9 September, 586, Southeast of Yenisei River, Gokturk Empire
Udmurt's lips twitched in pain. He could feel a burning sensation across his body and a jolt shaking the mysterious room. The confused warrior did not know where he is right now. Hesitating slightly to open his eyes, the man finally looked up and saw a familiar place. His closest companion's is tethered for a long time in the front of the yurt.
"Ah, I see. So this is what happens after we die. Am I in Heaven or Hell? It could not be helped, Lord Tengri. Our enemies were simply too many," Udmurt plead for his deities understanding. He thinks that he is already dead.
Inzhu suddenly burst in laughter. "Probably Chief has forgotten something important. Please remember it," she jest.
"Shush woman, have fear for our strong deities. Go to Kartal if he already died. Not me. Ask Madame Umay," Udmurt chide him. He thought that Inzhu have been followed him to afterlife.
"You are unconscious for almost 4 days. You woke up once yesterday but it seems you already forgot about it," Dilara explain his condition.
"Hoho my arete (Socrates philosophical term) and thumos (Plato philosophical term) are still sharp as it is," Udmurt try to sit and eat the hot melted chess.
Dilara checks at Harran condition. She gives some remedies mixed with viper flesh. The man suddenly cough.
"Aarrgghh! Help me, when will i become a physician," Harran suddenly open his eyes. He is rampaging in the bed.
"Need some man help ladies?" Udmurt offers.
"We can handle this," Dilara asks her cousin to rest or just watch.
Inzhu quickly binds his arms while Dilara mix herbs to create sedative remedies. Harran become unconscious again after gulping it.
"Who is he, anyway this cheese is so good. What's the ingredient? Do you already tried it Tughluq," he is seen staring at the passing landscape. His melted cheese is releasing a toasty aroma.
"With some cedar nut and nanai (cherry-like fruit from Siberia). It's my recipe's," Dilara is confident on her cooking skill.
"How can this sour fruit taste so good. Come on eat it Tughluq!" Udmurt resume his food's munching.
Tughluq is not interested for the good or other things right now. His stare is almost blank. All the young man thought about is Dahlan. He is trying to remember the middle-aged man smiles and his kindness. Tughluq did not meet his wife ever since his father-in-law funeral 2 days ago.
At the previous battle, he had actually felt strong hesitation. If only he had galloped his horse faster, instead of holding back his whip's. He had hated that feeling of indecisiveness ever since.
"Everyone, do you think my strength are lacking," Tughluq ask.
"Eat not talk," Udmurt chide him.
"Hear him Tughluq, your wounds is actually more deeper you'd thought. Eat it to recover my son. You barely touch anything since yesterday," Dilara speak with concern.
"It's always about yourself, right? You never care about Father-In-Law do you Mother?Look at how fast you already forgotten. Please i want to exercise. My body is stiff," Tughluq walk away from the yurt.
"Listen to your mother first. Unfilial son!" Udmurt shout.
"Enough, let me handle it." Dilara follows Tughluq with her horse's.
Tughluq is training away from his group. He can track them later judging by the carts trails and number of the footsteps. Alone in the wilderness of steppe, Tughluq lit a bonfire and start swinging two of his axe's. The heel of his weapons is chopping the air. There several big rocks nearby.
Hah!
The big rock shows huge crack. Tughluq dislodges his axes. He tighten his grips once more. Preparing to strike the rock as earlier.
"Koryak!" Tughluq screams. The shear forces of his attack chopped the big rock into two clean pieces.
"Son please tell me. It's fine my boy," Dilara hug his son.
"Ugh why, all of you could be so selfish. I just want to be alone for a little while. It's only been few days and everybody found it to be no big deal. My Father is viewed as what?" Tughluq ask while keep swinging his weapon.
The young man is swinging his axe's at the air. Every swing he counts, he shouts the numbers.
"295, 296!" Tughluq still do the same movement.
"How long are you going to train? End it now. It's better if we check on Yulbar. He got new yurts and new servants to fulfill his needs. You must listen son," Dilara start to get angry.
"If i refuse? You going to report this to Udmurt or Kilat right. This is not the right time to only think about Brother Yulbar. You shou--," Tughluq gazes at her.
Slap!
Layla seen her husband got slapped hard from afar by his mother. His sheepskin papakha fell to the ground. Tughluq touch at the small red mark on his right cheek. The pain in his heart is more aching than the slap he endure just now.
Tughluq could not help but think about Dahlan kindness in this moment. Layla grabs her husband's papakha.
"Don't forget to eat," Dilara remind him once more before leaving.
"Its different Mother, why are you so cold?" Tughluq mutter.
"I'm her daughter; it should be me who mourns him more but ...," Layla could not her tears.
"I'm sorry i could not protect even the Ak Yays ...," Tughluq could not bear to see Layla eyes. He purposefully avoids her after the funeral.
"You already apologize now you did it again."