Masgut stared out over the open steppes. There was no movement. The steppe was still, and would hopefully remain so. He let his gaze fall to his sword in the sheath. The iron shone in the hot sun, despite the dirt on it. As he looked up, he spotted something on the horizon. He quickly recognized the figure as a man and a horse.
As the man came closer, Masgut saw that the rider looked weary and tired. He thought if this man might be a Cuman, but soon dismissed the thought. The Cumans were good horsemen and wouldn't grow tired of a ride to neighbouring Syrt. Perhaps it was a Mordvin, or a Russian? No, this man did not look like one of them. He was a rather young man, 15 or 16 years old perhaps. His skin had a far more reddish tone than any man he had ever seen. An odd thought stroke Masgut suddenly. What if this man was an assasin or a spy of the Cumans or the Russians? He knew that both parties had long eyed the Emirate of Volga Bulgaria with jealousy.
Yet the man seemed almost dying. The horse and it's rider came closer until finally they both stopped in front of Masgut and his fellow guard. Masgut noted the mans strange armor. It was made of several wooden squares linked together. He did not doubt it's efficiency. The rider eyed the guards suspiciously before finally uttering:
''Is this the governor of Syrts palace?''. Masgut looked back at the place he had been guarding his entire life. A three-story house. It was perhaps three normal houses across. He thought that this man, whoever he was, had a strange definition of ''palace'', yet he finally answered: ''Yes, this would be it''. The rider spat on the ground. Without looking away from him, Masgut could see that the blood was red-coloured. The man started once again to speak in broken turkish: ''I'd like to ask of you some water''. It took a while before Masguts comrade realized the demand had been aimed at him. He stumbled with his words, clearly afraid of this man: ''I-I-I can't give you water. You'll have to speak with the quartermaster'' The rider didn't waste a second before he pulled out his sword and pointed it the man. Masgut were shocked, but did not react, as he knew that his comrade had been forgetful once more and forgotten his water when they had been called to guard the entrance and that Mehmed were trying to cover it up with lies. Fearing that his friend might be executed before he could bring the rider down, Masgut took out his own water bottle and threw it to the man. He drank it all before throwing it on the ground and breaking it against a rock, something Masgut knew the quartermaster wouldn't be too happy about.
The man nodded towards Masgut and somehow he knew it was a sign of respect. The man spoke again, this time more understandable: ''Take me to the governor''. Masgut eyed him suspiciously. He felt how Mehmeds scared stare was burning against his cheek. He thought about attack the man with his sword, but he felt that he might not get his sword out of the sheath before the man had taken out his sword and jammed it through his heart. Even then, if he could get out his sword, where would he strike? He couldn't attack his chest covered with the armor, and striking at the limbs would probably only anger the man. His head was too high to reach. No, it would have to be the horse, but how did he know the man wouldn't just jump off the horse and slash at him. Besides, he felt that if he refused this man entrance to the governor, he would cut his way through the castle. He couldn't risk that. But he was still afraid of the intentions of the man, which finally made him utter the words: ''You cannot see the governor with weapons.'' The rider looked at him for some time, before finally getting of his horse and leaving his sword and bow in Masguts hands. As Masgut felt the bows strength, the man took up a knife hidden in his shoes and put them in Masguts pile. Masgut noted that he didn't hesitate too much
while handing over the weapons, but as turned to give his horse to Mehmed he whispered a threat that despite the rider attempting to keep it secret, Masgut
heard: ''Remember that if I do not have my horse here when I return, I can be as deadly as without my weapons''. Masgut noted the shock that went through his comrades body at those words. Finally, he let go off the reins and started walking through the gate. Despite the houses many faults, the gate was still impressive with it's large wooden doors. The man just snorted as he pushed them open and walked in. Masgut wondered if he would be serving a new lord tomorrow, or serving a lord at all...
