Kay Qobad Takes the Throne and the Battle Begins

Kay Qobad sat down upon the throne of kingship, and set the jeweled crown upon his head. All the famous champions gathered, men like Dastan and Qaren the warrior. Kashvad, Khorad, and the champion Barzin scattered jewels over that new crown. Qobad listened to the counsel of the great ones, then looked out at Afrasiab and his army. The next day he moved his army from its place, and a great roar rose up from the royal tent. Rustam put on his battle armor; like a raging elephant he rose, and the dust flew up. The Iranians drew up their ranks and girded themselves to spill blood. On one flank stood Mehrab, lord of Kabul; on the other, warlike Gazhdham held his ground. In the center stood Qaren the warrior, together with Kashvad the champion who breaks armies. Behind them came Zal with Kay Qobad, fire in one hand and wind in the other. At the front flew the banner of Kaveh; the whole world turned red, yellow, and purple beneath it. The army covered the earth like ships upon the sea, where waves rise from the ocean of China. Shields were woven together across plain and hillside, and the flash of blades shone like lamps. The whole world became a sea of pitch, with a hundred thousand candles kindled in it. From the wail of trumpets and the shouting of the troops, you would think the sun had lost its way. Swiftly Qaren the warrior saw all this, and let out a roar from their midst like thunder. Bold he charged into the heart of the army, the commander Qaren, moving like a lion. Now to the left, now to the right, on every side he pressed his vengeance. With mace, with sword, and with the long spear, that proud champion kept killing them. He piled the slain on the ground like a mountain, until those bold Turkish warriors were worn down. The bold champion spotted Shamasas, who was roaring like a raging lion. He came thundering on until he reached him, and quickly drew his sharp blade from its sheath. He struck his head with the poison tempered sword and cried, 'I am Qaren the renowned.' Shamasas the champion tumbled down headlong when he felt such a blow from Qaren's hand. Such are the ways of the ancient turning sky: sometimes a bow, sometimes an arrow.