The next morning, Isaakios stood by the window of his chamber, gazing out over Constantinople. The bustling city seemed so serene from above, yet he knew that underneath the surface, tension was brewing. Before his departure, there was one final matter he needed to address. He turned to Ilkay Khatun.
"Before I leave, I must speak with the leader of Timurtaş's personal guard," he said, his voice carrying the weight of importance.
Ilkay nodded. "Temuçin. He's a difficult one, but he listens to reason."
Together, they made their way to the courtyard where they summoned Temuçin, the commander of Timurtaş's elite personal guard. Temuçin arrived swiftly, his imposing figure cutting through the air with a sense of authority. His dark eyes revealed nothing, but there was an unmistakable tension between the two men.
Isakios studied him for a moment before speaking, his tone carefully measured. "Ah... Timuçin, if I recall correctly. You've served Timurtaş faithfully for many years, haven't you?"
Temuçin stepped forward, his expression hard as stone. "My name is Temuçin, Duke Isaakios," he corrected with a subtle edge to his voice. "We know our duty. It is to the one who rules Türk-il, and neither you nor Ilkay Khatun are in a position to command my men. We shall guard the capital and secure it until a new Khagan is chosen. We are neutral... for now."
His words were sharp and clear, leaving little room for misinterpretation. Temuçin was not a man easily swayed by titles or empty promises. His loyalty lay not with the individuals who tried to control him, but with the legacy of Türk-il itself. However, there was an underlying ambition within him, a hunger for more power that Isaakios could sense.
Isakios, a man seasoned in the art of politics, smiled softly at the rebuke. He understood the delicate dance of power all too well. "Of course, Temuçin. I haven't forgotten your role in this... game." His voice held a slight teasing tone. "After all, your salary is still paid by us, isn't it?"
There was a subtle tension in the air, but Isaakios handled it with the grace of a seasoned diplomat. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and he knew how to play the game. Temuçin, however, wasn't amused by the jest. His loyalty wasn't something to be bought, nor was it something to be questioned. His lineage descended from one of Doğukan's generals which made him proud, and that pride fueled his desire for more. Doğukan Kutlu warrior was Timurtaş's great uncle.
Doğukan , a revered warrior and Timurtaş's great uncle, played a crucial role in shaping the young khagan's early life. When Timurtaş took the throne at the tender age of 4, he was vulnerable, not just as a child, but as a ruler in a realm where power could shift in an instant. Doğukan, sensing the opportunity, initially thought of eliminating Timurtaş and seizing the throne for himself. But something held him back--a recognition of the potential that simmered beneath the surface of the young boy.
Instead of outright usurpation, Doğukan made a strategic decision. He would not kill Timurtaş but rather allow him to grow under his shadow, controlling him from behind the scenes. In this way, Doğukan maintained a strong influence over the boy, guiding his development and ensuring his own power remained unchallenged. He served as both protector and manipulator, keeping Timurtaş close while subtly keeping his own ambitions alive.
However, fate had other plans. Doğukan's unexpected death left Timurtaş with a clear path to the throne, free from the tight grip of his great uncle. For the first time, Timurtaş stood alone, unshackled by the controlling figure who had loomed over his life. And with Doğukan no longer in his way, Timurtaş was poised to rise to greatness, becoming the unstoppable force of legend he was destined to be.
Temuçin's bloodline gave him a sense of superiority. His great-uncle who was in Doğukan's army started to protect Timurtaş and Temuçin was his grandson. His family was in this position, and he had every intention of maintaining the power he wielded, despite the uncertainty of Timurtaş's death. The future of his men, and his own future, was a foggy one. With Uluç potentially dismantling his regiment or Kutay executing them altogether, Temuçin knew he had to play his cards carefully.
For now, he remained neutral, but his mind was already working on his own plans of survival. He couldn't trust any of them—Isakios, Ilkay, or even Uluç. His allegiance to Türk-il was clear, but that didn't mean he would sit idly by and watch the world around him crumble. His men were too valuable for that, and so was he.
After the brief exchange, Isakios and Ilkay Khatun departed. Isakios made his way to the city gates, preparing to leave Constantinople in search of Kara and Wolfram. He knew the road ahead was fraught with challenges, but he also knew that Kara's unpredictable nature and Wolfram's precarious position needed careful attention. Their safety, as well as the future of Türk-il, depended on what happened next.
Meanwhile, as Temuçin watched them leave, his expression remained impassive. He was a man of few words, but his thoughts were racing. Timurtaş was dead, and with his death, the world was about to change. Temuçin knew that his regiment, his power, and his future hung in the balance. He couldn't rely on Uluç or Kutay to save him, so he would have to save himself. And in this game of survival, Temuçin was determined to come out on top.
As the gates of Constantinople closed behind Isakios, Temuçin turned back to the shadows of the city. He had his own plans to set in motion.