The Call of Crows

Chapter 47: The Choices Made

Orhan donned his plumed helmet, the cushioned interior feeling familiar, yet foreboding, to the battle ahead.

They chose him to fight Guanyu. He had accepted it with eagerness.

He had been allowed any number of weapons that he wanted by the terms of the duel. Guanyu had reportedly opted to just use his glaive.

Orhan, meanwhile, carried a spear, saber and shield, bow and dagger. Those weapons, along with his lamellar armor weighed heavily on his shoulders.

His fear and his determination clashed with each other in his heart, making its beat sporadic.

Orhan summoned his Shedim, yellowish green light glowing around his Scars.

"Yes?" the Shedim asked.

"I need a weapon from you." Orhan said, "Something that will let me defeat Gongsun Guanyu."

The Shedim frowned. "Why is it you desire to defeat him? You need only to stall."

"And let myself continue to be held back by the death of my clan?"

"Vengeance is not the path to letting go, Young Khan." the man muttered.

"This is not vengeance. I do not desire his suffering. This is closure. I need to know I did all I can to ensure the prince's debts are paid."

"And what is his debt?"

"Defeat. Defeat of himself and his army. Nothing more, nothing less." Orhan said, "He views himself as superior and thus, feels as though he can treat everyone below him however he wants. I wish to remind him that he, too, is human. So we may both move forward."

The man nodded. "You have great wisdom in you, Young Khan. Very well. All things die. All things must return to the earth whence they came. From that earth, we can find other lives and other purposes. The souls of your people still exist. But they wander, lacking a purpose to their existence. Offer them a new existence. But this time, do not sacrifice yourself to save them. They no longer need protection. Rather, lead them, like a true Khan."

With that, the Shedim vanished.

Orhan had more questions of a more practical nature, but according to his allies, figuring out abilities was something one had to do on their own.

He let out a long sigh before stepping out of his tent, which was positioned directly at the edge of camp. He exited directly into the face of the sun, Guanyu's silhouette across from him.

Hundreds of soldiers who were gathered to watch the duel parted ways to let him through.

Ruhak patted him on the back. "Good luck out there. I won't be here to watch. But if anything happens, Cecile will take good care of you."

"With any luck, Guanyu's gonna be the one needing a physician." Orhan muttered.

Ruhak chuckled, "Well, at least you're confident."

With that, the Hikupti man vanished into the crowd. Orhan stepped into the ring that the crowd had formed for him and his opponent.

Guanyu wore a winged helmet and Nikan lamellar, with plate armor over his arms and legs.

"I am Orhan Ucar, Khan of the Ucar." Orhan stated.

He kept his eyes on Guanyu, watching a smirk grow on the prince's face.

"An Ucar, eh? Funny how they send yet another one of you to die on my blade."

"Funny how you view Khongirats as mad dogs, yet you are the same hairless ape as the rest of us are." Orhan said, not allowing his rage to take control of him. It would be his tool, not his master.