Sabır (Patience) - Kurulus Osman

Chapter 4

9 YEARS AGO...

"Haydi Aslanlarim, haydi!" Bamsi cheered as the boys of the tribe practiced fighting with wooden swords.

Suddenly, the drums started beating. "Hayırlı olsun," prayed Bamsi as everyone looked eagerly to see who had arrived.

It was Ertugrul Bey, Osman and one other boy Ceyda didn't recognize. Everyone welcomed their Bey and his son happily as they got off their horses and made their way to Bamsi and the kids.

"Selam Aleykym Beyim, welcome," greeted Bamsi warmly as he placed his hand on his chest.

"Valeykum Salam, Bamsi," greeted back Ertugrul Bey as he put his arm around the little boy with him who looked weak and scared. "This is your newest alp, Konur. Osman and I have just saved him from the Slave Market."

Bamsi looked at the young boy happily, "Konur alp, your scar tells me you are very brave. Do not be scared, I will train you along with my Osman. You are welcome in this tribe, and I will treat you as you are my son."

Konur nodded, smiling back weakly, clearly still scarred from the events he witnessed at the Slave Market.

"I have some things to take care of. Konur alp, be at ease, and from now on, you can consider this tribe your home."

"Eyvallah, Ertugrul Bey. Thank you for everything," Konur thanked. Ertugrul patted his head lovingly and walked back to his marquee.

Ceyda looked over to Bamsi and the boys from the rug house longingly, wanting so badly to train with them. Someone put a hand on her shoulder and uttered, "It looks like Ertugrul Bey and Osman have brought someone to the tribe. InshaAllah, this will not cause any more trouble."

Ceyda sighed. She didn't like listening to Zohre's judgmental thoughts. "Maybe he will be good for us. Who knows what kind of trouble that boy has been through?" Ceyda hoped, looking up at her aunt.

Zohre looked Ceyda in the eye with a stern expression, "I don't want to see you anywhere near that boy. Do you understand?"

"But-"

"Ceyda."

"He's training with Bamsi Bey. I want to do that too."

"No, everyone should do what they do best. Us women need to teach you, girls, to sew and cook."

"But training and hunting is what I do best."

"Ceyda, I don't want to hear it. Come on, let's go with Aygul to pick berries." Ceyda groaned in frustration. "You can eat some on the way." That made Ceyda smile, but she didn't want to admit her loss. So she stomped as they walked to the end of the tribe, making Zohre sigh disapprovingly.

"Come on, yigitlerim. Today, I will teach you how to hunt."

Ceyda jerked her head to Zohre Hatun asking for permission, but Zohre shook her head in refusal, making Ceyda huff and stomp louder.

When they arrived at the edge of the tribe, Zohre instructed Aygul and Ceyda to look for the bushes with the blueberries. "The purple ones are poisonous. Be careful, and do not eat any of the berries before showing them to me. Got it?" Aygul and Ceyda nodded. "Got it, Ceyda?"

"Why are you looking at me? Tell Aygul. She has a problem."

"Really?" Aygul laughed.

"Go on," Zohre chuckled, hiding her amusement.

Ceyda skipped to the last bush of the row, closest to the forest. She secretly peeked through to find Bamsi and see how he was teaching the boys to hunt. She leaned closer to hear their conversation.