Tatabi sired 21 children with his four wives and two concubines. The fourth-eldest child headed a separate branch of the Kilja Clan which had migrated to the southwest. They were furious when Kure delivered the news that Iltas had seized their father's wealth. Their mothers, slaves, jewelry, and livestock now belonged to the Buqa Clan.
Aside from the fourth, all their siblings are in the custody of Iltas. The fourth-eldest of the twenty-one siblings hastened their mount. One hundred and fifty horse archers and fifty heavy lancers from an allied clan were galloping behind them
All of them are eager to attack Iltas's forces immediately but Turnak, the leader brush off that idea. Quick surprise ambush would not be a good plan against him. Considering his reputation across the Yenisei as master in defence.
"We only move after six days receiving the parchment from him. Are we late big brother?" Navas the second son speak. He is Tatabi son from his first wife.
"Why did you ask me that question. I'm the same as you. Ignorant in this matter," Tunkur respond. The son from second wife.
"Sister you sure you want to fight?" Azes ask the youngest of the four. He is son of first concubine.
"Buffon!" Aycicek pout. She is the first daughter from the first wife.
Kure's newly formed camp is nearby. The Base position are situated at southern end of the Yenisei River. Kure need to arranged and move his forces carefully. Jelek still guarding the fort up north. They don't have enough timber or enough time to harvest it with their numbers. It is needed to build their own fortification.
"Report Lord Kure, Yak Cavalry are ready!" Mokmok waiting for the new order.
"Good then i will follow you soon. March with 300 sword and spear footmans. Spread 100 skirmishers," Kure explain his battle plan.
"What about me Uncle," Okular ask.
"You are my successor, a crown prince. So you guard this place. For myself, a khan, eh i mean a rex should be fighting on the front." Kure wear his iron helmet.
"Rex or Khan? Which one you want to be. That is yet to be seen," Okular mutter.
Mumtaz helps her husband wear his armor equipment. First layer is thick fur of white fox. The second one is the gambeson. Mumtaz grabs the chainmail from their private's yurt chest.
"Husband, are the war really necessary. You could just leave him to rule in your place. I know a secret tunnel in Isfahan. It's a nice city with Zayandeh River flowing. I know because i was a slave f--," Mumtaz whispers to her husband ear.
"Mumtaz ...," Kure looks at her with sharp eyes.
"Please there is second chance for you too. Forget them, Iltas and also it's for Arpad sake too, our own blood. Are you not tired rationing food all the time. Did you not want to experience warm land too?" Mumtaz gently touch his hand.
Kure could never get enough of her shiny green eyes. Perhaps he would have been the happiest man alive if Lebedi hadn't met such a tragic end. Fleeing to Iran with Mumtaz now meant he would forever be remembered in bonfire tales—the blacksmith who became a jester.
"Ah after that big talk about pursuing pleasure and love. How did Gilgamesh manage it eh after Enkidu death. Perhaps there will be a hail but is it too early?" Kure mutter while looking at the greyish sky.
"I need your answer," Mumtaz ask.
"The answer will be on tomorrow morning. One thing is certain. You are not a regina of this kingdom," Kure mount his horse's.
"What i need is with you. Not becoming a khatun," Mumtaz could not her tears.
Kure depart to the west of Yenisei. The fourth siblings of Tatabi children already promise to send aid. Their presence are yet to be seen. Kure has already accounted for their absence in the frontline.
"I heard the sounds of battle there. Is the battle still raging," Tunkur ask.
"You show up at the right moment my Equites," Kure answer.
The foreign term make four of them look at each other. What is their ally talking about. Kure in his horse's start drinking ayran.
"Hey what is equites," Aycicek become curious.
"Oh it means tigin or bey," Kure answer.
"Why not use that title then. We are Turk right ...," Aycicek touch his forehead.
"My kingdom my rule missy!" Kure start to trot his horse's.
"Huh say it again Khan of Koryak," a vein suddenly appear in her head.