The servants and courtiers stared and pointed at the strange figure walking through the halls. As he walked through, he felt them gaze at him. Let them gossip he thought to himself as he walked past two servants who tried to silently slip away from him. He heard whispers all around him. These men had probably never been outside their hometown, save for a merchant or two. He walked up to a wooden door. It was far from as large as the entrance, but still larger than others. He caught a passing servant and asked if this was the governors room. The servant nodded, scared, and walked off. He pushed open the doors and found the governor looking over a map of Volga Bulgaria. He saw men draw lines over the maps. After a long time watching them rabble on he coughed in his hand and the men looked up. The governor snapped ''Who are you? You're not allowed to be here''. The man wasted no time in thinking of a response, he had thought of one while riding for hundreds of miles: ''I'm a messenger, I bring news from the Emir'' He turned against the other men ''For your ears only your highness''. ''I trust my courtiers. You can speak'' the governor responded. ''You might do, but the Emir does not''. The governor sighed. ''Very well. Malik, Tugrul, please leave''. The advisors left with sour look on their
faces. ''What is it that you wish to tell me?''. ''One of your guards forgot his water bottle''. The governor started to laugh. ''You came here to tell me that?'' He threw his back in laughter and the man seized the moment by taking off one of the armors squares and leaped forward and stabbed it into the exposed throat. The governor started to make gurgling sounds before finally he stopped moving and fell of his seat. The man just looked at him and then grunted before searching the governor for a weapon. With his clothes stained with blood, he knew he couldn't get his sword without fighting his way out. He looked out the window of the room. He saw the steppes completely empty. The man brought out a horn from his armor and blew it out so that it echoed over the steppes. Suddenly, Arab, Turkish, Turkmeni, Mongol and Tartar riders appeared over the hills. They numbered of about 150 men with horses. Their bows were drawn as they closed in on the palace. Bekhtar grinned as he saw them approach, this day could end two ways now. He and his men would rule Syrt, or the province would be bathed in the blood of soldiers and innocents alike. He looked to the door and heard the first screams of realisation by the courtiers. It was a good day to die.
Tuloi rode fast. The palace was close now. As he rode he wondered if the governor was dead yet, or if Bekhtar had called them for that. Either way, there would quite possible be bloodspilling today. He looked back at the men his general had given him to command. 149 of several different cultures and origins from the lands they had passed from Mongolia. As they rode closer, Tuloi could spot Bekhtar looking out of a window. Suddenly, he heard a loud bang from the room and saw that Bekhtar turned around and picked up a sword. He encouraged the horse to go faster. The guards must have heard the horn. Who hadn't?
Bekhtar held his sword in a tight grip. Two guards were advancing on him quickly. They were armed with spears, keeping him at a distance. He spotted the man he handed over his horse to when he had entered. The other he did not recognize. He backed away, to get just out of reach of the spears. Suddenly, the first man charged against him. Just as the spear almost had hit him, he evaded it and kicked it away. The spearman quickly lost his balance and Bekhtar jammed his sword through the guard's stomach. Despite the show of force, the second guard did not show his fear. Bekhtar grinned as he danced around him, before finally sprinting and drawing his sword across the mans throat. He collapsed at Bekhtars feet and Bekhtar kicked him away. He looked out the window once more. Tolui waved a red flag, signifying that the men were in position. He went back to the open door of the office, dragging the dead body of the first guard with him. He looked outside, and noted that several of the courtiers were there. Without warning he threw out the dead body. The courtiers reeled in a shock and a man fainted on the floor. Bekhtar soon followed the bloody corpse, his sword drawn. He looked around and saw fear in each of the courtiers' eyes. After some time watching and judging the situation, he finally exclaimed: ''I have disposed your governor. He was planning betrayal against the emir.'' Bekhtar watched and saw that several men believed him and eased up. ''These men were killed by my hand, that is true, but by their minds. Had they not attacked, I would not have killed them. They chose this. Though
their loyalty should be praised, they were still followers of a traitor. They will receive a proper burial, but they shall not be honoured'' Bekhtar took a step down the stairs as he continued. ''I have freed you, now I shall protect you. I proclaim myself, Khan of Syrt, here and now. There will be no crowning, I take no pleasure in luxury.'' He looked down on the corpse beside him. ''I am not a tyrant. I promise you that. You will not end like this man. Today, here and now, you will swear an oath of loyalty to me. You shall either do this or depart to the Emir.'' He saw as man started pulling out something from under his robes. Bekhtar quickly reacted by proclaiming: ''I have 150 men surrounding the castle, if they do not hear my horn in 3 minutes, they will attack, letting no-one survive. It is your choice, to live, or to die.'' The men surrounding him looked at him. This man was a strong man, but ruthless. They looked on for a long time, until finally, a man dropped to his knees, followed by the rest.
