Arslan Senki

Book 3: Chapter 4 (3)

The army of Pars left Sindhura and triumphantly returned to their homeland. Arslan agreed with his generals to give the soldiers a big reward when they returned to Peshawar. Even without this benefit, they felt lucky enough to return home alive, so the whole army looked relieved.

"Yikes! What a blessing to be spared from that spicy Sindhuran food! Ten days of eating that kind of stuff will burn your tongue off."

Gieve spoke venomously, and Narsus couldn't help but nod bitterly. Sindhura's usual spicy cuisine was hard for the Parsians to swallow. After unknowingly eating boiled lamb brains with chili peppers, Arslan and Elam had no appetite for a while, and even the fearless Daryun did not want to eat it a second time. Only Farangis looked as if nothing had happened.

"Although I don't particularly like it, their cuisine has a unique flavor. It's not bad."

This was how Farangis felt.

This night was the first time that 10,000 Parsian troops and 3,000 Sindhuran troops led by Rajendras General Kendava camped together. Suddenly, flames sprang up in the middle of the night and caused an alarm.

Rajendra, who was leading 20,000 soldiers and secretly following behind the Parsian army, knew that General Kendava had caused a commotion according to his order, and could not help but rejoice, giving orders to the 20,000 soldiers.

"Charge into the Parsian camp and capture Arslan alive!"

Rajendra on his white horse led the way, and Sindhura's army loudly rushed into the Parsian army camp.

It was an attack from both the inside and outside. There should have been pandemonium throughout the camp. However, when they rushed in, they found it empty, with only piles of burning firewood.

"What, what's going on here "

Suddenly, there was a heavy sound of something landing in Rajendras lap. Rajendra frowned and stretched out a hand to touch it, and felt human hair against his palm. General Kendava's head was looking regretfully at his young lord.

Even Rajendra, who was by no means squeamish, was startled. He tried to push the general's head away out of reflex, and the night air beside him shifted slightly. He suddenly felt the oppressive aura of black armor.

"Cunning Sindhuran! Your treacherous plan has been seen through. By the mercy of His Highness Arslan, I wont yet part you from your meager life."

Night itself stood before Rajendra in the form of a brave warrior. His black cloak was fluttering in the wind, and the longsword in his right hand was covered in blood.

Rajendra couldnt help but feel scared. He already knew that his ploy had completely failed.

"Hold them back, hold them back!"

Rajendra gave a halfhearted command to his men, and galloped himself to a desperate run. His men put up a defence of swords and spears in front of Daryun to guard their lord. However, it was only a matter of moments before Daryuns black shadow darted after him over the bodies on the blood-stained earth.

"Do you still want to fight like a trapped beast? Dont you recall what you said about Gadhevi?"

Rajendra had no time to respond to Daryun's shout as he continued to flee without a second thought. At this time, he regretted riding the white horse that stood out in the dark, but it was too late now. As he was running away, dozens of Parsian horsemen suddenly rushed out and blocked his path.

"The Lord Tactician has everything in his control. You, little pest, are still so eager to play such petty games. You should have some self-awareness and leave such lame schemes to be used in Sindhura!"

Gieve laughed coldly and the cavalryman guarding Rajendra's right side was cut down with a single slash.

Taking advantage of this gap, Rajendra turned his horse around again and fled. After running a few hundred paces away, his exit was again blocked by the Parsians. With the clatter of horse's hooves came the sound of a lovely voice.

"Your Highness Rajendra, where are you going?"

"Lady Farangis? Please don't get in the way! I don't want to hurt such a beautiful woman as you."

"I really can't thank you enough, but as a vassal of Prince Arslan, I can't let Your Highness escape from here."

"Please come with me!"

"So thats how it is? Then, forgive me for being rude."

Rajendra seemed to have decided that Farangis was far better to deal with than Daryun or Gieve. He should have known quite well about Farangis's skill with a sword as well, but he still didnt really want to attack a woman.

Rajendra galloped towards the beautiful Parsian priestess.

Rajendra's sword swung with a force that seemed to be lighthearted. Normally, his sword would not be so easy to bear. Farangis did not take the blow head-on, but dodged. She stabbed her sword at a perfect angle, and Rajendra's slash was like a small waterfall of sparks that swept past her.

When Rajendra, who had lost his balance, managed to sit firmly in the saddle again, two powerful enemies were guarding him to his left and right. He was now a prisoner.

"Prince Rajendra, we really should not keep meeting like this."

"I feel the same way, Prince Arslan."

Rajendra seemed to heartily agree with Arslan, although what hed wanted to see was the opposite situation. Sindhura's next king was brought to Arslan by Gieve, fists tied together.

Narsus stood by Arslan's side.

When the report of Rajendras capture was received, Arslan had discussed with the tactician what to do with him.

"Narsus, I really don't hate that man much, and I have no intention to kill him. Am I being too naive?"

When Arslan finished, Narsus laughed pleasantly and said.

"No, Your Highness, naive is a word used only when one does not kill one who should be killed. For the moment, let Your Highness decide for himself!"

"Then, is it okay to let him go back?"

"Of course it is. However, since he is a person who does not know how to behave well, I think we should make him understand his position. Ive prepared a bit of a malicious act, so I will ask Your Highness to keep silent and observe."

Thus, Narsus and Rajendra had a conversation, while Arslan observed.

