Chapter 54 - Volume 6 - Chapter 9 - Putting an end to the matter...

|Morning of November 9th – 1249 – Camp on the banks of the Tigris River – Attila|

The river was in a pitiful state. It looked like a cursed river capable of killing anyone who tried to cross it.

The river had a peculiar colour, a mixture created from the black of the pitch and the red blood of all the dead soldiers who were burned.

A horrifying scene. In any case, this first Mongol assault was repelled.

The Sultan approached me and said:<>

<>

<>We were both looking at the opposite bank, expecting a reaction from our enemies.

<>the Sultan as

ked me.

<>

As I was saying this, on the other side of the river, Batu himself was making a gesture with his hands.

He gestured in such a way as to communicate that we should return to the small island where we had met last time.

Reluctantly, we made it clear that we had received the message.

We began to organize ourselves to somehow reach the island by noon.

Fortunately, we had a small boat that had been brought to the shore before it burned.

Once we reached the island this way, the Mongols did the same.

Finally, we could confront the Khan again.

|Morning of November 9th – 1249 – Camp on the banks of the Tigris River (on the island) – Attila|

This time, the Khan unexpectedly brought his famous wife of Russian origin.

This time, there were no chairs, no tables, nothing at all.

<> said the Khan.

We remained silent.

<>

I took the floor: <>

<>

<>

This is a total bluff.

We have run out of pitch because the Sultan, seized by panic, poured it all out last night.

So we have no more supplies to cover other parts of the river.

<> replied the Khan.

He turned towards his side fo the river and gestured with his hands as if indicating to stop something.

Apparently, he wanted to attack us during a diplomatic meeting; what a bastard.

Batu turned toward us, sighed, and said:<>

<> said the Sultan.

My dear Sultan perhaps forgot that he is talking to culturally inferior beings; they don't even know what chess is.

<> replied the Khan.

Exactly.

<> said the Khan's wife, who had been silent until now.

<> she continued.

<> the Sultan replied to her.

However, the Khan intervened: <>

<>

Very confident, this woman.

But things are looking grim.

These days it is well known that, in general, the Russian population is very cultured when it comes to chess.

If this woman is telling the truth, then it's a problem.

But this makes no difference; this is a game of maximum difficulty. So for me, it will be like playing against AI, a victory that (no matter how good I am at chess) is impossible.

I need to prevent this game from happening

<> I said.

<> the Sultan said to me.

<>

<> said the Khan.

<> I replied.

<> shouted the Khan's wife.

<> he yelled at her.

Perfect, she took the bait like a fish on a hook.

<>

<>

<>

No, I would never do that...

<>

<> I said, looking at the Sultan as well.

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

The Sultan looked at me with a worried expression but decided to relent.

<>

He took his leave and returned to the boat.

In the meantime, the Khan was able to get his wife off the small island.

Finally, we were left alone, although both sides could still see us.

<> Batu said.

<>

<>

<>

With those last words, the confrontation between me and the Khan began.

I drew my sword from its sheath.

He, on the other hand, took off his stinking furs and decided to fight bare-chested.

Thanks, but I'll stick with my armour.

Batu also took his sword; it was a longer version of the Turkish saberes.

That mass of muscle began to move closer to me.

I stood firm, waiting for him.

<>

<>

Once I answered, he quickened his pace until he was in range and threw a quick strike aimed at my legs (the trajectory from above downwards).

I just needed to use my sword as a guide to manipulate his sword, forcing it to hit the ground.

Realizing this, he stepped back.

<>

I remained silent.

In fact, I gestured with my hand for him to come at me.

It was very satisfying to see his expression; he wanted to kill me, but at the same time, he was holding himself back to avoid acting impulsively.

<> I told him, starting to walk toward him.

<> he replied, attempting to swing again.

This time he aimed for another downward strike but tried to cut my arm where I held the sword.

Maybe he thought he could defeat me by removing my ability to use my skills with the sword.

Despite the speed of his strike, I managed to dodge it with a quick lateral jump.

After all, it's always the same story: a big opponent thinks he has the advantage because of his physique.

But it's "physics" itself (the science of it all) that proves him wrong.

His sword struck the ground again, missing me once more.

I believe he expected that; he tried to make an upward cut, attempting to catch me off guard.

Nothing could be simpler; I simply kept his sword pinned to the ground with my foot.

As he realized it wasn't so easy to lift the sword, he aimed to cut my hand.

With reflexes I didn't expect, he let go of the sword and hopped back.

He was left empty-handed.

I quickly grabbed his sword and threw it into the pitch-filled river.

The Khan looked at me, astonished: <>

<>

<>

I started chuckling; not only had I disarmed him with ease, but he was still trying to act tough.

Seeing me laugh, his expression changed; it became grim and serious.

I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.

Rasha, from my side of the river, shot a flaming arrow into the river so that the pitch could start burning again.

Sure, it would burn less, but enough to finish my job.

The little island was large enough to have clean air in the centre, and anyway, we weren't inside a building, so the toxic gases produced by the combustion weren't that dangerous (they're still dangerous, but it's not the same as breathing them all in like being in a burning building).

So not only had I disarmed him, but I had also trapped him.

There it was, that macabre smile that always comes to me in such situations.

<> said the Khan, perhaps realizing the situation he was in.

I needed to exploit the advantage of still being armed.

I began to move closer to him.

Every time I was within striking distance, I pushed Batu further toward the edge of the island.

After a few strikes, the Khan realized he had to react, or he would die.

Just after dodging my last swing, he grabbed my wrist with both hands, trying to squeeze it.

With my other hand, I took hold of his neck, applying force that I didn't believe I had.

It was probably an effect of adrenaline.

As soon as he realized I was willing to choke him, I would give up the wrist he was holding, he decided to try to pry my grip on his neck loose with one hand, thinking it would be sufficient.

Unfortunately for him, it wasn't enough; he needed both hands.

He decided to abandon the wrist in the hand that I held the sword and used both hands to try to pry himself away from me.

At that point, with my other free hand, I slashed his left leg obliquely.

I let go of my grip, allowing him to fall to the ground.

He held back a scream.

Once he was immobile on the ground, it was time for the final blow.

But surprisingly, he rolled to dodge it.

Since he had lost a leg, the only way to move was using his arms.

It was a truly pathetic scene, watching a man revert to crawling (well, three-legged in his case).

From then on, I enjoyed making little cuts on his body, knowing that every time I attempted a big blow, he did everything to avoid it.

<>

He knelt down (on the one leg he had left) and replied:<>

<>

Once I reached him, I raised my sword to the sky.

<> it was the voice of his wife.

Batu, who just a second before had accepted his fate, regained courage and, with both hands, tried for one last time to grab me.

This time, he caught me by the hips, just below the stomach.

He tried to put pressure on those points where you can feel sharp pain (so in the kidneys if I'm not mistaken).

But I didn't give him even the time to create sufficient pain.

With my sword, I plunged it deep from shoulder to inside.

He lost strength in his arms.

"Batu! Batu! Respond!" his wife continued to shout.

<> said the Khan in pain.

<>

I leaned toward him and smiled:<>

<>

Those were the last words of Batu Khan, perhaps the last Khan in history.

I cut off his head as a trophy.

Now I just have to wait for the fire to die down.