Chương 15: In the spirit world

As the red, full moon rose in the night sky, the hunters' dogs curled up on the ground to shield themselves from the harsh cold winter chill that is upcoming this night.

In the ger at the boundary of Temuujin's settlement, Tsagadai khankhuu and his royal consort Princess Yesulen were seated in front of Khukhchu the shaman.

"Tsagadai, would you like to have your fortune read?" inquired Khukhchu the shaman as he gulped from a jug of fermented milk vodka.

"Yes Khukhchu shaman, for since Minister Dorj has become an ally of Zuchi khankhuu, I have felt uneasy and have been having nightmares lately. In my nightmare I had inherited my father's throne, but shortly after I was seated on the throne, Minister Dorj had pushed me off and that Mergit bastard Zuchi had acquired the throne." answered Tsagadai.

Khukhchu shaman threw a handful of cedar branches into the fire and purified the air.

"Tsagadai, you must know that accusing Zuchi khankhuu as a mergit bastard is a felony to lord Temuujin" reminded Khukhchu shaman while gazing at Tsagadai.

Tsagadai burst into laughter, and glared sternly "Everyone says that Zuchi khankhuu is a Mergit bastard. He is not related to my father Temuujin, why would he be angry if I call him Mergit bastard? The only reason he is still alive is because he is born from my mother queen Burte!"

Khukhchu shaman shook his head and spoke, "Tsagadai, if you wish to view your destiny I can assist you. But if you bear any ill-will towards Zuchi Khankhuu and curse him, I may not be able to aid you."

If any other shaman finds out that Zuchi Khankhuu is cursed and lord Temuujin finds out that the shaman who put a curse on his son is him, he will be executed in the most brutal way possible.

Tsagadai bit his lips and sneered. "Khukhchu shaman, you are the one who should understand the truth behind Zuchi's birth. But anyway I didn't come here to place a curse on Zuchi, but to view my destiny and find a way to obtain the throne without any variables"

Khukhchu shaman sighed deeply and recollected the incident that occurred during the ceremony at Temuujin's ger.

"Very well if you insist, I can view your future. But if you ask me to investigate Minister Dorj's fate, I will decline. His fate is defended by the Tenger so obviously anyone who attempts to peer into his fate will be harshly punished."

After hearing that Khukhchu shaman would only observe his destiny, Tsagadai became livid. However he turned right to watch royal consort princess Yesulen. The royal consort princess Yesulen produced a box from her robe and opened it before Khukhchu shaman. Inside the box, silver ingots could be seen glimmering.

Khukhchu shaman looked at the glimmering silver ingots with a gulp and then spoke.

"I may tell you a few things, but it's up to you how you're going to get the throne. Don't forget my advice: if you want to win the throne, you should be friends with Minister Dorj!" he said, taking the tribute.

He pulled the veil over his face, then began to beat the drum in his hand in a steady rhythm.

'Bang. Bang. Bang...'

Tsagadai watched the Khukhchu shaman and yawned, feeling his body becoming heavy and his eyelids slowly closing. As the monotonous beat of the drum echoed through the night, he felt himself relaxed and eventually drifted off to sleep.

When Tsagadai awoke, he found himself in the middle of a snowstorm, standing on a pitch-dark steppe with nothing but the bloody red moon in the sky for his company.

Tsagadai felt a chill run down his spine. "Where am I? How did I get here?" he thought, rubbing his arms for warmth.

Apart from the red moon in the sky, he found no traces of civilisation.

"I must have been dreaming when the Khukhchu shaman performed the ritual. Odd, I'm trying to wake up, but I'm unable to," Tsagadai muttered. He searched for a spot to sit, as it was far too chilly outdoors.

Tsagadai took a stroll, eventually stumbling upon a bonfire. Nearby, a wooden table and two chairs had been arranged, on it a chess piece was visible.

"Oh a warm seat!" said Tsagadai sitting on the chair, leaning forwards to the bonfire to heat his hands.

'Fuu!' blowed Tsagadai khankhuu on his hands.

