Dark Anniversary

Baga-Bars watched as the last stars winked out and the morning sun chased the night from the sky. This was the day. The bugu had told him that this was the day that the han had numbered thirteen and called by the name "Friday." Baga-Bars didn't understand why days needed numbers or why the han considered the number thirteen to be an omen of bad luck and evil. He had been told that a Friday with the number thirteen was the worst possible convergence. So why then did these han give the day they called Friday this number, wondered Baga-Bars. Why not some other number? He shook his head. He would never understand these han and their strange ways.

The bugu said that this was the day written down in the orgh's book. The day the book said that the one known only as "Master" was born. The one behind all these sorrows. The one who had stolen the Khan's soul. Baga-Bars had been told that, by han custom, the polite thing to do was to give someone a present on the anniversary of their birth. Baga-Bars drew the whetstone down the length of his kryss further sharpening the already razor edged blade. Baga-Bars hoped that the Master would appreciate the gift that he had planned. There was a grin, that no one could ever mistake for humor, on his young face.

The Mongol tsereg-ger had been converted into a hospital at the suggestion of the bugu-han, Castile. Baga-Bars was still awed by that one's powers although he worried about him when he disappeared for days on end. When the bugu-han would return he would say only that he had been studying a "tome". Castile said that these "tomes", hidden in some forgotten and dusty library, might hold a clue help the Khan. That was a good thing.

Baga-Bars stopped his work as he heard someone approach the ger. He walked past the rows of clean white beds to open the door. There stood a han named Nebdar Mooln. Baga-Bars recognized this one from the han party.
"Sain Bainuu," greeted Baga-Bars politely not even touching his kryss.

"Hail," said Nebdar Mooln. "I have read in the mystical tomes that the thirteenth day of the seventh month is a day of doom."

" It bish be if we can help it," growled Baga-Bars. "URAGSHAA!!!"

"I will be glad to fight by your side if you'll allow me to," offered Nebdar Mooln.

Baga-Bars studied the man. "You fight good han?"

"I am afraid I have very little skill to offer you," apologized Nebdar Mooln.

"Hmmm... We need think too," said Baga-Bars. "You think good?"

"More or less," said the han. "I can always play my music."

Baga-Bars laughed. "Dat be sain. You can come."

Dorji Boshigt rode up to the ger followed closely by Idugan Aigeran and Bourtai. The han Daimon arrived shortly after. Baga-Bars eyed that han with suspicion. Baga-Bars remembered that he had offered to join the Master's forces that night in Galliard's office. He would keep a close eye on that one.

"We need to figure where dat han Galliard be," said Baga-Bars. "What dat orgh book say?"

"Dat book say mebbe in dis ruined place," said Idugan Aigeran. "Used to be some han shrine in woods."

"What else it say?" asked Baga-Bars. "Dere be olon runed places."

"The letters said that His place of power is the place of His birth," offered Nebdar Mooln.

"The island of Nujel'm," said Daimon. "When he describes the view the only place it could be is Nujel'm."

"Actually it said that Vesper was North and East but if I am not mistaken Nujel'm is East of Vesper?" corrected Nebdar Mooln.

"Vesper is north and east of Nujel'm," insisted Daimon.

"Vesper north and west of Nujel'm," stated Bourtai firmly.

"Ignore me," apologized Daimon. "My sense of geography might be addled."

Baga-Bars wondered why Daimon had tried to lead them to the wrong place. Could that be a trap? Maybe they should kill this han right now before he betrayed them. Or maybe it was an honest mistake. Either way, he would watch Daimon very, very closely.

"Da orgh book say dat ruin be between Vesper and Cove," said Idugan Aigeran. "And him see cove cemetery to west."

"Dis cemetery be place da han plant deir dead? Dere be many orgh near cove. Maybe him hide near dere." stated Baga-Bars.

The ger door opened and the bugu-han, Castile walked through. "Greetings all."

"It be good to see you bugu-han," greeted Baga-Bars.

"Hast thou discovered the place whereof ye seek?" asked Castile.

"Well... the simple solution would be to ride between Vesper and the Cove cemetery," said Daimon.

Baga-Bars had been about to order that very thing. Now he looked closely at Daimon. What was this han up to wondered.

"I agree. Vesper has been very near the center of things," said Castile.

