It had been two months since I received Jaromir's letter. It turned out that being the hand of the king does not interfere with being the army commander, which had always been what I wanted to be. Nevertheless, there were better melodies than the squeal of the swords and more desirable excitements to live. If she didn't call my name,  my sweet lady would not have given me hope. I was a servant, a willing canine who would always swing his tail when she appeared. My life was tied to hers from now on. My existence was bound to her wellness. It was only the battle to win her heart that I cared about. A struggle that I ventured to lose and ache for to fight anyway. 

A few days ago, I found myself in the presence of Bayezid; he was pretty surprised that I hadn't returned to Tigrisia yet. How could I when she was trapped inside this castle? I told him that since Jaromir was gone, I would like to stay in Edre to command the proper army of Danishmenthan. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. A spiky smirk appeared on his lips. I felt like my hands shuddered. "Well, well,l Prince Vukasin, I believe you are just like me, and  I cannot bear sitting still. We are fighters at the end, and Tigrisia is too peaceful to be in." I sighed, relieved so much. I nodded my head and agreed. "You are such a talented fighter. You are as skilful as your brother, maybe a bit more aggressive, but I would like to see you as one of my commanders. The right arm is your's now," he concluded his speech. I felt like I was about to vomit. He compared me to himself; I was compared to one with Turkic blood in his veins. I lurched off. Tomris also carried Turkic blood, yet she was different in every possible way. 

I had sent a letter back to Jaromir telling him that I would stay in Edre from now on and I was not interested in being at the hand of the king. 

As a commander, I had to attend every parliamentary meeting and gathering. These meetings became more frequent as intimations of a man called Temur from the distant east came to his presence. It was the third week of my commanding; in a meeting inside the throne room, a vizier stood up to say that Temur, with a small Mongolian army, had invaded Mısra, a small land in the north near the boundaries of Danishmenthan. That was when Bayezid's face got all soured. This so-called enemy he refuses to take seriously arrived on his land. The same visier requested sending a letter to Temur that will question his willingness. Bayezid hit his hand on the table. "Who is he to be my addressee?" he roared. Then he pointed at a guard to say, "Gather a small group of raiders, and this Temur man will know his place." he ordered. 

The meeting was dismissed. I was walking in the hall when I saw her long white dress's tail gliding beneath her. She was on the high balcony watching the raiders saddle their horses. When I first saw her in those thick pelts and dirty pants, who could have told that she would wear such a naive dress? She must have heard that she faced me. I was about to join her, but the castle door opened quickly, and three horsemen with torn dresses entered the yard. 

Arthuncha had allied with the Hungarians, who already hated Bayezid, deservedly, and they surrounded the Tower of Nide. Bayezid's blue eyes were burned with fury. He rushed into the barn and mounted his snow-white horse. He swung his hand in the air and gathered the raiders about to leave for the examination of Mısra; he shouted to Mehli, who was standing at the castle gates with many other viziers and warriors."Prepare the army and follow me to Nide!" Bayezid shouted and rode his horse south with the following raiders. He didn't hesitate to take the lead. He foraged like lightning. In an eye blink, he was already past the sparse forest. 

I prepared the proper army immediately, even though I stayed for Tomris; no son of Dragar runs from a battle. When we were about to leave the barracks, I saw Mehli embracing Tomris; I paused. She looked at me briefly while he was still in her arms. I turned my head away ardently, "Giddap!" my men got to move without waiting for the left army. 

It took four hours of nonstop ride to get to Nide. The enemy had blockaded every exit from the tower and formed a thick layer of warriors. A bunch of guardians were fighting close to the entrance. I saw a horseman running directly into that layer and tearing it apart by riding his horse to the tower's wall. He got every foe that passed on his way. The chief of the building appeared from one of the windows. "My King!" he shouted. I approached the battleground and realized that the madman who sided against a whole army alone was Bayezid's very self. I was bewildered by his stupidity. Turned back to the military, "Surround the enemy in crescent. Thrust!" I shouted and rode my horse on the track of Bayezid. He was dealing with more than ten men alone and doing well for a Turk. 

It didn't take long for me to dismount my horse. The crowd quickly melted and got rare. Bayezid just realized the proper army that surrounded the town. "Don't get too close, stay in distance, stay dispersed!" He demanded. I couldn't understand him until a more condensed group of enemies appeared out of nowhere to trap the unity. I was so embarrassed and regretful that I couldn't face Bayezid, who was not letting any enemy even touch the tower's walls. 

It was morning when we got here, now that the sun started to go down. We were fighting for a whole day. My feet trembled, and my arms were exhausted to swing the sword. My eyes got blackened. The sun was between Malpitz and Kashkar; the sunlight hit straight through the man before me; he kept approaching with a hatched. It was impossible to see his face; it was all dark and highly bright simultaneously. I raised my hand to cover the sun, and suddenly, my hand gripping the sword loosened. I knew I was going to die; I was too tired to think otherwise. Then the blade tip appeared on his chest. He fell onto his face, following all the men that surrounded me. Now, the sunlight was embracing his golden hair and spiky beard. The enemies' blood washed his face. "You alright, son?" he said before returning to fighting. I, out of the blue, found the strength to keep going. I was repeating to myself. He saved my life, he saved my life... 

After a while, the left army finally arrived. The sky was indigo blue. The remaining enemy escaped into the woods. The tower chief got out and kneeled before Bayezid, trying to kiss his hand. Mehli walked past, treating everyone with stubbornness as if he were the victor, the fierce hero of the war. I wondered if he stopped for a picnic before the battle. I noticed that it was impossible to look Bayezid in the eye. I was too vile for that. He approached me first. "You are the best fighter but not the best commander yet. You'll learn because I'll teach. How old are you anyway?" I was awed and didn't answer. "Your brother, in your age," he continued, "had restrained the whole east who united to crush Danishmenthan. I was younger then; he was as cunning as always. He did it with an army of two hundred and faced thousands. It was in him, you know. I do. He might be the man of the century, surely after me, I'll teach you. I taught him too, but it happens when it is in you, right, no matter how much we try." I bothered my teeth and fists and mounted a horse to gather the army to ride back to Edre. It was in me. It was always in me. He was my brother, and the blood of the kin runs thick. 

I sighed; Bayezid must be missing him so much.