As the fire flickered and the snow whirled, a dark, shadowy black hand emerged and opened the game of chess with the first move.

Tsagadai Khankhuu leapt from his seat and drew his sword, surveying the area with a stern countenance.

"Come out and face me! I fear no one!" Tsagadai shouted, raising the blade while he was alarmed to strike.

Whenever Tsagadai Khankhuu taunted the shadowy black figure, there was no answer. Tsagadai Khankhuu is a experienced general who has seen many battles and bloodshed. Therefore, he will never be afraid of supernatural things. But the moment the black hand emerged from the snow, he had no reaction time to protect himself in case the hand wanted to hit him. This made Tsagadai Khankhuu very frustrated and alarmed.

Soon the black hand reappeared and placed two cups of distilled milk vodka on the table to indicate that it would like to play chess with Tsagadai.

"Oh, he wants to play chess with me! Playing chess always has a stake. Before I play this game I have to ask for the bet" mused Tsagadai Khankhuu.

"If you want to play chess with me, first tell me what happens if I lose," asked Tsagadai khankhuu as he looked toward the direction of the white chess pieces.

"You will kill the messenger of the Tenger or you will die" a whisper vibrated in Tsagadai's ears. Tsagadai turned quickly and saw nothing but the blizzard.

"Killing Dorj is not a difficult task for me. But if I win, what will you give me?" asked Tsagadai.

The black figure was silent for a moment and replied

"You state your wish" the whisper vibrated in Tsagaadai's ears again, but Tsagaadai couldn't see anything at all.

Tsagaadai pondered for a while. 'My enemy's enemy is my fried says the folk. This means that this black figure can be my ally. If I win this chess match, I may ask this black figure to curse Zuchi khankhuu' thought Tsagaadai. Since there was no shaman who has the guts to put a curse on Zuchi, Tsagaadai may ask this black figure to curse Zuchi khankhuu.

"Put a death curse on my half brother Zuchi" replied Tsagaadai with a stern tone.

"Agreed!" whispered the black figure.

Tsagaadai sat in front of the chess and moved the black chess piece. Indicating that the bet is approved.

The intense battle in the deck of the chess piece has started.

Tsagadai khankhuu would be in disadvantage and occassional advantage in the game. After a few rounds of the moves, Tsagadai has found a way to checkmate the Black figure even though he has few number in chess pieces.

Tsagadai khankhuu moved a black piece of chess and said "Check mate"

The black figure pondered for a moment behind the snowy blizzard.

"You win young khankhuu. I have put a death curse on Zuchi. But I didn't understand your meaning why you addressed him as your half brother." said the black figure and disappeared.

When the black figure dissappear in thin air, the blizzard subsided.

'I have won this demon in chess. Anyway this is my win!' thought Tsagadai with pride.

When the blizzard subsided a rhytmic soubd of drum beat could be heard again.

"Tsagadai khankhuu, please wake up.!" said Khukhchu shaman with sweat on his forehead.

"Uh, what happened?" asked Tsagadai khankhuu while touching his forehead.

"A powerful demon dragged you into his demon when I opened the gate between spirit world and the reality. I used much of my power to drag your spirit back to your body" replied Khukhchu shaman with exhaustion.

"Tsagadai, how are you feeling? I was worried when you fell asleep and didn't wake up when I call you." said royal consort princess Yesulen.

"I am feeling well. No need to worry." replied Tsagadai easing Yesulen's worry.

"Tsagadai, today's ritual has failed. The influence of the red moon is too strong, let's see your fortune in another day." said Khukhchu shaman.

"Oh, it's alright. I think I have found the solution to my nightmares already. There is no need to see my fortune." said Tsagadai with high enthusiasm.

"Tsagadai, I hope you didn't make a deal with the devil." said Khukhchu shaman with a warning gaze.

"Ah, how could I make a deal with him. There is no need to worry about this matter Khukhchu shaman. You must be tired. We will take our leave now." said Tsagadai khankhuu and hold his royal consort Yesulen's hands and get out of his ger.

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