"We go look dere," said Baga-Bars "Near dat han cemetary, dat place where han plant deir dead."

"I have discovered some ancient tomes that may help us help Haruchai," announced Castile. "There are vaults with books unread for centuries. In one such place did I find the scribbling of a man called Minan who described how he had seen souls taken and stored in arcane receptacles called phylacteries." Castile continued, "He also wrote of rituals and magicks that may be employed to restore such stored souls to their rightful owners. If a phylactery was used by this evil one ye must find it. I can but try for my friend and thy Khan."

The Mongols look at each other uneasily. "What dis phylacteries look like?" asked Bourtai.

"Well, phylacteries may come in many styles. Often thousand year old glass or wooden sarcophagi. I understand that they are ne'er made of metal. How we tell that the soul is inside, I do not know ," lectured Castile. "A sense, perhaps, of the living why we instinctually know the difference between a living and dead body." Castile smiled. "Ye Monggols should sense these things more quickly than we 'hans'."

"But we bish have da soul," observed Baga-Bars. "We go find dis place, find dem, take back da soul."

"We find han who take soul, make him tell us," agreed Bourtai.

"I think a stealthy approach would be wiser," Nebdar Mooln stated his opinion. "At least in the beginning. Do you know what forces we face? Dying won't bring your Khan's soul back."

"We see dat at da party. See what Galliard be like for true," said Baga-Bars.

"He is, nonetheless, mortal and may be defeated with courage," observed Castile. "Galliard is a walking corpse, though he know it not."

"We find what dis han be frade of. What dat orgh be frade of? Him frade of something. What he be frade of?" demanded Baga-Bars.

"Frade of han bugu?" asked Bourtai.

"No da orgh, Bunelock. Him say something, dat orgh. What him say him frade of? Some word," insisted Baga-Bars. "Him scared of dat more dan Galliard."

"The darkness," said Idugan Aigeran.

"Dsa! Dat be word orgh use. Maybe dis Galliard be frade of Darkness too," said Baga-Bars. "First we find him. Den we scare him. Him tell us what we want. We go search now. We find dis ruin. URAGSHAA!!! We go sky gate!"

The Mongols mounted up and rode north to the Yew moongate. Nebdar Mooln ran along behind. At the gate, Baga-Bars ordered, "We go to gate south of han digger town."

"Digger town? You mean Minoc?" asked Nebdar Mooln.

"Dsa! Dat be place," confirmed Baga-Bars. "Dat be near Vesper. URAGSHAA!!!" He urged his horse into the gate and the others followed.

On the other side Baga-Bars led the others to the south toward Vesper. "Follow," he ordered. "Stay close and watch out for orgh."

Just north of Vesper they spotted a wild horse. "Wait, meh tame dis agta," said Baga-Bars. He tamed the horse and gave it to Nebdar Mooln. "Now you keep up better."

They continued south to Vesper and then searched south and west past the cemetery.

"Meh see dis place," announced Idugan Aigeran. "Meh see it in head. Dis place of ruin."

Soon they came upon an ancient ruin with a circular, bloodstained altar at the center. "Megh feel strange power here," said Idugan Aigeran.

"Come from stone circle," added Bourtai.

The bugu began to examine the stone altar. "Han death symbol on it. Evil eyes," translated Idugan Aigeran. Then she mumbled a prayer.

"We wait. We hide," ordered Baga-Bars. "When da han Galliard come, we bish kill him. Dat might loose soul. We hide and wait. When da han come we scare him. Den him give back soul." The party hid in the rocks and trees surrounding the ruin.

After a short wait, a blue moongate opened right in the center of the alter. Galliard stepped out followed by a daemon body guard. He placed a small red chest at the center of the alter and began some arcane ritual.

"Meh bish think he be scared," whispered Bourtai.

"Here you are!" shouted Nebdar Mooln as he jumped out of his hiding place.

"What?" Galliard looked up in surprise.

"Us want word with yuh han," said Bourtai. Galliard just laughed.

"Nice demon," complemented Daimon. "A bit tacky though."

"What do you think you can do?" demanded Galliard.

"Look! He dropped a... box!" shouted Nebdar Mooln. "Grab it!" He snatched up the red chest.

"NOOOO!" shouted Galliard. "You fools! The Master will kill you all!"

