Sukh, Ginjo and their retinue of on-loan sohei and former mercenaries decided to go to the cavern hideout of the wicked men and demand to know what happened to their friend. They were received with unctuous hospitality. The men living in the cavern seemed to be far outnumbered by scores of reanimated skeletons and corpses that seemed to unquestioning follow their every command. The men, dressed in dark red and black robes spoke gleefully of the awesome power of death and congratulated Sukh and Ginjo for the many offerings they had provided. Indeed, most of the reanimated corpses were those of bakemono; both Sukh and Ginjo recognized certain individuals as enemies they had recently cut down with their own blades.
The leader of the death cult told them that he did have Irak and that he had plans for her. But . . .
He would be willing to make a trade. He did not want money. He wanted life for life. Four bakemono lives would be worth it to him to surrender the prize of a brave and honorable monk.
Sukh and Ginjo agreed. They returned to their first campsite and the shrine to Gunjar. They met the bakemono who tended the shrine and asked for their help in defeating the Death Cult. They would be asked to fight and they would not be turned over as sacrifices. Sukh and Ginjo promised that they only needed their help to negotiate for Irak's release and that no one would be left behind. The bakemono agreed.
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