Section 17

When Ardeshir learned about Haftvad, the news did not sit well with his heart. The commander sent against him an army of high fortune and eager for battle. When Haftvad learned of this news, he felt no fear of them in his heart. He set an ambush in that corner of the mountain, then came to his own battle with his troops. When the whole army rose up in fury, they struck hard with mace and battle axe. The hidden troops burst from their ambush; the ground turned dark beneath those famous men. No one could tell his own hand from his foot; you would think the earth had bound their hands. The gates, plain, and mountains were so heaped with the dead that even the victor grew sick of killing. Everyone who was still alive from that battlefield hurried back to the side of the king. When the renowned Ardeshir learned of that slaughter, plunder, and pillaging, he grew grieved and summoned his army back, and quickly scattered arms and money among them. In fury he marched toward Haftvad; the evil breed lifted his head to the sky. He brought treasure and weapons out from the fortress; the army and the war became trifling to him. His elder son was far away from him, and when he learned of his father's battle, he sprang up from rest, from food and sleep, and came by boat across the water. The warrior's name was Shahvi, a man of evil ways and evil tongue. He came from the boat to Haftvad, and Haftvad's heart grew glad at his son. He arranged his place on the right wing, being himself the commander and marshal of his army. Two armies both stood ready, full of hatred over that treasure heaped with plunder. King Ardeshir looked upon them; the young man's heart was troubled by the old man's harm. He drew up his troops in two lines on either side; heat rose from the sun and from the swords. When the sound of the drum came from the elephants' backs, a man would faint from two leagues away. The blaring of the horns rose up; the world filled with the din of brazen trumpets. The earth quivered under the nails of the horseshoes; the air turned crimson from the chieftains' banners. From the clash of maces, helmets, and headpieces, the heavens seemed to send greetings to the earth. The gallop of swift steeds tore up the ground; gate and plain filled with headless bodies. Haftvad's army heaved in such a way that you would think the sea was stirred by the wind. The desert grew so packed with both armies that the road narrowed even for ant and gnat. It went on this way until the day turned yellow and night raised its azure canopy. Ardeshir called his troops back from every side; behind his back lay a lake. When the verdigris-colored sea turned black, the scouts came out from both armies. Provisions were scarce for the king's army, for his enemy had cut off the road.