It did not take long to teach the Bashkirs the lesson they deserved. It was swift. We killed most of them and then, finished the wounded. We did not want any slaves and had enough of prisoners already. There were two dozen or, so prisoners, and we executed the leaders by breaking their necks and leaving the corpses in the open field for the vultures and the animals. That’s what they deserved. Living like dogs deserved to die like dogs, and they were dogs. A few remaining prisoners were let go. I wanted them to go back to their people and tell the story. I wanted the Bashkirs to know me better and stay where they supposed to be. They knew my name and who I was. If they wanted peace, they had to behave peacefully and follow the law, our law. But, if they had a problem with that, we could fight it out.
We would oblige at any time. This round, the enemy lost almost a hundred men, and we had only seven wounded. What do you say, Bashkirs? Would you like to meet the Kalmyks and the Tatars? Would you like to see a Tumen of the purebred Mongols at your steps? It would not take too long for them to arrive if I ordered. They could show you more, and you will feel it more profound. They could go to your Uluses and burn them down. Subutai and I would not mind leading them personally. So, what is it going to be? Stop doing what you are doing and behave. That would be much better for your health. I promise.
The caravan belonged to the Khazar Princess. She was of the royal house but not too close to the throne, and that is why I did not know her. I may have seen her before but did not remember. I knew the royal house of the Khazars quite well, and many of the nobles served in the Golden Horde. Many were very close to me, my brothers and the other relatives. Some of them knew her, the Princes, but some did not. Yet, everyone knew the name and the house she came from. The name was quite famous. The caravan had suffered some minor losses of a few soldiers and slaves, but the Princess and her entourage were fine. We came just in time to save her from any harm. Yet, she was quite shaken and upset. After all, it was a terrible turn of events. I asked where she was going, and she told us a somber story. Subutai was sitting right next to me, and we were surrounded by a few of my guards and all the Khazars in my party. We listened to the story with interest, and the Khazars looked quite tense. They did not like what they heard. They knew something we did not but were about to learn.
“My father is the Bek you probably know well. He is the general that commanded all our armies and is probably the second most powerful man in the country. All Khazars respected him, and you have so many of us around you,” she was smiling drinking cold water flavored with some rose petals. We offered some kumis and even vine, but she said that cold water was her drink. What could be more precious than water? We, people of the steppes, knew it so well. Water — the precious gift of life. We also knew ice and used it even when we traveled.
“My father was also a second cousin of the Khagan — the Khan of the Khans. Growing up, I think I spent more time in the palace than in our home. That was the time of wars, and our family basically lived in the castle because my father was needed all the time. So, it was much easier for him if we were there. All the children were so close, and we still are. We are still one big family. At the time, we were at war with the Bashkirs and the Kyrgyz. They kept sending war parties that would cross our borders and pillage the villages, kill people.
My father would send the soldiers to pay them back, but it was so difficult to catch them. They were always a few days ahead of us. My father tried to improve the border by building more fortifications and increasing the number of border guards. But, most of our troop were with you and the other Mongol Khans. Thus, we did not have enough people to guard everything evenly. We were short of fighting people, and the cost was mounting. The Bashkirs or the Kyrgyz would show up here or there, and no one could predict where and when it would happen. I do not think we had good spies there.
The Khagan was looking for a peaceful solution; maybe because it was less expensive. So, he decided to marry me off to a moderate Bashkir Prince who was first in line to the throne. The agreement was reached, and I went to Bashkortostan for the wedding. I had no choice, and even no say in the matter. Who am I to argue with the Khagan. My country demanded sacrifees, and I had to do it. My country was first. My family was first. My Khagan was first. I was raised that way, and I understood it very well. You know what I mean. When you belong to the leading family, you have many obligations.
My wedding party was quite impressive — over five hundred people, and we carried the gifts fit for the royal wedding. Well, it was almost a royal wedding. The Prince was a nice man, a little shy, quiet but amiable. I think he was somewhat younger than I. He was short and of a slight build and not an attractive man. He was bolding already. That was not his fault, and I could learn to deal with it. It would not be that difficult if there were a big goal to accomplish. He could learn to become more attractive. I thought he would. The purpose of the wedding was much higher than that, and we were willing to do it right, for our countries, for our people. We wanted a long-lasting peace that could be achieved through this, and that was good for both people. The present Khan was old and getting fragile so, my groom to be could become the Khan and soon. That was the gossip already so, the wedding was almost royal after all. After we arrived and rested, there was a great feast, and the wedding was supposed to be in three days. More nobility had to arrive yet, and they were coming by the minute.
The feast was lavish with mountains of food and vine, dancers, wild animals, fakirs (a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker) and the acrobats. Music was for all tastes. It was fit for a more powerful king than the Bashkirs, but we were there. That was a few hundred people affair, and I understood that it was the cream de la cream of the Bashkir nation and of the neighboring states. I think everyone who was someone in that country was there. About an hour in, right when the dancers became somewhat wild and outgoing, the uncle of my groom to be and his party, arrived. He was surrounded by a few warriors dressed as for a battle that was quite unusual for the feast of this type. Almost without delay, he shot the Khan with an arrow and pierced the groom with a spear that he took from a guard. It was fast and so efficient. It was clear, he’s done it before. None of the people present did anything about it, more, they surrounded him, the uncle, with a sharp display of support. It looked like it was their will, and he was just the messenger. It seemed like everything was prearranged and carried out precisely. It seemed like everyone knew what will happen and was involved. It was well orchestrated, but we were shocked and frozen in place. Then, he killed our ambassador, and looking at me said: