Volume Two: Eyes of Hate
Chapter XVIII
Mongol Warlord
October 15, 1210
The black bear bore her crossed-legged meditation while she perched on a rug within her tent. Phantom and her banishment warriors waited for one of Batu's warriors, a gazelle colleague who had connections to other tribes of Mongol warriors. Instead, they followed one of their own who sought triumph and glory across this country, China by the next, and other worlds to conquer. Hell, other warlords like her Prince oathed that mattered to him and his legacy, but unsuccessful in being the dominance of all: the next Emperor of China or worst-case scenario to all the heroes never like the picture of this tyranny, the Emperor of all worlds.
Perhaps the new warlord should swarm with persistence, just as Phantom mentioned of Khan's blood-brother, who retreated from the leader into a separate army of Mongols as if he fancied for ruling Mongolia, taking over for those who could do such things as brutality and cruelty.
Breathe in. . .
For the past few weeks before the beginning of this day to meet a Mongol ruler, she and her local scouts had been training throughout difficulties, learning the old ways of Mongolian combats. Then, finally, her ideal started to commence, which to her reflection to take on China, loyalty ahead of her would have a long trip to earn one ahead of Genghis from her old friend Batu, a leopard general.
Where art thou, my Prince? Come to me.
She had continued her meditation for more than two weeks to reflect on the call from a vibrant voice that kept her mentality serene. Educated from a Mongol comrade when Batu and her collaborated with their brothers and sisters of Mongol tribes at each night, sitting down around the fire by singing with triumphs for the Khan, embers whispered her name.
Embers trailed underneath her feet, glowing zags of red and yellow passing over the depths of the deep. The heat became intense as harsh foams of lava spat across the darkness, chanting Mongol instruments on her surroundings. Yingxing Summit within Tibet was the land of hate to the Fire Clan; she and the Prince of Darkness resided there before with their her army, settled to purpose schemes on the growth of reserves before invading China. Her legs knelt and crushed on igneous rocks; breathed in sulfur, leaving a smile upon her face, her chin stroked from one hoof's finger, raising her head on the gushing hot air.
Mingling. . .
"My Prince," Mingling simpered, thrumming her long sigh.
A large sheet from the entry of her small yurt snapped in one fold, appearing the snow fox Fengxian. His paw stroked on her ink shoulder. "Apologies, my Lady. Batu is outside, expecting you. And hundreds of Mongols are packing."
Are they leaving?
She took time off her melody, which her throat underneath buzzed that Mingling had been into a long trance, foreseeing the Prince of Darkness again for the past a few weeks, weeks to call on him back. And with that moment, she favored the thrums of his bulky voice. Phantom stretched her tiring back after spreading limbs toward the sky and then followed her fox colleague out to the rime.
The tangerine sunlight rose at the Eastern vast, the tip of each ridges streaming calm strokes of white streaks under the black, echoing snow howls. Fengxian jogged ahead with his group of foxes, who gathered General Fang's supplies of metal in line, and the pack of dogs bearing Mongols by paws to select numerous packages of weapons and yurt sheets. Mingling met the leopard general, who palmed his own heart, breaking half-smile. "It is time."
"Time for what?" she stretched her eye back and the other squinting.
"To meet Genghis Khan."
Nodded to the leopard general, saturated the hissing firepits with Mongols and outcast soldiers, folded numerous yurts, and gathered armory equipment, Mingling marched down the South of the snow mountains with Bayu's Mongols, Fang's pack, and her group of foxes. Beyond there, for more than ten thousand paces further, emerged the open dry field of endless hill countries.
Phantom and her scouts marched on the plain as she and her allies reached for the top of the uneven hill. Farther down laid hundreds of yurts with countless Mongol tribes reside. At this moment to the black bear, she pondered them was thrice stronger than every Chinese soldier to slaughter, as her strength became unbalanced to match her opponents, but facing any small or giant was no big thing to be defeated; her intensity suited to oppose as part of a one-lady army, bless her Prince of Darkness who trained her without rest.
Numerous scents raced in their muzzles, fades of dry dirt streaks brushing under their limbs. Then, above hundreds of yurts, soared by hawks, swarming one opposite and the other in circles, inspecting the corner of the endless dry plain close to the boundary of Inner Mongolia. Spotting a gray hawk in a tan vest deel shriek with observers, Mingling popped her neck to the side, fluttering her ears from a small form's stroll approaching the whole. A brown sable in leather deel and helmet nodded to Batu beside the black bear, spreading his left limb to an inviting gesture, welcoming them all to Khan's territory plain field.