"What in dat box?" demanded Baga-Bars. "Give da box to da bugu." Idugan Aigeran tried to open the box with buyu but it was locked.

"Fools!" ranted Galliard. "You know not what you play with! The Master's wrath will be fearsome. He shall deal with you! "

"If I were you," observed Nebdar Mooln. "I'd worry for myself. You failed him, after all."

"Hans talk too much," observed Bourtai.

Galliard seemed shocked. "He... He... He will understand."

"Of course he will," agreed Daimon. "Now go to your doom like a good lackey."

"No! I have served him well," insisted Galliard. "Brought him many un-dead souls. He will understand." Galliard reverted to demon form and vanished.

After the demon was gone, they tried to figure out how to open the box.

"An axe should do," suggested Nebdar Mooln. "Uhm, no. Maybe that would do bad for the soul inside."

"Me bish unlock with buyu," reported Idugan Aigeran. "We need key. Remember da key in dat bag from Galliard's office?"

"Where dis bag?" demanded Bourtai. "We got it here?"

"It be back at tosgon," said Baga-Bars.

Daimon opened a gate back to the Mongol tosgon. As he prepared to step into the gate, Baga-Bars wondered if Daimon was about to betray them. A gate opened into the Master's stronghold would be a disaster for the Mongols but would gain much favor with the Master for Daimon. Baga-Bars sighed. The soul had to be returned to Haruchai's body as quickly as possible. He had no choice but to trust the han.

The gate did indeed open onto the tosgon. They were greeted by Castle. "Was thy trip a success?" he asked.

"We got des red box," said Baga-Bar.

"Galliard drop it on stone circle," explained Bourtai.

Baga-Bars carefully handed the red chest to Castle who examined it closely.

"Careful. We bish know what be in there," cautioned Baga-Bars.

"It is certainly a very ancient box," mused Castile. "Perhaps a sarcophagus. I am fairly certain from my reading that this is indeed a phylactery," pronounced Castile. "And my instincts tell me with every nerve tingling that this indeed contains a living soul."

"But the right one?" asked Daimon. "Now.. if I was his master I'd have my soul in there ready to go into the body of your khan."

Baga-Bars looked sharply at Daimon. Was this a true concern or a clever attempt at misdirection? A ploy to delay the restoration of the Khan's soul until it was too late. The hour of midnight was fast approaching. Once again he had no choice.

"The box is firmly locked," confirmed Castile. "And it must be opened to ascertain the nature of the enchantments which keep the soul entrapped.

"Will soul spill out if it open?" asked Bourtai in concern.

"Nay, the soul is locked within like thine own soul is locked inside thee," said Castile. "Though this one is unknowing, unseeing. It will feel only oblivion, a sense of loss, of loneliness knowing only that it hungers and is bereft of light and sun."

"Where dat key?" demanded Baga-Bars. "We try!"

Idugan Aigeran rushed to the second floor of the hospital-ger to bring the key as the others continued the conversation.

"Can us see who soul is when we open?" asked Bourtai.

"When the box is opened, there should be a clear feeling of who it is like knowing that a friend is at the door before ye open it," confirmed Castile.

Suddenly they heard Idugan Aigeran yell for help.

"Orgh!" shouted Bourtai.

The party rushed up the ladder to where Haruchai's frozen body still stood.

"What be wrong? Where da key?" demanded Baga-Bars.

"Me see dis strange orgh when I go to get bag," explained Idugan Aigeran.

"This orc is Sir Armadace!" said Nebdar Mooln.

"Where is the key? You got da key?" pressed Baga-Bars.

"Ack!" sputtered Idugan Aigeran. "Key is not in bag!" she shouted. "Maybe dat orgh stole it?"

"Orgh!" demanded Baga-Bars. "You got da key?"

The orc cowered back from the horde of angry Mongols who had him cornered on the cabin balcony.

"Don't be afraid," said Castile soothingly. "No-one will send thee back. This is a place of sanctuary no evil can touch thee here."

"If I give him the key he will forgive me," moaned the orc.

"Yuh think him forgiving type?" asked Bourtai.

The orc let loose of a demented laugh. "You think that you are safe here?"

"You do know that that's just a lie right? He'll send you back anyway," said Daimon.

"NO!" shouted the orc. "He will send Galliard back! He failed!"