Bekhtar grinned as he heard the murmuring all around him. It was over.
The Khan
As the man came closer, Masgut saw that the rider looked weary and tired. He thought if this man might be a Cuman, but soon dismissed the thought. The Cumans were good horsemen and wouldn't grow tired of a ride to neighbouring Syrt. Perhaps it was a Mordvin, or a Russian? No, this man did not look like one of them. He was a rather young man, 15 or 16 years old perhaps. His skin had a far more reddish tone than any man he had ever seen. An odd thought stroke Masgut suddenly. What if this man was an assasin or a spy of the Cumans or the Russians? He knew that both parties had long eyed the Emirate of Volga Bulgaria with jealousy.
Yet the man seemed almost dying. The horse and it's rider came closer until finally they both stopped in front of Masgut and his fellow guard. Masgut noted the mans strange armor. It was made of several wooden squares linked together. He did not doubt it's efficiency. The rider eyed the guards suspiciously before finally uttering:
''Is this the governor of Syrts palace?''. Masgut looked back at the place he had been guarding his entire life. A three-story house. It was perhaps three normal houses across. He thought that this man, whoever he was, had a strange definition of ''palace'', yet he finally answered: ''Yes, this would be it''. The rider spat on the ground. Without looking away from him, Masgut could see that the blood was red-coloured. The man started once again to speak in broken turkish: ''I'd like to ask of you some water''. It took a while before Masguts comrade realized the demand had been aimed at him. He stumbled with his words, clearly afraid of this man: ''I-I-I can't give you water. You'll have to speak with the quartermaster'' The rider didn't waste a second before he pulled out his sword and pointed it the man. Masgut were shocked, but did not react, as he knew that his comrade had been forgetful once more and forgotten his water when they had been called to guard the entrance and that Mehmed were trying to cover it up with lies. Fearing that his friend might be executed before he could bring the rider down, Masgut took out his own water bottle and threw it to the man. He drank it all before throwing it on the ground and breaking it against a rock, something Masgut knew the quartermaster wouldn't be too happy about.
The man nodded towards Masgut and somehow he knew it was a sign of respect. The man spoke again, this time more understandable: ''Take me to the governor''. Masgut eyed him suspiciously. He felt how Mehmeds scared stare was burning against his cheek. He thought about attack the man with his sword, but he felt that he might not get his sword out of the sheath before the man had taken out his sword and jammed it through his heart. Even then, if he could get out his sword, where would he strike? He couldn't attack his chest covered with the armor, and striking at the limbs would probably only anger the man. His head was too high to reach. No, it would have to be the horse, but how did he know the man wouldn't just jump off the horse and slash at him. Besides, he felt that if he refused this man entrance to the governor, he would cut his way through the castle. He couldn't risk that. But he was still afraid of the intentions of the man, which finally made him utter the words: ''You cannot see the governor with weapons.'' The rider looked at him for some time, before finally getting of his horse and leaving his sword and bow in Masguts hands. As Masgut felt the bows strength, the man took up a knife hidden in his shoes and put them in Masguts pile. Masgut noted that he didn't hesitate too much
while handing over the weapons, but as turned to give his horse to Mehmed he whispered a threat that despite the rider attempting to keep it secret, Masgut
heard: ''Remember that if I do not have my horse here when I return, I can be as deadly as without my weapons''. Masgut noted the shock that went through his comrades body at those words. Finally, he let go off the reins and started walking through the gate. Despite the houses many faults, the gate was still impressive with it's large wooden doors. The man just snorted as he pushed them open and walked in. Masgut wondered if he would be serving a new lord tomorrow, or serving a lord at all...