Carrying forward into the hordes of Mongols, Phantom followed her comrade as if the tribes ahead on both sides peeped at these strangers of Chinese outsiders, for those who were banished from the Emperor of all China, but to the black bear who was cast away from Kai's beloved ruby amulet. Neither of these tribe members called them guests as if Mongols opposed outsiders like bandits and dishonorable sovereignties from the South before. And neither of these outsiders glanced back at most of the clans.
Beyond there lay an enormous pale yurt of two torches, thus a banner of Leader Khan above the entry Phantom could not decipher their writings; Phantom positioned to where she stood with her group after a sable Mongol gestured her and Batu to a halt, strolling within the yurt. By the time the black bear kept her posture for patience, Mingling had observed a giant iron bowl beside Khan's tent where other clan members were bending their knees, and one of them bawled. At the same time, a bulky tan yak hurled the crocodile into the pot, plunging under boiling waters.
"These prisoners, Batu," Phantom rolled her head to where captives were, "what are their punishments?"
"My Khan has been off-limits for a couple of days, sought one of his own who accepted his fate. The next day, Khan and his men boiled outsiders, and other tribes tried to take his beloved wives. One by one, their screams under the foams made Khan sing in his head, knowing every tribe shall never oppose him."
This Khan has similar terms to Huoju's punishments. I like that.
The gazelle in a brown deel garment approached the black bear for a moment, and a sable warrior beside him nodded. "He is ready," the Mongol said.
Khan's gazelle invited her and the two into Khan's yurt, scents of boil and flowers enchanted within, whereas older tribe members of different clans in deels and hats endured inside, sitting on both sides. The gazelle wavered his hoof to the three to kneel forward; Phantom, Batu, and Fengxian commanded to do. The Khan's blue-green iris eyes ahead of these visitors fixed on all three from their feet to head, as elderly tribe members mirrored their leader's gaze.
Sitting on the throne was a gobi bear in a detailed deel of gold and black linings, sipping his bowl. He had his brushed black beard under his chin, his thick brows pressing downward. One argali served a portion of liquid on the wooden bowl, and one yak with red eyes withdrawn his head away from the warlord, monitoring only two strangers from China closely. "Batu," Genghis smirked.
"My Khan," Batu introduced, bowing his head. "Sain uu, minii khüüchin naiz."
"Welcome home," the Mongol warlord spread his arms wide as he had given such blessing to his old companion. His eyes now drifted behind the leopard general's back, who were both visitors still kneeling before the great Khan. "Rise, Batu. Who are the bear and the fox?"
Batu approached Genghis and beckoned his paw to them both. "My Khan. I introduce my colleague and her loyal companion from all of China, exiled here in Mongolia. Here ahead of you is the bear Mingling. And her loyal soldier is the fox named Fengxian."
Mingling, the black bear dodged her eyes on the Mongol warlord, whose eyes squinted on her feet to head. "My Khan," she introduced. "My blood unites with your blood. I was born here in Mongolia, raised in the South, beyond in China."
The Khan sat up straight, craning his back forward. "What tribe are you from?"
"My clan and I are nomads. We hear great things from you, my Khan. I hear you are the decent warlord after I was —"
Genghis rumbled his throat. "Your tongue is not from here. Neither is the lady from the Western Xia, which you have in common," the Mongol warlord stroked his throne arms, drinking more hot soup from his bowl. "Tell me what you recognize the ambition of who you see."
Mingling had to choose her words wisely rather than to beg or to kiss to his feet. There were fierce ambitions, various of his to begin with, as she would have known most, but plenty. Plenty as by then the black bear went on. "The dawn of heaven shone. The gods praised the infant who clenched the clot. The tribe poisoned the father of the chosen child, and the son avenged his father. He who vouches for his people prays to the unity in all as one. One to rule the Mongol Empire across worlds. And here, I kneel to serve before you, my Khan."
Batu stepped in for his old ally beside him. "Mingling's father fought beside your people before, your ancestor brothers and sisters of Mongolia, my Khan. First, they entitled him as part of the Khan, then later before journeyed down to South of China, and vouched for his people to build a city of a thousand fortunes. I reckon well that he was once your father's blood brother before, as many followed before you.
"She and only her passed generations of Mongol times, my Khan. Centuries before, an Ox warlord was a Khan, and he became the Emperor of China. Most princes and princesses of dynasties nominated him to be part of the Son of Heaven. His monastery power was his soul within him, which many bowed to Emperor Khan, even their hate they shall not reveal in front of his eyes."