"Well... that's what happens when you fail," said Daimon with a shrug.

The orc cowered back against the railing. "I am afraid!!" he shouted, clearly close to total madness.

Castile patted the orc on the shoulder as one would comfort a brother. "Be not afraid," he commanded. "Naught can harm thee. Thy soul is not in peril unless ye allow evil to control thee."

"Soul?" whimpered the orc. "He knows about this! That is all that I am! This body is not mine!"

"Cast evil out of thy heart," said Castile. "Embrace goodness. A soul is all any of us are, in the end. None of us own our bodies. Ye have missed the realization that death is about peace, not possession nor control of the world allow thyself to be at peace and no evil can touch thee."

"So long ago. So long," sobbed the orc. "I only wanted peace. I shall give you the key. I deserve my fate." Bunelck handed the key to Castile.

"I shall absolve thy sins," said Castile. "No fate is deserved unless thou seeks it." With that Castile blessed the orc.

"If you succeed," said the orc. "I will find peace."

"Believe, with all thy heart and the evil one will have no power. Leave him to us in this material world. Thou must rest and be at peace," said Castile.

"Goodbye," the orc said simply. And vanished.

"Now, in each of your own ways pray for that tormented soul that he may understand he is forgiven," said Castile, closing his eyes. There followed the most unusual sight of a group of Mongols praying for an orc.

Castile looked up from his prayers. "Now to the business at hand." He handed Baga-Bars the key.

Baga-Bars put the key in the lock, closed one eye and slowly, carefully turned the key. The lock clicked. "Dat work," reported Baga-Bars. "Da box be unlocked." The other Mongols gathered around.

"Excellent," said Castile. "Dost thou feel a presence?"

"Dsa," said Baga-Bars. "Hmmmm... Seems good. Should meh open it?" he asked unsure of all this buyu.

"Aye, do so, if thou feels it good," instructed Castile.

Baga-Bars slowly opened the red chest and peered inside. A look of surprise came over his face. "It holds a HEART!" he exclaimed. "A human heart. Dar be some strange ding about it, like some machine."

"Ah, e'en I can sense the Khan," confirmed Castile. "The heart is a receptacle not the Khan's own."

"How we get khan back in body?" asked Bourtai.

"I prefer not to think whose heart that is," commented Nebdar Mooln with a distinct quiver in his voice.

Baga-Barg gladly handed the casket to Castile who examined it closely. "Hmm, I see how the entrapment is made." he said after a few minutes.

Bourtai edge closer looking over his shoulder. "Can yuh take it off?"

"I believe so. 'Tis a method I am familiar with," said Castile, placing the chest on the floor for all to see.

"We must try," exclaimed Baga-Bars as the others gathered around looking at the box and the device it contained. "Who make dis thing? Dis be dark buyu."

"Interesting," mused Daimon. "Such markings are used to bind demons and the like but I have never seen them used like this."

"Some kind of pentacle," commented Nebdar Mooln.

"Dsa, like the star at that evil place," added Idugan Aigeran. "Very evil buyu."

"One of the bugus here must take the casket to the Stone Ghost," instructed Castile. "The rest of you will follow me to the tengri ger and do as I say."

Bourtai carefully lifted the casket. "What meh do when at stone ghost?" she asked.

"I shall tell thee," said Castile. "Follow."

The Mongols followed Castile out of the cabin and across the clearing to the tengri ger where the altar of the Stone Ghost was kept.

"Come stand at the doorway," Castile commanded Bourtai as he opened the door of the tengri ger. He handed torches to the other Mongols. "Take these torches and hold them lit," he continued his instructions. "The casket must be held in the open door of the tengri ger so the Stone Ghost may see it. I want the rest of you to form a path of light to the door of the hospital. I will help guide the soul from the casket back to its body using an ancient artifact I once discovered that lights the spirit world." He bowed head in prayer and meditation.

"Stand in da path," commanded Baga-Bars. He sincerely hoped that Castile's ritual would be successful and that this would be his last command as Khan. The Mongols lit their torches and formed a path between the tengri ger and the hospital cabin.