"It seems that you were not comfortable staying in your capital. Very well, Ive noticed that Your Highness Rajendra seems to be interested in the lands of Pars. How about if you get to travel our country as a guest of the Parsian army? Spend a couple of years seeing everything of interest, then you can go back to your country at your leisure."

"I'm afraid that doesnt work for me!"

Rajendra looked woefully out of sorts.

"The country of Sindhura has only just lost its king, and there are still many loyal to Gadhevi. If I am not there, Ill lose my country! Ill pay you a ransom, just please let me go back!"

"Ah, please don't worry about that. We will send an emissary to the country of Turk and ask for reinforcements."

"Turk?"

"Yes! The Parsian army will need all the help we can get to drive the Lusitanians from our lands, so we may not have time to deal with Sindhura. Ive heard that the king of Turk is a very righteous man, so he will be happy to send a large army to protect Sindhura for us."

Narsus's voice and expression implied a high degree of malice, waiting for the other party's reaction.

Rajendra struggled and said,

"Wont, won't Sindhura be taken over by Turk?! Ive never heard that the king of Turk is a righteous man!"

"Is that so? One shouldnt judge others for actions they themselves would take. O virtuous king of Sindhura."

A few streaks of cold sweat dripped down Rajendras face.

"Prince Arslan, I apologize! I overstepped my bounds! Please have mercy"

Rajendra bowed his head to the teenager, ten years his junior.

"Then, this time you will keep our covenant, right?"

"Yes, yes yes, of course!

"Then, please sign this treaty and I will let you go back unharmed."

The paper held before Rajendra's eyes listed three imperatives. For the next three years, there would be no violation of each other's borders; Sindhura would pay 50,000 gold coins to the Parsian army as a token of gratitude; and that the Sindhuran calendar would be shortened by two years. Rajendra blanched the moment he saw the third item. Arslan laughed and murmured, "Ah, let's get rid of this one!" The third item was crossed out by the pen.

(TN: If you're wondering about the calendar thing, it's briefly mentioned near the beginning of this chapter. Apparently Narsus is miffed about this completely arbitrary thing lol.)

After being untied, Rajendra hastily signed the document, declined the banquet, and returned to the capital, Uraiyur. Perhaps he was afraid that Narsus had already sent an emissary to Turk. He wanted to regroup his scattered army.

As he watched Rajendra's hurried departure, Arslan asked the tactician,

"Narsus, may I ask you a question?"

"No need to be so polite, Your Highness. Whats the matter?"

"Why did the non-aggression pact with Rajendra have to be written for only three years? Wouldn't it be better to sign it for fifty, or even a hundred years?"

The tactician smiled and clarified.

"I just considered the kind of person Prince Rajendra is. Although hes not entirely despicable, he is, however, a man whose desires are too great to be treated lightly. It is foolish to expect such a man to maintain friendship and peace forever."

Daryun nodded vigorously, completely agreeing with this statement.

"However, if the treaty is only required to be observed for two or three years, even a man like him should be able to comply. So, three years should be the maximum."

"Once three years have passed, you expect him to no longer maintain peace, is that so?

"Yes. Prince Rajendra is now calculating anxiously. Hes likely already thinking of a plan to stabilize Sindhura, and then return to meddling in Parss affairs in three years. Between two and two and a half years, even."

"Before that happens, we must drive out the Lusitanians and retake the royal capital."

Thats correct."

As Narsus gave a gentle salute to his lord, Elam rode in to report that a figure was spotted hiding and following the Parsian army.

Farangis galloped off with twenty horsemen. Shortly afterwards, she returned, and Elam's keen eye noticed that there was one more cavalryman following her. Farangis looked back and said something over her shoulder, and a young Sindhuran with dark skin dismounted and approached. Arslan called out excitedly.

"Jaswant, you came back?"

The young Sindhuran, with his hands on the ground, looked up at Arslan on his horse and said aloud, as if practicing speaking Parsian.

"I am a Sindhuran. I cannot serve His Royal Highness the Prince of Pars. If Pars and Sindhura fight in the future, I will still have to go back to my homeland to fight against Pars."

He made this confession in one breath.

"However, I am indebted to His Highness Arslan for saving my life three times. Until I finish repaying these favors, I ask Your Highness to allow me to follow you."

Gieve, who was on his horse to Arslan's left, showed a bitter smile.

"What convoluted reasoning. If he would just follow obediently, it would save himself the embarrassment."

"It's better than someone who has no loyalty, right?"

Farangis spoke out sarcastically. At that moment, Arslan dismounted his horse, took Jaswant's hand, and pulled him up.

"Jaswant, Im glad that you're here. Dont worry, we have concluded a non-aggression pact with Sindhura. The one we are fighting against now is Lusitania."

"Then I will also fight for His Highness Arslan against the Lusitanians, without hesitation."

Since both of them were showing an extremely serious attitude, they made the two retainers who were at the side laugh. Daryun winked one eye at Narsus.

"It's possible that His Highness Arslan will be able to obtain a Turk retainer by fighting with Turk, and a Turanian retainer by fighting with Turan."

"Then in that case, it should be a Lusitanian retainer next."

"Well, we are about to make the King of Lusitania kneel on the ground and swear allegiance to Pars."

Narsus saw Daryun's black eyes flash for a moment, only half-joking.

So, Arslan once again crossed the Kaveri river and set foot back on Parsian land. It was the middle of March in the year 321 of the Parsian calendar. Three months had passed since they had left the city of Peshawar.