A gobi bear warlord, his elder group, including his four wives, glanced at themselves. A bear princess in midnight blue deel from Western Xia kept her eyes downward from the warlord's view. While discerning one who had a long, lost tale of an ancient Khan who was the first to rule China, Genghis stood up from his throne, revolving his claw. Mingling was the first to rise from her knee.
"My blood runs through my veins, my Khan. There are vicious creatures down to the South, where lies protected borders of China. I hear you and this Xia Lord have an agreement to which you shall have more reserves on metal, the food, and even his daughter you impregnated her."
Two wives but the other two of his (one from Western Xia and the other, a first one in golden deel and repetitive patterns of reflective gold) widened at the outcasts. The princess bore her claw on her belly, and Genghis stood on his ground, gazing at Mingling fiercely. As she regarded to him more, gave much gratitude to Gengis, and served with him, Mingling carefully fixed hers from the warlord, standing still beforehand.
The gobi bear warlord set his head to the leopard general. "You have brought a lady who I do not recognize, Batu."
"Yes, my Khan. Mingling has the potential to seek her ideal through battles. But, I assure you, she has regained her strength, and she is ready to follow your command as you please."
Genghis locked his head on her, starting from her feet to her crown, revolving over her slowly as the fox Fengxian bowed to his knees still, not an inch of his muscle movement. "Sturdy arms. One claw and one hook. What armor material is this, and where from?"
"It's steel, blended with light iron and sword metal. The blacksmith from the Song Dynasty made my armor."
"You'll need to dress another fine armor like yours, Outsider," the Khan crooned, finished monitoring the good look of a vicious bear, the large lady; he dared not to glimpse at her eyes. Her armor was well-fitting to her last gift, and she could never refuse to alter or rid. Genghis eyed his leopard general. "Batu, you speak with me. And they will remain outside, have sustenance."
Batu made a fist pump on his chest and escorted his old ally toward the yurt's open cover. "Head on with Fengxian to my group near argali's firepit, Mingling. I'll come to you soon."
Phantom sat on ahead of the firepit with her loyal fox companion, waited with their group of foxes in mid ranks sitting with them, and Fengxian's colleague General Fang, who crossed his arms back and forth with two of his pack to Mingling's right side. Each sound vastly rose elsewhere: metal hammers slammed on the hot glow of halberd blade and cleaver the other, yak and argali musicians thrumming their rhythm drums dancing next to their pits, and multiple voices passing over to yurts.
The black bear was indeed ready, but that would not mean for the Khan to be easily convinced, as she read his face much bearable, been through good and bad tastes when Mingling was with her Prince.
"How many wives does the Khan have, my Lady?" Fengxian asked the black bear, brushing his palms close to the fire.
"More than enough," she motioned her fingers.
"I recognized one bear from Western Xia Province. That, the Khan wedded her for the sake of Lord of Xia's surrender. So now there's one who wishes to be with, and I can see what he wants."
Mingling huffed her muzzle in doubt, shaking her head. "Don't be concerned, Fengxian."
"Have you ever heard Batu's words back there?" the corsac fox reminded her of the leopard general's terms. "He said that you have to be in bond with the strongest. So that case, you are likely to be with Genghis soon. With that conception, if you say no to him —"
The bear's soft glare silenced his tongue, which her purple eyes did not precisely appear, but voracious eyes of red dawn cast on Fengxian. "Huoju was mine, and I will not break my bond with him, even in his death."
Fengxian had no words of concern to defy as he had been loyal to the black bear. Instead, the snow fox gave a slight nod to her as his throat was shrilling in ice, never to anticipate her deadly ability that could smother any individual from her violet eyes. Stroking his throat dearly, Fengxian cleared his voice as one leopard general behind Mingling sauntered close to her. The black bear softly squinted her eyes at her old companion.
"Mingling. Genghis has accepted to unite with him and your soldiers. We must have a word, alone," Batu commanded.
"I'll spread the word with our soldiers, my lady," Fengxian pressed against his lips, his glistening white paw wavering three of his fox soldiers around the firepit. "Let's take a walk. You coming, Fang?"
A chow general, whose head was bobbing twice in timidness, eyed on his fox colleague, walking with him and his dogs. "Sure. Let's talk with the group, and we drink with new friends. What do you think, Feng?"
"Good idea."