Castile looked up from his prayers. He raised a glowing staff above his head. "Spirits that guide the destiny of the Mongol people - I CALL UPON THEE!" he said with great force. "Spirits that guide the Virtues of Britannia - I CALL UPON THEE! Blessed Saints that guide my path - I CALL UPON THEE! Set right that which has been made wrong. Set right the corruption that despoils Nature Herself. Bring this soul to its rightful home." He trembled with a infusion of power. "Aaaahahhhhhh," a cry escaped his lips and he threw his hands open wide. "Come, soul of Haruchai. COME FORTH!" he commanded.

A feeling of tremendous power swept over the small group. Castile stepped back and began a slow walk towards the cabin. With each step he would pause and chant, "Domine, domine vobiscum." As he passed each person, standing firm to light the path, that person could feel a tingling at the presence. Step. "Domine, domine vobiscum." Step. Closer and closer. He was almost to the cabin door when he stopped with an agonized look upon his face.

"NO! NO, NOT NOW!" he shouted. A lighting bolt came from nowhere out of the clear blue sky striking the monk. He staggered in confusion and pain shaking his head. "Hel... Help," he gasped.

A misty form in gray robes appeared before the monk. 'oOoo," was all it said.

"No!" protested Castile.

The path of light disintegrated in confusion.

"What is happening?" demanded Nebdar Mooln.

"Open the door and show him his body. He's lost I think," suggested Daimon.

Baga-Bars rushed up the ladder to the spot where Haruchai's empty body had stood guard for far to long. There was nothing. The body was gone.

"The soul of Haruchai has been released only into spirit," said Castile recovering from his agony.

"You have the skill to raise ghosts to life," insisted Idugan Aigeran.

"My skills cannot help him," admitted Castile sadly. "He is, however, able to live in the world as a ghost and may be able to lead us to clues which may help us find a way of re-uniting him with his body."

The Mongols stood in confusion and disappointment. "We bish give up now," shouted Baga-Bars. "We bish stop. Him be lost for long time. Mongol never stop till him back. URAGSHAA!!!" The others nodded agreement. Taking up the cry.

"O oo Oooo," commented the ghost.

Daimon went into a trance. "Repeat what you were trying to say," he requested of the ghost.

"O oo Oooo (I am Khan)," repeated the ghost.

Baga-Bars looked closely at Daimon. Was this true or was the han trying to fool them somehow? The Mongols gathered closer, excited and hopeful now. "Him still know who him is," said Bourtai.

"oO ooO oooo (it was dark)," continued the ghost. "OoOoo (empty). "oOo OooooO OOOoO (meh follow light).

Baga-Bars glanced at Bourtai who nodded confirming that Daimon's interpretation was accurate.

"Ooo oOOo Ooo OoooO (meh know dis place)," said the ghost. "OoO oOOo ooo (meh know you). oOo oOO Oo ooOo (meh see da light). ooOOoO Ooo oO ooOoOOoo (better dan da darkness). OOoOooOoOoO (URAGSHAA!!!). "ooO ooOoo Ooo (meh tired now). "ooO ooOOo (meh speep). The ghost vanished.

The Mongols were much relieved that, although not yet reunited with his body, their Khan was no longer trapped in the Darkness of evil. That he had retained his identity and memories.

"Evidently, the power that is orchestrating this evil can watch us from afar," surmised Castile. "It must have been this "Master" or one of his agents that caused the sky to throw its thunderbolt weak though it was."

Baga-Bars looked at Daimon through narrowed eyes. Thinking hard. If Daimon had truly intended to betray them, he had had many other opportunities. Although Baga-Bars had not been watching Daimon closely, as Castile approached the cabin, he was quite sure that the torch was still in his hand when the bolt came. Now Baga-Bars was not a bugu, but he well knew that it was impossible to cast that spell with an object in your hand. No, the bolt had not come from Daimon, of that he was sure. Baga-Bars shook his head. Damion had really done nothing but help them. Still, why couldn't he shake this uneasy feeling?

Rousing from his revere, Baga-Bars addressed his friends. "We rest now too. Maybe da ghost Khan remember more when him rest. We go now rest." he gave a final command.

"I must study this phenomenon some more and seek advice from the great sages of the land in Spiritwood University," said Castile. "We are, at least, making progress. Fare thee well. Dominus vobiscum."

As the hour of Midnight was struck on the thirteenth day of the seventh month, which the han had called Friday, the Mongols rode off to prepare for the adventures that awaited them.


© 2001 Todd Bailey