1 June, 559, Banks of Southeastern Yenisei River, Yenisei Kyrgyz Khanate
Honeyberries are harvested every summer. In this season, the climate is quite pleasant with many other types of fruits in Siberia already ripe. The Buqa clan is up next to harvest the field. 8 years old Iltas join his parents clan's chore.
Iltas is the only child of his parents. Son of Ufkeli and Zaya. Unlike other children of his age, he rarely play or training with wooden toy. Iltas like to contemplate alone, watching scenery or feeding his pet sandgrouse in its cage.
The place is the very same forest Kure and Iltas wage their timar (domain) war, later on in their life.
"The adults want to expand this farm," Iltas gathering the berries.
"So boring, all your talk are about chores. You never play with us," Spargapises mock Iltas. His parent named their fourth son after the famous Tomyris heir.
"Yeah playing with his small kuskus (birds) alone. Look at Kure, his Falcon is big!" Somogur brag about the bird size. Kure allow him to hold his companion's two months ago.
"Bragging about that again. As if it is yours to begin with," Kartal ask.
"Well brothers my falcon has died yesterday. I keep feeding him properly but ...," Kure try to hold his tear.
The kids express their condolences, in their own unique way. They don't want Kure to linger for too long in his grief. The Adults thought those 5 kids are playing in the middle of works. They shout and tells them to get back to the chores.
"Ah it's because of you. Your own fault feeding your pet randomly," Kartal blame Kure.
"You always picking me huh?" Kure shove his body.
Iltas separate the two of them. "Resume or they will shout again."
The four of them do the chores while sometimes gazing at Iltas with contempt. He acts like the group leader, even though It is already clear that Kartal is the one. His family are higher-ranking clansmen among the Buqa.
All the kids do the clan's chore slothfully except Iltas. He want to help his mother preparing lunches.
"Haha you act like a good girl," Kartal insult him.
"Real man do the physical chores like feeding your livestocks and repairing the yurt. When we can pull the bow string next year then hunt too," Spargapises explain.
"I do both," Iltas reveal.
"No offense but yo--," Kure speak.
"Leave the girl be Kure. We already done here," Kartal interrupt his words. He put his basket. Already full of harvested berries.
Fishing in the river or herding goats after this are boring activities for the four of them. The group want to resume playing with their wooden toy weapons and fake fighting. Their bodies are still too small for true horse riding.
"When will you divorce your husband?" Kartal's father tease Zaya when she hand her baskets.
"What?" The 23-years-old woman quickly get angry.
"Hoho don't frown Zaya. It ruins your pretty face," Kubrat still teasing her.
Iltas quickly wrenches the wooden toy spear from Kartal's hands. The four chase him. Thinking that Iltas wanted to get pummeled.
"That's mine! Make your own weapon," Kartal get angry. He did not realize the situation yet.
Father of Iltas is living with intellectual disability. He remains oblivious as Kubrat seizes his wife's hand. Everyone in the field watches in shocked silence at the sheer indecency, too terrified to intervene since Kubrat is the current chieftain's younger brother.
Smack!
Unexpectedly, the fat goat that Kure rides ram her horns. Kubrat fell hard to the ground after being rammed.
"Do you know what you do huh! A mere blacksmith son insult me," Kubrat is furious. He grabs his machete.
"We are all descendants of a Great Queen here. Where is your shame oh Uncle!" Kure shouts in defiance.
The commotion does not last long. The Chieftain walks towards them, bringing unexpected good news: the Yenisei Khan, Ruru Bey, and his Sogdian-Chinese advisor, Yu Hong, will visit them. Everyone must prepare a grand feast for the royal family's arrival.
"You almost die there, why so reckless ...," Lebedi hug the only sons alive in his family.
Kure looked down in silence, too afraid to look his father in the eye. The child's body is shivering in fear. Just then, Kure steadfastly hold his ground against a man armed with machete. He himself is shocked by his own bravado.
"Father, why go to the northernmost territory?" a child of Iltas's age. He is peeking from behind the horse carriage curtains.
"Did Father not told you before. If you want to stay in our yurt then stay. Stop bickering like a girl," Ruru Bey answer.
"I could not believe they are the descendants of Lord Li Mu. A famed Xiognu slayer. I'm myself did not actually posess Chinese blood. My sons are from their beautiful mother hehe," the 26-years-old Yu Hong mutter. He is on the front, riding his horse.
Ruru and his eldest son stepped down from the luxurious carriage. They received a rapturous welcome from the Buqas. The son, however, was not interested in the feasts. Yu Hong made a suggestion to the young prince, but he kept walking to the field alone.
"That Bushy-eyebrows Man is always worrywart ...," the carefree boy's gaze meet with the lonely Iltas standing on tree.
Iltas did not show his excitement, even though the curious Bayrak El Tigin approached him. His eyes were filled with fury; Zaya's chastity had been tarnished. The fact that Kure was the one who acted faster made him feel chapfallen.
"Oh Crown Prince i apologize. Want me to accompany you to our table. There are plenty of dishes," Iltas try to smile.
"Then tell me," Bayrak enjoys his company. Other child are too afraid when he approaching them.
"It's nothing, i'm just quite hungry that is...," Iltas don't want to answer.
This is the first time Iltas and Bayrak have ever met. El Tigin will be the future head of the Li Ling Clan, succeeding his father.
—
Okular keep the pursue, he did not cautious when many of the Ak Yays disperse to the bushes and trees. The fire spread even further. Iltas and Yami opened two layers of their gambesons. Both army are in cat-and-mouse game.
"Skirmishers! We will free the shaman-priestess from her enslavement," Okular is shouting the Gokturk tongue. He did it before giving his order in the Koryak.
Some of the Koryak skirmishers has died or retreated due flanking charge earlier. The volley of flying rocks are not as intense.
"Why, out of all people that try to take advantage of my kindness. You are the one who betray me. Greed is clearly not in your character. What is your reason brother ...," Iltas mutter while troting his horse.
"Great Leader?" Yami ask if their distances are already enough.
"What if we name this forest as The Forest of Remembrance," Iltas ask.
"Really Great Leader? It's a good name but why right now. What's the reasoning," Yami scratch his head. Yami thinks that perhaps it is why the Great Leader are murmuring for long.
"It's decided then," Iltas piroutte Alara. Preparing his beloved steed's to gallop forward.
The Koryak skirmishers swap their position in the front with the melee fighter. They guard the rear. Tughluq, Kilat and Arpad have been waiting for this moment. The trio are hidden behind the bushes. Waiting for Iltas hand signal to strike. The remnants of Ak Yay also stalk them; their numbers is also increasing after encountering some of the surviving stragglers.