Both Mingling and Batu waited for their conversation to begin with as they inspected their group disperse on a dry plain path and farther toward huts, greet with a few Mongol tribes. Instead, the leopard general sat aside her, patting her back as she drew her head close to him.
"Loyalty is now where you commence, Mingling. Genghis deserves no loss as he vows to his wives and Mongols to be stronger amidst battles. Even if you are a Mongol, you are still an outsider in China for many years. And you are willing to be on his side to earn his trust."
Mingling twitched her smile, chuckling after she glimpsed at the clearing sky of light blue and dense sand wind streaking above. "China was my home after all these years filling hate, Batu. Mongolia is still and always where my heart lives."
Batu took a large dip of light-gray liquid that was hissing from the iron pot, pouring it on a wooden mug. "Have a drink," the leopard generally offered a cup to her as Mingling was pleased, gently held her good paw, and swallowed a whole. Warm and sour made the bear hack under her throat.
"This one's good. What sort of drink is this?"
Batu drank half of his wooden cup under his throat, humming in approval. "A milk from the dead yak warrior," he answered, taking a seat beside the bear. "She begged her life to share her final gift to the Khan, and my soldier ended her suffering. A yak soldier was one of the prisoners, but Genghis did what he had to spare her from the boiling punishment."
The leopard general beckoned his cup to the argali ahead of the fireplace, who cooked sour milk. By the next, one Siberian tiger with a round jaw and dawning red and black stripes dragged gazelle in rent garments on the dirt, clenching antlers. Screamed for mercy, the poor gazelle bowled next to the other two of Khan's prisoners ahead of the boiling iron bowl. The leopard general palmed the black bear's back closer.
"Genghis has offered you a quest. Some of the tribes you saw, including this one next to boil, refused to combine arms with the Khan. There are those who lost their leader; they become enemies as a few decide not to be Genghis's allies. Now soldiers without their warlord general scattered somewhere in Mongolia; they served only those who are friends with the prisoner, standing with the general who broke unity."
Batu brought out a necklace of dark brown string with claw nails, and the last was eight small pieces of a jawbone bracelet with black feathers and beads. "He wants you to slaughter two tribe leaders — a camel and wolverine. These are the ornaments they wear. You will find the two when you see them."
Mingling breathed in their scents one and the next: one strong aroma of desert and the last bathed with sweat. She twitched her gritty simper. "This prisoner you mentioned," the black bear dug both ornaments in one of her chest armor pockets, "who gave in to Genghis and accepted his fate?"
Batu gave his last drink, a long one, and gorged under his throat. "The prisoner was his blood brother's general. His figure compares to my blood of more than thirty clans. Moreover, his tongue is not from here, as I am aware of your language accent, an outsider voice from those dynasties."
The black bear sighed. "I suppose to tell Genghis more."
"And what is?" he asked.
"That I was over more than five hundred years, been through struggles and fierce battles with my Huoju, and his master who I learned his ways. Before I became a wupo — a witch — there was an ancient text that enchants with dark spells, which my Prince had a gift from his mentor, who created servants of those who called themselves the curse of men. The monks from the Panda Village destroyed them all, but only one endures. Before I met Huoju, I had a family, slaughtered with bones underneath the soil by those in leather armors — the Mightiest Warriors. There was never for me to live in that other life I could never understand, but discovered I am hunger for my revenge."
She sipped a skull mug of warm milk. Batu nodded while glancing at the fire, which his argali soldier with Fengxian and his group of foxes was cooking the pan. "Perhaps for the best that you are no longer what you used to be if I told the Khan that you were a witch. Only that he understood well was one of your ancestors became Khan's loyal warrior, then passed down to generations before Temujin's father who fought with his blood-brother."
Batu stood up from the stone. Mingling drank more milk than the last time of her first sip. She rose with the leopard general, and Batu continued. "Genghis will handle this wall as you pleased. The strength within the Mongolian muscle is more robust than the Chinese down there. What makes you think that each persistence of theirs is fragile?"
"Oh, they are not so influential enough. They have defensive weapons, the way many say 'Defend the weak,' but no one is ever safe from danger, Batu. One way or the other —" Mingling clenched her good strength on the yak's skull, shattering piece by piece, and tossed the rest on the firepit, "— many die in unfortunate ways."
Batu bore his paws close to the pit, the air swarming in front of him. "The Mightiest Warriors I've heard from the elder of my people are long gone, centuries ago. The four I know were Turtle of Galapagos. Bull of Xiangshi. Snow Leopard of Northern Wind. And Peacock of Gongmen City."
"Three but one remains."
