The One Year Reign of Hormoz

When Hormoz rose to his father's throne and set the royal golden crown on his head, and the will singled out Piruz with anger, tears of envy welled up in his eyes. He suddenly went to the king of the Hephthalites with an army, a treasury, and a group of nobles. There was a king of Chaghan named Faghanish, a world seeker with army, treasure, and power. He said to Faghanish: 'My well wisher, we were two sons, both worthy of the throne. My father handed the royal crown to the younger one, then, being unjust, he passed it on and died. If you give me an army, I have treasure, weapons, high rank, and strength of arm.' Faghanish said to him: 'Yes, this is just; a king holds authority even over his father.' 'By a pact I will hand you an army, and I will show you the road to justice, on the condition that Termez and Visehgard be mine, for I hold this blood pledge from the time of Yazdgerd.' Piruz said to him: 'Yes, this is fair; you deserve even more than that in kingship.' He gave him thirty thousand swordsmen, a renowned army from the Hephthalites. King Piruz brought forth an army so vast that its dust darkened the moon and the sky. He clashed with King Hormoz, and their fighting went on and on. In the end Hormoz was taken captive, and all the crowns were worthless before Piruz. When Piruz saw his brother's face, his heart chose the love of their bond. He ordered a horse to be brought and mounted, rode swiftly, and stroked his brother's face with his hand. He sent him back to his own palace, having reminded him of his vow and his pact.