The battle near a large swamp already ended when Kure and Kiljas arrived. There are barely any resistance, Mokmok only lost 5 yak riders while Liqqi's forces suffer 100 dead casualties.
Liqqi herself is tied in her hands. The shaman priestess is humiliated by Mokmok. Grabbing her hair and pushing the young girl. Kure unsheathe his majestic sword from it's scabbard.
"All of you shall know where i acquire this weapon. I am the veteran of Ak Hun campaign. This sword is the proof of my exploit in Samarkand. Koryak shall begin anew. Here and now, we begin the coronation." Kure tighten his grip.
"Heh bragging," Turnak dismount. Followed by other riders.
The sword that Kure uses was formerly an old, rusted spatha with unique carvings on the rotted scabbard; he found it to be an ancient weapon just before the siege on that huge city commenced. Kure recast the blade with new iron. He also substituted the handle and scabbard with new wood. It's motif were exact replica of the old.
What he wields is a Roman sword, though it could not shine due to the gloomy weather. Kure still raised his sword high.
"Wait this is not our customs! I'm should be the victor bride," tears flow from Liqqi cheeks. The 20 years old girl plead to be spared.
"You interrupt our ceremony. Mokmok!" Kure order her to be ousted.
"Yes my lord," Mokmok heed his call.
"You can't do this to me! Why all of you hear that foreigner words. He is Turk, the enemies of Paleos! I'm the sha--," Liqqi shouts. She did not want to budge.
Smack!
"One more words, i twist your arm. We are allies not your people retainers." Aycicek punch her stomach.
"My sister, i think you are too harsh. She is the former leader of her people you know," Azes speak.
"Then?" Aycicek pout.
"I still could not win the fourth-siblings yet that means change of plan," Kure mutter.
The humble coronation resumes with the burning of a clansman yurt. Providing the warm for others, Kure gives order to pour the animal oil into the flame. It's blaze become bigger. Female servants bringing him his diadem, a parchment, and a fur cloak of royal red.
Male servants carry in the massive throne chair, lifted by six men. Kure crafted every necessity for the ceremony, given that the Koryak had no prior experience with such ceremonius event.
"Such gallantry," Mokmok gazes in awe.
Mokmok and the other Koryaks could not hold their tears as their new king is lifted high above the crowd. Turnak only watch in silence, he is not impressed. In his eyes, What Kure doing right now is no different than play pretend of a child.
"King of only meager 13 small clans it seems. He want us to be the 14. Ridicilous, we are sons of Tatabi," Navas whisper.
"Yet he think he is the man because of that random campaign 20 years ago. I'm going to take the old man place soon. This Paleos is so easy to be conquer," Turnak suddenly smirks.
Navas seems to know what was his older brother muttering about. Kure caught the attention of the siblings once again.
"With my Sogdian writing, Okular is my successor. Mokmok is the Dux of North Yenisei. Dux of Central Yenisei is young female warrior Kiki while Dux in South is still vacant. Prove your worth in combat then. That is all," Kure read it loud.
"What does that mean. Our king call my name," Kiki ask.
"Oh you become uh let's say a Bey," Mokmok translate his words.
"Lord Kure!" Kiki is so happy to be bestowed a title. She is barely a 16 years old girl.
The crowd started to dance, celebrating the coronation of a new king. Kure drank ayran with his fellow warriors happily. Mumtaz, his wife, however, had a long face. Mokmok feel slightly jealous of his king's strong bond with her wife.
"What is your secret oh King. My wife is such difficult to understand and what is this fuzzy yak milk," Mokmok ask.
"Is it fine for me to come here?" Okular feel worried about their base. There are lot of children and older people.
"Hey you are my Yabghu and Jelek would not dare to attack anyway. He is old people himself remember," Kure feel confident.
Mokmok is given the secrets. Kure said that woman like a decisive man. They sometimes pretend to not liking something but actually playing hard to get. The key once again is decisiveness. Most woman dislike a submissive man and crave for strong authority.
The King lend his ear to Mokmok. Confessing his family a dark secret that his wife already bore a child from another man.