief. The horse nuzzled at him and Bara-Bars pushed it away. Maraeda nipped him painfully on the shoulder. Baga-Bars turned his back angry now. Then Maraeda grasped his tunic in his teeth and jerked Baga-Bars roughly to his feet.

Had the horse gone mad? Was it attacking him? wondered Baga-Bars. Maraeda pushed Baga-Bars towards the ladder down to the first floor of the cabin. Baga-Bars had no choice but to obey as the horse herded him forward. The woman arose and followed behind.

Out the door and into the adjoining hut. Baga-Bars could do little to resist the insistent horse as Maraeda pushed him forward to his knees at the altar of the Stone Ghost. Bara-Bars cried out to the Tengri of the altar. Spilling his heart. His emptiness. His loss. Weeping again. The Xatun wept with him.

Then Baga-Bars turned as he sensed a presence. Beside them stood the Nastaj-Bugu-Han. Smiling down at them. The Er-hun reached out to them, helping them to their feet. He dried their tears and embraced them. "I was lost for a while." he said with a sad smile. "But I felt your tears and your need. Your friendship has guided me home."

Together, they sat before the Tsereg fire and the Nastaj-Bugu-Han told them of his plans to gather the lost ones of the Otog to this place. He spoke of the Khan Haruchai who would lead them to glory and adventure in this strange and mysterious land called Britannia.

© 2001 Todd Bailey