The next day, before the break of dawn, two advisors of King Murad approached Bayezid's tent. They found him sitting on the wooden chair carved with figures of wolves, staring at the area on the rug where the morning light brightened. Bayezid continued to gaze at the motives on the carpet while the advisors reverenced to start their speech.

The coronation will be held in the camp in the afternoon.

Bayezid shut their mouths with his eyes burning white in the dark. Bring me, my children. He said soberly. The advisors looked at each other despondently. One had the guts to talk.

The princes are asleep.

Bayezid stood up vigorously. He got out of the tent and walked roughly in the morning light. His eyes were darkened with terror. His sharp chin was covered with a spiky gold beard. Those harsh hands holding any sword firmly and skillfully were trembling while they were grabbing the wings of the entrance. He pulled the carpet away from the opening of the prince's tent. His cold, sharp face got smoother as he looked inside and sighed. Mehli got up when he saw his father. Then, others woke up, too. Bayezid's eyes were soaked with tears. He kneeled and embraced his kids, who ran into his arms. He kissed each of them on their head and took a deep breath of their childish scent. 

Before the sun showed up, Yakub found choked in his tent, was already taken next to his father. I was disgusted and disappointed to hear the whispers all around that appeared in the mouths of the faceless figures. Bayezid ordered the kill. The portrait of the honorable knight whose talent and grace were worth Tigrisia losing the battle faded as I imagined the kin's blood and the brother's blood on his hands. Oksana had a blossom of satisfaction in her curved pale lips.

On the other hand, Mother was concerned. She had been pacing back and forth in our tent since she got the news. I was gazing at Vucasin. What kind of man kills his brother for the ambition of the crown? Bayezid was not in sight. Men were rushing in and out of the tents and cabinets. His name was shouted, praised, and cried out, but his image was hidden. I realized Oksana was standing straight, scanning outside the tent; she was relieved. Her eyes met mine. Regardless of the consequences of the cancelled agreement, she had already raised the flags of her salvation. Abruptly, a skinny half-man with a distorted posture entered our tent. Mother made the hiss of discomfort as the man didn't ask for permission. "King Bayezid asks for you and your children to pledge allegiance to him during the coronation ceremony; the conditions of the new agreement shall be announced after you represent stance." The man left without saying any further words. I sensed that the appearance of the mysterious new agreement disturbed our mother. She was quiet,  she was thinking. 

The hill couldn't escape the deadly silence until the sun was beneath the mountains. Finally, two guardians came to accompany us to the state of coronation. Behind the circled keepers, there was the army. Akhal had his place near Bayezid, tracking us incredulously as we approached the crowd. When we got close enough, I realized Bayezid's dull, almost cruel face and dry eyes. He got up from the ground as the preacher put a crown on his head. His golden hair was blurred into the fog, which seems to me that only appeared around him. The preacher shouted. Kneel before your true king, protector of the lands you stand on, keeper of the gates of Ocmah, son of King Murad and sun of all Turkic tribes. May the god light his way, walk in the valley of plenty, speak wise, and drink wine as he rules under the crown. Bayezid sat on the throne made of ox leather and mountain goat fur. His sons stood behind him, beside Akhal and Princess Olivera. Bayezid leaned forward.

"Please, Queen Miriam, walk forward with your children," he spoke coldly. He sensed Mother's hesitation, so he lifted his hand and made a welcoming gesture. We walked forward and reverenced. Bayezid folded his hands together. "I have thought about the past conditions of our agreement and decided not to make any significant changes. I take Princess Oksana as my wife," Oksana was bewildered and startled. Her eyes got soaked, and she placed her hands on her heart. Her legs were trembling, and a vile pain struck her chest. She was going to marry the killer of her lover. Queen Mother was glad. She nodded and showed her gratitude. Bayezid continued. "You are going to return to Tigrisia and rule the country on behalf of my name, Queen Miriam. Prince Vukasin had to appear in the castle of Edre once a year." Queen Mother smiled and nodded. Bayezid sat back.

"Prince Jaromir stays with me in Edre until he grows to the crown age," he said coldly. Mother's face got pale; she was shocked, as did all of us. "I am afraid the people of Tigrisia want their future king beside them," she replied. Bayezid knitted his eyebrows and showed his white teeth wickedly. "I am afraid that's not going to happen, Queen Miriam; as I let you return to your people, I am sure you can communicate with them about the reason Prince Jaromir has to stay with me." Mother got angry, "And what reason is that?" her voice got pitched. Bayezid took a short look at me. "Because I, the king of Danishmenthan, want him to stay!"

Mother looked desperate for a second. Bayezid simmered down and said, "Now, kneel before your king." Mother kneeled and hid her face by looking down; she also caught Oksana's sleeve and made her kneel. Vukasin attempted to kneel but then saw me standing upright and changed his idea. Bayezid raised his eyebrow. "I said kneel before your king!" We were still standing. Mother realized that we didn't kneel. She looked at me with pleading eyes. "Kneel," she whispered. We were still standing. Bayezid had a dead laugh. He stood up. "I thought we passed this through, boy. You better have things to speak." I shouted as rough and cold as I could. "I never kneel before a Kinslayer as I will never stay with one!" The deadly silence was once again on the run. He approached me. " Kinslayer. Kinslayer, huh? Listen to me closely, boy; even if he is a brother, a betrayer cannot be one of my kin to slay. Tell me once, and tell me now, does only the bloody blood bond make us call one brother?" He looked at Vukasin.

I would notice a bit of sadness in his eyes if I never knew what kind of man he was. "I understand why you have had a hard time seeing that," then he looked at me again. "I sincerely wish you will never have to understand me." I didn't understand him then but realized behind that fierce stone wall of heart, Bayezid was in a query, and deep inside, there was a hidden, silenced seed of regret. So I kneeled because I respected his pain; I kneeled because someone had to keep an eye on Oksana and protect her in the foreign lands. I didn't discuss Akhil's plan that he discussed beneath our tent. I didn't end his query. I didn't tell him that he had an innocent's blood on his hands. 

After Bayezid sat down to his throne, he shouted. "Because of disrespect, I shall want Prince Vukasin to stay in the castle of Edre for the summers from now on." Vukasin didn't say or do anything. He was at ease because he supported me, and then I kneeled, and so did he.