Four days had passed since the departure of Iltas's forces. Under the deepening chill of the autumn sky, the rest of Uybat town maintained its usual rhythm. Life simply went on, indifferent to the grand wars or political machinations of the world outside.
Shargot yawns lazily as the nomadic riders approach. He has already done this hundreds of times. The heavy thud of advancing hooves signals that the outside world has once again come knocking on Uybat's front gates.
"I have something you might want to see, Brother Shargot!" the clan chieftain shouts.
"You came here to gives us trash," Shargot disrepectfully shows his teeths.
"Is Lord Heshano in his quarters? Please we just want to trades. We find this shiny jewels. Are you interested Brother," he grabs the item from his pouch.
"You break this town's tore. Last time you here, five townsfolk dead in drunken brawl. Not once but I already tolerate your behavior twice. Go to Kemicelik or Eski Tuva," Shargot refuses.
"Brother, I saw that Tuva was already besieged by a mysterious army. Before coming here, I saw huge plumes of smoke to the east." Shargot did not waste time after hearing his words.
Without a second word, his subordinates dash toward the stables, preparing the captain's beloved stallion. Same as Alara, Shargot horse's is also Ferghana stocks. No sooner have the heavy rear gates swung open than Shargot spurs his mount forward, kicking up a scattered thin ices.
Accompanied by fifty guards that are bored from the town defence, he breaks into a fast trot that quickly turns into a steady gallop.
"Can we trade already Brother?" the man behind him galloped forward. His horse stocks is the small and nimble, Mory Ponytail.
"No but do you want to join our cause. We will attack that mysterious army you previously told," Shargot looks at him.
"Yes of course, curse those men but which clan will be our ally Brother. Bayrak Khagan surely would understand my choice," the chief's asks.
"Qarabuqa," Shargot answers.
"Who?" he never heard such clan names before. Is it some sort of foreigners, he wonders.
Uybat had more guards after Iltas came, although most of them were inexperienced fresh levies. Some had hastily joined after hearing about the new Kyrgyz Bey's actions a few days prior. His philosophical words after that particular dinner moved many hearts. He described the journey of Xenophon, a mercenary and his adventure across the kingdoms.
At the end of his oration, Iltas promised that he would end the civil war and punish anyone who broke their vow of peace. What happened in the twin capitals of Ordukent and Urgench two years prior should not reach this place. As many as 400 youths flocked to Qarabuqa's side, and he garrisoned all of them to guard Uybat.
The resolve for these rookies will show itself in days to come. Some of the young man are standing in the wall, others seek warm in the campfire. Each of the guards have their own turn. Shargot absence can be directly felt by them.
"Hey did you know, he is the one who killed the last of Ak Hun Khan, Ghadfar ...," Tural keep praising Iltas achievement.
"Isn't the one who kill Ghadfar, our Khagan Bayrak?" Shaula questioned Tural claims. She is 15 years old.
"Whoever the one who kill that wretched King, we should be thankful for them both." Kenes nods, he is the oldest among them.
"Well heard that Iltas Bey, Bayrak Khagan or Dogan Yabghu, Shaula your beauty is alw--," Tural gazes at her coyly.
Smack!
"This is not the time to flirts. Not once but many times." Toprak punch his right knee.
Toprak is protective of his little sister. He could not stand Tural's gazes, as the young man had yet to prove himself worthy in his eyes. Among the ten children from Toprak's family, only he and Shaula survived to adulthood.
"Where is Bayur? He promised to bring us some rabbits," Tural asks.
"Hunt it yourself, buffoon. Uncle Torun hasn't returned; it's been almost a week. He's the only family I have left besides Shaula," Toprak could not hide how worried he was.
"There are other hunters and fisherman too," Kenes also feels the same as Toprak.
"It's almost time for our turn. Can you stay here Shaula. Guarding our rear?" Toprak stands.
Shaula pouts; she doesn't want to be treated differently. She wants to guard the town's wall. Toprak's expression softens as he realizes his actions may unintentionally hurt her. He keeps his hand resting in Shaula's hair for a moment to reassure her.
"Hmph older brother is mean," Shaula nods.
"Don't overdo it okay," Toprak smiles a little at her.
His little sisters pouted yet again. Toprak and his kinsmen were already equipping their bowstrings to swap guards when Korpe the Fisherman ordered them to hold. He wanted to hear what this nomadic clan had to offer.
Korpe was almost an old man; this year, he turned 42. The man lowered his throwing spear's.
"Brother, we have brought many beautiful slaves for Uybat, but it is too dark here to examine them. If you will, open the gates for us," the lone rider announced, seeking to trade.
"Sure thing pal, you hear him!" Korpe commands the other guards. He is in command of the front gates.
"What a weird acc--, wait they must be a Xianbei or Khitans. The rogue Avars that our Bey spoke of has come. Are they managed to remigrating here again from the west," Toprak secretly put his arrows.
"Stop right there or i kill you," Korpe threaten him.
"Don't open the gates!" Toprak shouts.
They ignored Toprak's warning; without further questioning, the gates were opened. The lone rider smiled as hundreds of his kinsmen appeared from the darkness. That clan indeed took their sweet time.
Loose!
Toprak immediately loose his second arrows. Shaula trust his older brother intuition. She start to aim her bow's.
"I warn you, look at what you did. They will attack us and i must deliver you to them," Korpe lunge forward.
"It's because they are Xianbei!" Toprak quickly borrows Tural's spear. Uybat have a shortage on weapon supply.
"You break our tore." Korpe thrust his spears.
"And you are an old buffon!" Toprak is furious.
The two engage in a deadly clash as the approaching clan gallops forward. All of them uses Mory Ponytail stocks. Hundreds more surge from the darkness. Their ruse has been uncovered by the town guard; there is no use pretending anymore. The guards are rained upon with arrows indiscriminately.
"Haha what a shame, living shackled like this!" Gexi the Xianbei shouts, he is among the galloping riders.
"Not so fast," Shaula loose her arrows.
Shaula incredibly hit the rogue Avar Khan in the face with her arrows. The attack did not stop; they had almost reached the wide-open gates. Shaula quickly descended and shouted at the guards, but the gate mechanism was jammed.
The guards dropped to their knees as dozens of Xianbei riders break through Uybat defence.