The servants and courtiers stared and pointed at the strange figure walking through the halls. As he walked through, he felt them gaze at him. Let them gossip he thought to himself as he walked past two servants who tried to silently slip away from him. He heard whispers all around him. These men had probably never been outside their hometown, save for a merchant or two. He walked up to a wooden door. It was far from as large as the entrance, but still larger than others. He caught a passing servant and asked if this was the governors room. The servant nodded, scared, and walked off. He pushed open the doors and found the governor looking over a map of Volga Bulgaria. He saw men draw lines over the maps. After a long time watching them rabble on he coughed in his hand and the men looked up. The governor snapped ''Who are you? You're not allowed to be here''. The man wasted no time in thinking of a response, he had thought of one while riding for hundreds of miles: ''I'm a messenger, I bring news from the Emir'' He turned against the other men ''For your ears only your highness''. ''I trust my courtiers. You can speak'' the governor responded. ''You might do, but the Emir does not''. The governor sighed. ''Very well. Malik, Tugrul, please leave''. The advisors left with sour look on their
faces. ''What is it that you wish to tell me?''. ''One of your guards forgot his water bottle''. The governor started to laugh. ''You came here to tell me that?'' He threw his back in laughter and the man seized the moment by taking off one of the armors squares and leaped forward and stabbed it into the exposed throat. The governor started to make gurgling sounds before finally he stopped moving and fell of his seat. The man just looked at him and then grunted before searching the governor for a weapon. With his clothes stained with blood, he knew he couldn't get his sword without fighting his way out. He looked out the window of the room. He saw the steppes completely empty. The man brought out a horn from his armor and blew it out so that it echoed over the steppes. Suddenly, Arab, Turkish, Turkmeni, Mongol and Tartar riders appeared over the hills. They numbered of about 150 men with horses. Their bows were drawn as they closed in on the palace. Bekhtar grinned as he saw them approach, this day could end two ways now. He and his men would rule Syrt, or the province would be bathed in the blood of soldiers and innocents alike. He looked to the door and heard the first screams of realisation by the courtiers. It was a good day to die.
Tuloi rode fast. The palace was close now. As he rode he wondered if the governor was dead yet, or if Bekhtar had called them for that. Either way, there would quite possible be bloodspilling today. He looked back at the men his general had given him to command. 149 of several different cultures and origins from the lands they had passed from Mongolia. As they rode closer, Tuloi could spot Bekhtar looking out of a window. Suddenly, he heard a loud bang from the room and saw that Bekhtar turned around and picked up a sword. He encouraged the horse to go faster. The guards must have heard the horn. Who hadn't?
Bekhtar held his sword in a tight grip. Two guards were advancing on him quickly. They were armed with spears, keeping him at a distance. He spotted the man he handed over his horse to when he had entered. The other he did not recognize. He backed away, to get just out of reach of the spears. Suddenly, the first man charged against him. Just as the spear almost had hit him, he evaded it and kicked it away. The spearman quickly lost his balance and Bekhtar jammed his sword through the guard's stomach. Despite the show of force, the second guard did not show his fear. Bekhtar grinned as he danced around him, before finally sprinting and drawing his sword across the mans throat. He collapsed at Bekhtars feet and Bekhtar kicked him away. He looked out the window once more. Tolui waved a red flag, signifying that the men were in position. He went back to the open door of the office, dragging the dead body of the first guard with him. He looked outside, and noted that several of the courtiers were there. Without warning he threw out the dead body. The courtiers reeled in a shock and a man fainted on the floor. Bekhtar soon followed the bloody corpse, his sword drawn. He looked around and saw fear in each of the courtiers' eyes. After some time watching and judging the situation, he finally exclaimed: ''I have disposed your governor. He was planning betrayal against the emir.'' Bekhtar watched and saw that several men believed him and eased up. ''These men were killed by my hand, that is true, but by their minds. Had they not attacked, I would not have killed them. They chose this. Though
their loyalty should be praised, they were still followers of a traitor. They will receive a proper burial, but they shall not be honoured'' Bekhtar took a step down the stairs as he continued. ''I have freed you, now I shall protect you. I proclaim myself, Khan of Syrt, here and now. There will be no crowning, I take no pleasure in luxury.'' He looked down on the corpse beside him. ''I am not a tyrant. I promise you that. You will not end like this man. Today, here and now, you will swear an oath of loyalty to me. You shall either do this or depart to the Emir.'' He saw as man started pulling out something from under his robes. Bekhtar quickly reacted by proclaiming: ''I have 150 men surrounding the castle, if they do not hear my horn in 3 minutes, they will attack, letting no-one survive. It is your choice, to live, or to die.'' The men surrounding him looked at him. This man was a strong man, but ruthless. They looked on for a long time, until finally, a man dropped to his knees, followed by the rest.
Bekhtar grinned as he heard the murmuring all around him. It was over.
The Khan
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