Part 9: The Turkish Advance on Zabolestan

Then others set out from the city of Arman, marching in fury toward Zabolestan. Shamasas, who had crossed the Jeyhun, turned his face toward Sistan and pressed on swiftly. Khazravan came with thirty thousand swordsmen, Turkish nobles skilled with the blade. Alert, they marched to the Hirmand River, armed with swords and maces, and high fortune. Grieving and in pain for his father, Zal was building a tomb at Gurab. In the city was the warrior Mehrab, a man of bright, wakeful mind who gave himself no rest. A messenger came from him and set out to reach Shamasas. He came down before the royal tent and gave Shamasas warm greetings from Mehrab. He said: May the vigilant king of Turan's army live forever, crowned. Our lineage runs back to Zahhak the Arab; I take little joy in this kingdom of Fereydun's line. I bought my life through ties of allegiance to them; I saw no other way but this. Now this house and seat are mine, and Zabolestan is in my hands. Since Dastan went off in mourning here, to raise a tomb for Sam the horseman, my heart is glad at his sorrow; I hope I will never have to see his face again. I ask the famous commander for time, so that I may send a swift dromedary rider. I will send a shrewd and hurrying man to Afrasiab. So that he may learn my hidden purpose, and the talk of the speaker may be cut short. I will send a fitting tribute, and whatever else is worthy of a king. If he tells me to come to him, I will stand nowhere but before his throne. I will hand over the whole kingdom to him, and always keep my heart glad for his sake. I will not put the commander's body through hardship; I will send him treasure heaped in every form. On this side he won the commander's heart, and on that side he reached for a plan. He sent a swift courier to Zal, saying: Become a bird, spread your wings and fly. Tell Dastan what you have seen of these events, and tell him not to fret over coming. For two commanders have come here to fight, a Turkish army like a plain full of leopards. They have marched two armies to the Hirmand; I have shackled their feet with gold. If you delay your coming even a moment, the will of the ill-wishing enemy may prevail.