One?
Batu halted and glimpsed at her. "You are telling me. . . One from the Great War still breaths in your country."
Mingling nodded. "It is he who reckons as the Supreme Warlord of all China. General Kai."
"What made this Mightiest Warrior live?"
The bear approached the pit, reaching her good claw near the fire. "His turtle brother banished him to the Spirit Realm, made the great-grandson of Liu Bong Shien focus one that cost his life against one another to despise and empower his will to regain his 'memories' back from burying secrets. His first return to the Mortal Realm was feeble enough to Kai Shien, only to be proven himself by taking on all of China for good, but failed by a chubby little panda, whose dragon chi devoured the bull's soul. I saw them both after I stabbed Kai's ribcage."
Mingling continued more as her paw drew near the fire closer. "Before his second return was my Prince's intention. I followed Huoju in the Spirit Realm without many eyes of heaven masters, not even other Mightiest Warriors they would have known for certain. He and I went to the black ice lake, where bond amulets of jade and rose spun each other peacefully," her red eyes trained on the leopard. "Something lied within the Spirit Realm let the Maker of Widows endure with his sorrow lover from the Dragon Warrior finish him alive. Once looking up upon the stars with endless glares, it burns brightly into a consciousness remedy. Far brighter than Polaris, only one star rests one jade with the rose, swimming together in the dark. The universe foresees a new destiny, which prevails another hero of all China. Not from the Dragon Warrior himself, or either of the five members of Jade Palace."
"So who do you think of another hero you mentioned, and heard of this. . . boy, Mingling?" Batu squinted his right eye.
The mortal bastard. Huoju's murderer. I want his head.
Behind her eyes, gripped with recoils, made her think of the Dragon Warrior's chosen one, full of despise. "The bastard boy follows his Qing Temple bloodline where my champion destroyed Oogway's monastery. He carries something within his heart, summoning the ancient enemy that roars its snow embers of raging metals, destroys everything it touches — me and those who are blessed with ebony magics. The mortal bastard was the one who disintegrated my Huoju into dust, Batu. If and when to come over to China, I will stop at nothing to suffer the boy."
Once Mingling reached for the flickers of the pit's fire, Batu hastily caught her wrist. Not for long, a few eyes of Mongols gazed at the bear, and the leopard general stroked the palm of her claw. Chants and hammering metals thrived. The black bear spoke further on her old ally. "You seek through worlds that triumph is in Khan's blood. Once more, he marries wives to spread his legacy so that each soul chronicles the new generation. While Genghis focuses his destiny, my important quest is to fulfill Huoju's defiance, slaughter worthy souls, and reclaim all of China for Huoju's father and his master."
The leopard general Batu nodded, such spirit of acknowledging her plots against many. He chuckled to her, patting Mingling's back. "The Great Wall is not going anywhere, neither are the Mongols heading there until all as one, including Genghis's sons, will march to the South. Then, after you finish with the two tribesmen, you will return to Genghis, and the Khan will offer you a great prize."
The black bear surveyed his eyes. "And what prize will that be, Batu?" she inquired.
"Only he will answer to you," Batu said. Behind the leopard, a Siberian tiger in leather helmet and deels hailed to his name. "We shall speak on hunting the two elders further on, Mingling. Enjoy a feast with my tribe and every soul here."
Mingling offered her genuine smile to her old friend before the leopard general went on with the Siberian tiger. They cherished whereabouts across the Gobi desert and farther north as Batu's soldier was in the hunt for weaponry supplies and bringing the young (children especially) to train on difficult tasks. Tasks that the fresh must master every instrument, partner with one hawk to survive in great battles. Mingling gave one look at the yurt's entry, which opened halfway outside as the hawk soldier entered with three children. He let them in, admiring their Mongol warlord.
Genghis Khan in his throne, stroking his beard, grinned at the fresh of her eyes.
Author's Note:
— This chapter is, by far, much difficult to write on studying the figures of Genghis Khan. Not only but the schemes to keep Mingling going. Initially, this one was intended to be a skippable chapter by having the story's main antagonist stay under the radar. I rather like to expect her a good play in future volumes, anyway. Expanding throughout the world-building in Mongolia wherever Mingling goes is tricky. So remind me if my writing on Genghis is confusing. I know y'all love Mongolia.
— Sain uu, minii khüüchin naiz. (Hello, my best friend.)
— I'm aware that I put some violence there (one with the boil execution part). So the next chapter might be brutal from the start.
— Now moving on to our favorite gangs in July!