Ilkay Hatun, at the age of 60, was well-versed in all the rumors and gossip circulating throughout the realm. Having lived through the golden years of the empire and witnessed the rise of its most prominent figures, she knew all the secrets—both whispered and spoken aloud. She remembered the true names of men like Kara, Baypars, and others who had risen to fame and power. She could recall their youth, their triumphs, and even their darkest moments. As she sat with Isaakios, he brought up one such incident, his voice low and laden with curiosity.
"I've heard," Isaakios began, "that Kara once executed four Kipchaks and seized their wealth. They say it happened out of nowhere, in broad daylight. Have you heard of this?"
Ilkay Hatun nodded knowingly, a faint smile on her lips as she leaned back in her chair. "Yes, I've heard it too. But this is not the first time Kara has done something like that. You see, Kara had a certain way of maintaining order, one that often involved brutality when necessary. And it wasn't just the enemies of the state that he targeted; even members of local Turkic tribes were not spared if they defied the rule of law. It's no wonder they called him Deccal, the Antichrist, especially in Eastern Europe."
Isaakios furrowed his brow as he listened, fascinated by her recollections. "Deccal? That's what they called him?"
Ilkay Hatun leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Yes, they feared him. They called him the Deccal because, to them, he was an unstoppable force of destruction, bringing judgment to anyone who dared challenge the empire. Kara was ruthless when it came to enforcing the law. He was given so much power by Timurtaş, and he wielded that power without hesitation. His loyalty to Timurtaş was unquestionable, and he carried out the will of the Marshal with an iron fist."
Isaakios nodded, absorbing the weight of her words. "So it's true, then. He killed them not because they were rebels, but simply to maintain order."
"Exactly," Ilkay Hatun confirmed. "Kara would execute those who stepped out of line, even if they were Turkic. He saw no difference between them and the enemies of the empire if they threatened the stability Timurtaş had worked so hard to maintain. That's why they called him Deccal—he was the enforcer of Timurtaş's harshest punishments. The people feared him because his wrath was indiscriminate. And with his towering physique, he was instantly recognizable wherever he went. You couldn't miss him, even in a crowd."
Isaakios sat back, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've heard stories of his strength, but I didn't realize the extent of his reputation. They say he once killed several men in a tavern in Edirne, Kipchak Turks. Just like that."
Ilkay Hatun's eyes gleamed with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. "Yes, that's true as well. It happened during one of his campaigns to restore order in the Balkans. Kara's task was to impose Timurtaş's justice, and he did so without mercy. The Kipchak Turks he killed had been accused of inciting unrest, and Kara didn't hesitate. He handled it the only way he knew—by crushing any threat before it could spread."
Isaakios leaned in, intrigued. "But why did they fear him so much? There must have been other commanders just as ruthless, yet none of them are remembered the way Kara is."
Ilkay Hatun's smile widened slightly as she recalled the man's larger-than-life presence. "It was his sheer size, his imposing figure. Kara was not just any man. He was a mountain of a warrior, a giant who could strike fear into the hearts of anyone who crossed his path. His size alone made him unforgettable. But more than that, it was his unwavering loyalty to Timurtaş and his willingness to carry out orders, no matter how brutal. Wherever Kara went, death and judgment followed."
Isaakios nodded, beginning to understand why the man had become such a legendary figure. "So, the rumors are true. He was the enforcer of Timurtaş's rule, the one who made sure no one dared step out of line."
"Yes," Ilkay Hatun replied. "Kara was Timurtaş's right hand. He attended the councils, advised the Marshal, and was present for every major decision. But it was his reputation for violence that earned him the name Deccal. People saw him as a walking symbol of death—an executioner who would bring Timurtaş's justice to anyone, anywhere. And because of his strength, because of his massive, unmistakable figure, no one could ignore him. He was a force to be reckoned with, and he left his mark wherever he went."
Isaakios sat back, lost in thought. He had heard stories of Kara, but hearing it from Ilkay Hatun, who had lived through those times, made it all the more real. Kara wasn't just a warrior; he was a symbol of the empire's iron grip on the lands it ruled.
"Kara..." Isaakios murmured, his voice trailing off as he considered the weight of the name. "No wonder they called him Deccal. He was more than just a man—he was the empire's wrath made flesh."
Ilkay Hatun nodded, her gaze distant as she remembered those days. "Yes, and his legend lives on. Even now, the stories of his deeds are whispered in taverns and courts across the empire. Kara's name will be remembered long after we're gone."
As they sat in silence, the fire crackling softly in the background, the weight of history hung heavy between them. Kara, the enforcer, the Deccal, had left his mark on the empire in more ways than one. His strength, his ruthlessness, and his unyielding loyalty to Timurtaş had made him a legend—a legend that would be told for generations to come.