Sabır (Patience) - Kurulus Osman

Chapter 32

"Where are we going?" Ceyda asked as the area they were in was unrecognizable, and a handful of Mongol soldiers arrived.

"Before we go to Balgay, I need to complete a mission. You can help me," Kongar explained, remembering his task of raiding Samsa Bey's tribe.

Ceyda pulled on the horse's reins, making it stop. "What? I need to go home."

Kongar stopped too and looked up at her. "We will... after I take care of something. I need the horse... get off."

Ceyda mocked a gasp, "Rude." She got ready to jump off the horse when Kongar reached out his hand. Ceyda blinked at him then snickered, "Don't make me laugh, softie." She pushed aside his hand and jumped off the horse, giving Kongar an exaggerated triumphant smile.

Kongar rolled his eyes, then noticed her sword was missing, "Where's your sword?"

Ceyda looked at her belt and remembered leaving it in Osman's cave. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at anything but Kongar as she heard him sigh in exasperation. "Do I have to tie you to everything you own so you don't lose it?"

Ceyda crossed her arms and stared at him. "Well, you tell me? Where are my weapons?"

Kongar mocked her and crossed his arms too. "I don't know. I didn't lose them."

"No, my weapons," she gestured to her back. "The ones I kept there."

Kongar remembered, "They're with Balgay."

"So, let's go."

Kongar exhaled heavily. He took out a spare dagger and handed it to her. "Use this... for now."

Ceyda refused it, "Why do we need weapons?"

"Will you just take it?"

"Why do we need weapons?"

Kongar stuffed the dagger in her belt, startling Ceyda. She huffed and looked behind Kongar. Not too far ahead, she could see a camp. It looked as if it had been newly-made. She continued studying the tribe when she recognized the blue flags. "This... is the Kayi's camp."

"So?"

"Why are we here?"

"We will raid it." Ceyda could feel the smirk on his face.

"Why?"

"It doesn't matter why. Besides, they killed your family. It's about time you get your revenge."

Ceyda furrowed her brow, then remembered. He still thought she was brainwashed. She turned to him and forced a smirk, "If you need the horse, then how will I enter."

Kongar thought about this, "Fine, then you stay here." He mounted his horse and rode towards the tribe with the soldiers. Ceyda watched sadly as he slaughtered the alps mercilessly, and a familiar feeling washed over her. The feeling of being useless. Helpless. She could not do anything but watch, and she hated it. She clenched her fist to keep her from intervening.

Suddenly, she heard the bushes behind her rustle. She quickly turned around, holding out Kongar's dagger when Osman and his alps emerged. Ceyda sighed in relief and lowered the dagger, then grinned at her friends, "I told you, Osman. We would see each other very soon."

Osman smiled, "I thought you said you were going back to Balgay."

"I thought I was... Anyways, Kongar has already started the raid. Samsa Bey is wounded and outnumbered. You have to hurry."

Osman nodded and gestured for his alps to follow. Ceyda's eyes landed on Konur. She smiled at him, but he just glanced at her and watched Osman leave, confusing Ceyda. When everyone left, he walked to her, getting something out of his armour. He took out two gold and black daggers and handed them to her, not meeting her eyes, "These... are yours. This one is from the graveyard, and this is from the tree. Sometimes I wonder how many daggers you have. I thought you might need them."