Ilkay Khatun leaned back in her chair, her eyes distant, as if she was recalling a distant memory. "I remember when Wolfram first came to Constantinople," she began, a soft smile playing on her lips. "He was barely nine years old, a boy who had just been taken from the court of the Holy Roman Emperor. He knew nothing about our culture, our ways, or our language. The poor boy was so lost, only able to speak High German and a little bit of Ancient Greek. But then Timurtaş—bless his soul—took him in. He gave him the name Gengiz and made sure he was raised as one of us."
The women around the table listened closely, intrigued by the story of Wolfram's upbringing. Even Isaakios, who had been quiet for a moment, leaned in to hear more.
"Timurtaş appointed the best teachers in the realm for him," Ilkay continued. "Scholars, philosophers, and warriors—he learned from all of them. He was taught languages, history, geography, everything. He became more than just a hostage; he became a scholar, learning from the finest minds in Constantinople. And when he grew older, when he could finally grow a beard, he simply... vanished. None of us knew where he went."
She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. "It wasn't until I saw him with Kara after all these years that I realized he had been in special training with him. Kara was the one who trained him like a Tharkan warrior. It made sense, of course. Wolfram wasn't just learning the ways of the scholar, but also the ways of the warrior."
Isaakios nodded, his face thoughtful. "I've heard the same," he said, his voice grave. "They say Kara was one of the deadliest Tharkan warriors of his time. He was brutal, efficient, and unyielding. Once he became seasoned, I don't think anyone dared challenge him. I've also heard rumors that Wolfram learned much of his fighting skills from Kara—skills he'll need now more than ever."
The room fell silent for a moment, the women exchanging glances, some intrigued, others worried.
Then, Isakios added, "But there's something else you should know. Kara... he left Uluç's army on bad terms. Whatever happened between them, it wasn't good. Uluç may be unforgiving, but he wouldn't want to see Kara dead. Not after all they've been through together. But Kara... he can be reckless. And if Wolfram is with him, then they're both in danger."
He stood up, his tone now serious. "I must depart from Constantinople soon. I have to find Kara and ensure that he doesn't do anything foolish. If Uluç finds out about what happened, there could be consequences. And as for Wolfram Gengiz, his safety is paramount. He may not be of our blood, but he's lived among us for so long. We cannot afford to lose him."
The women murmured among themselves, clearly concerned by the gravity of Isaakios' words. Ilkay Khatun watched him with a knowing look, aware that Isaakios wasn't just concerned for Kara and Wolfram—he was also thinking about the future of the empire and how these two men could influence it.
"I'll ensure their safety," Isaakios said firmly. "I'll bring them back."
And with that, the conversation shifted, but the air remained tense. Everyone knew that wherever Kara and Wolfram were, they were walking a dangerous path.