XXII.
[
Palace of the King, at Pa-ti-yen.]
[Akhshunwar arrives at the Walled City, and as he passes the gates, he notes that the city has taken on a somewhat different air. It seems to have nothing to do with its people, who go about their business as usual. No new structures had been erected, neither are there any new traders from the East, peddling their strange wares in the streets as they often do. No, whatever had caused this odd change was likely coming from the king's palace. Each step he took towards it, the atmosphere grew increasingly anomalous Though guards were present, none barred his presence. Even if the source of abnormality was present at the very seat of the kingdom, his authority was still recognized. He passed by several Elites, who greeted him with the respect that befits one of his status, which indicated no mutiny was taking place either. Everything seemed perfectly normal, so what...?]
Akhshunwar: Gentlemen, why are you all gathered here?
[The Regent found the generals and senior commanders within the throne room. They usually met at some other chambers for the purposes of planning, so this was all too strange for Akhshunwar. With them, some courtiers were present. A few he did not recognize-- people dressed in Buddhist and Hindu garb, probably representing those territories taken from the Gupta Empire.]
Commander Hormizdak: My lord, we were asked to come here on orders of the King, Toramana.
Akhshunwar: Toramana? I see... Shall we wait for our King, then?
Hormizdak: No, my lord. I'm not sure why, but he simply preferred we meet here.
[Suspicious. To announce anything here would mean that the direction of the Hephthal Horde would be heard by the nobles. Afterwards, it would spread, and become public knowledge. Akhshunwar knew the purpose of all this. His hailing from Khwarezm was public knowledge, and if he did not show decisiveness in his loyalty as a Hephthalite against the Persian aggression by declaring war on Khwarezm and taking their lands before the Sassanids did, he would be seen as weak, and everyone would know it.]
Hormizdak: Regent, the Marzban Faramarz marches Persian troops into Khwarezmite lands, as you surely already know. His troops, numbering to nine thousand, have routed his foe's force of ten thousand, and now he lays siege to the city. His own master is sure to reinforce him with even more troops. My lord, we must act.
[
The siege of Ashkabad has begun.]
[Akhshunwar knew what they were asking of him. To lead them to a war that would devastate his nation of birth. But he didn't truly feel any nationalism for the state, but rather, he remembered his promise to return to his old friends in Urgench. He wondered what Delir was doing now, if he were still alive. Would he, and the others who'd managed to find some way out of the streets and do something with themselves, recognize him? How many of them would he ruin with this war? What would Mihrana think?]
???: Cast off all mercy! They were your enemies the moment they unjustly released themselves from vassalage. There should be nothing less than complete subjugation for them, and those that resist should die.
???: Well said, my lady! It should be the fate of all who defy a just king.
[He cast a glare in the direction of those who spoke.]
Akhshunwar: Who are you, to talk so openly of Hephthal affairs?
[The first one to respond was a man of impressive stature, dressed in blue, ceremonial armor. Akhshunwar immediately thought there was something unnatural about him, but could not place an exact reason. His form was such that he commanded authority, and as he stepped forward, those in his path obliged him.]
Bumin: I, Bumin of Ergenekon, am at your service. Many of my people live within your borders, though the majority are in lands farther north.
[After him came a woman who was wrapped in heavy clothes. Though dressed similarly to many of the local women of the Walled City, the bindi on her forehead made it clear that she was from the south. Her
eyes... Akhshunwar found that looking into those pupils was like staring into a terrible depth, threatening to consume him. Such a quality made it rather difficult to maintain eye contact with her.]
Chhaya: My name is Chhaya, and my father is a noble from Thar. We are followers of Shiva, but my earthly deference is to the kingdom.
[Both bowed, but the Regent could not help but think that these two were the source of his unsettling feelings.]
Akhshunwar: Your loyalty is commendable.
Chhaya: The leadership's accomplishments are worthy.
Bumin: Indeed, and we will see more, of that I'm sure.
Akhshunwar: Certainly.
[These two were not a problem, at least not at the moment. He'd worry about what complications they could cause in the future, later. He drew a deep breath, before moving on.]
Akhshunwar: ... We are poised to act against our Persian enemies and deter them from an undeserving reward. A declaration of war will be sent to Khwarazm's king, and a copy sent to Kavadh so that he shall be assured of our position. Commander, many of our forces are gathered around Pa-ti-yen and are ready to move. You, General Ankara, and Commander Alagh shall seperate three different forces to reach the other provinces before the Persian armies reach them. The General himself will be in charge of the siege on the capital, while you, Homizdak, will go to Karabogaz to deal with Khwarazm's army. I will head to Kara Kum with a force of two thousand cavalry to keep an eye on the Persian siege.
[There is mumbling amongst those present.]
Bumin: Regent, shouldn't it be you that fights the enemy's force?
Akhshunwar: We must be on our guard with regards to all Persian movements. It will be easier for everyone if it was myself keeping an eye on them.
Chhaya: Seems to be a suitable justification, but it would be a shame to disappoint
this man if something goes wrong at Karabogaz.
[She holds up a coin...]
[
A silver coin of the late Khingila I.]
[Needless to say, Akhshunwar did not like where this conversation was going.]
Akhshunwar: I know what you're implying, and there will be no problems. Everyone here can be assured of that.
Chhaya: Still, I think many of us would simply like to know the answer to one question: will your heart be in this war?
[The glare returned as he regarded Chhaya, and her abyss-like eyes stared back.]
Akhshunwar: Who are you to ask me such a question? I have served the kingdom for years, and to doubt my plans now for flimsy reasons is foolish. If you really consider yourself a subject of Hephthal, you would know this. Not to mention that Homizdak is one of our finest Elites! Your words seem to say that he is incapable of leading in my place, and if you feel that way, say that to
him and not to me. Or maybe it would be best if you said nothing at all, about matters that may be beyond your understanding. Good day, Lady Chhaya, and may word of our victories reach your ears.
[With a curt nod, he left. Homizdak bows before he and the other members of the Hephthal military accompany him. The courtiers watch them leave, and then begin speaking amongst each other with refreshed vigor after they're gone.]
Chhaya: Temper,
temper... I take it he doesn't know of my engagement with Toramana yet.
Bumin: It would seem not. Do you look forward to being referred to as "Your Majesty"?
Chhaya: Quite.
