Although the boys had initially been half-hearted about the oath, in the days that followed, the bond between them grew significantly, as though they had found a sense of belonging.
Aryan himself began to see the value in the oath. With no allies, no secret martial arts techniques, and no means of vengeance other than underhanded tactics, having a group of brothers was not a bad thing after all.
Of course, he would never reveal his secrets. Like the others, he would find ways to use them, but he would never speak the truth.
In the days leading up to the lady's wedding, the brotherhood entered its honeymoon phase. They helped each other, learned each other's languages, and even shared a few playful jests. No one anticipated what life in Alamut Castle would be like.
On the morning of the lady's wedding, the entire camp had been thoroughly re-decorated. From "The Iron-headed Demon" to the lowest of the henchmen, everyone was dressed meticulously, shedding some of their notorious brigandry.
Nearly a thousand of the band's members, regardless of rank or status, crowded along the roadsides, eager to catch a glimpse of the groom. After all, he was the eighth son of the "King of Assassins"—a figure even members of the largest crime syndicate would rarely have the chance to see.
Aryan was particularly eager to see him.
The tale of Alamut Castle's massacre of the Western Kingdom's Gulen family had spread far and wide, and the Khurshah family made no attempt to conceal the details. As the story unfolded, the entire sequence of events became clearer to Aryan.
This operation—what the Iron Mountain band referred to as "business"—was orchestrated by Rashid, the eighth son of the "King of Assassins." He commanded a force of twenty assassins and seventy bladesmen, and it was rumored that a "Black-Faced" assassin was also part of his crew.
Bladesmen, assassins, and the elusive Black-Faced were the distinct ranks within Alamut Castle. Bladesmen were the lowest tier, often recruited from various parts of Central Asia. Assassins, however, were trained within Alamut Castle itself, and their martial prowess was far superior. They formed the core of the castle's strength. The Black-Faced assassins were the most mysterious of all—some even doubted their existence. In the legends, they were said to be the most skilled, wearing black masks, their true identities concealed.
The force of twenty assassins and seventy bladesmen was a formidable one, and some even considered it overkill for a simple task.
According to Alamut Castle's custom, bladesmen were responsible for reconnaissance, sentry duty, and the like, only engaging in killing when absolutely necessary. The most critical assassinations were carried out by the assassins themselves.
It was these bladesmen who had been spying on the estate from the hills, sneaking in to gather intelligence, and chasing down the five who had unexpectedly fled the estate, only to be knocked off their horses by the old servant, Sabir.
Once everything was in place, twenty assassins—along with Rashid and the mysterious Black-Faced—made their way into the Gulen estate under the cover of darkness. First, they silently eliminated the night watchmen, then struck down the head of the household, followed by the sleeping servants.
The entire operation was meticulously planned, and as a result, it went off without a hitch. No resistance was met, and in Alamut Castle's eyes, the absence of conflict was the best outcome.
The estate's treasures were swiftly looted and set ablaze, in accordance with Alamut Castle's standard procedures. Items too heavy to move were left behind, for the bandits with sharper noses to claim.
Had everything gone according to plan, this would have been the start of a glorious future for Rashid.
This was Rashid's first independent mission. Upon its success, he would have earned the right to establish his own faction, gaining a loyal following. He would also marry the daughter of the leader of Central Asia's largest crime syndicate, cementing his family's power and ensuring his own future.
But everything fell apart because of one fourteen-year-old boy who slipped through the cracks.
The escape of Aryan became the subject of much speculation. It was believed that Gulen, ever crafty, had dispatched several groups to divert the bladesmen's attention, thus allowing his daughter and youngest son to flee.
Rashid, in a moment of miscalculation, had only sent bladesmen after them. Three of them never returned, and after the massacre, two of the young masters were found to be missing. Rashid promptly dispatched his assassins, who brought him the head he wanted.
But it was the wrong head.
The head believed to belong to the Gulen family's youngest son actually belonged to an unknown individual.
This grave mistake could not be forgiven. As punishment, the "King of Assassins" ordered that Rashid lose one of his hands, while Rashid retaliated by severing the hands of several bladesmen and assassins.
Rashid's promising future was dashed before it even began. Though the "King of Assassins" never officially announced it, everyone was certain that Rashid would not be allowed to establish his own faction for a long time. His marriage to "The Iron-headed Demon's" daughter was not annulled, but it ceased to be his marriage. It became a purely political union, necessary for both the "King of Assassins" and "The Iron-headed Demon," as neither had any other children of the appropriate age.
What disappointed Aryan most was that the fate of the Gulen family's daughter, Hafsa, was rarely mentioned. People either assumed she was dead or simply ignored her.
As for the reasons behind the massacre, there were many rumors, so muddled and conflicting that no one could tell which were true. Whether it was for wealth, treasures, reputation, revenge, or some personal vendetta, it was hard to say. After all, this wasn't the first time Alamut Castle had wiped out a family, and the Iron Mountain band would not have taken an interest had the lady not been involved.
The most astounding aspect of the entire affair was its final outcome. It was said that the "King of Assassins" issued a ruthless order, demanding that Rashid return with the correct head within seven days.
Rashid did succeed in this, though the mention of it was understated. How far could a fourteen-year-old boy run in the deserts of Central Asia? It was only a matter of time before he was captured by Alamut Castle's relentless pursuit.
But Aryan knew the truth—he had survived.
How he had miraculously escaped, he had a rough idea: First, it was Sabir's plan—he had arranged for the young scholar Halim to impersonate the youngest master, and another child to pose as the scholar. Yet even this was not enough. A series of fortunate accidents followed: Aryan had taken a wrong turn, was captured by unfamiliar bandits after returning to the estate, and those bandits were killed by the Snow Mountain swordsman. "The Iron-headed Demon" had then inexplicably bought him from among the many slaves.
These coincidences had prevented Rashid from tracking down the one who slipped through the cracks, forcing him to substitute someone else's head.
Rashid returned to Alamut Castle with yet another wrong head, but this time, how it escaped detection was something Aryan could never unravel, no matter how hard he tried.
The wedding procession from Alamut Castle had arrived.
Dozens of brilliantly dressed knights formed two neat rows ahead. Though few in number, each of them was strikingly handsome, and their horses, all a deep crimson, were impeccably trained, moving in perfect unison. Their imposing presence alone was enough to overshadow the scattered onlookers of the bandits.
Following them was a palanquin carried by eight men, with the groom, Rashid, riding beside it on horseback.
Rashid was indeed the epitome of a groom, yet his face bore none of the joyful, radiant smile one would expect from a newlywed. Instead, he maintained his usual cold, indifferent demeanor, ignoring the admiration and pointed gazes of the thousands who had gathered.
He appeared more like a newly appointed general inspecting his undisciplined troops.
At his waist hung a blade, its jet-black scabbard clashing with the otherwise pristine procession, drawing unwelcome attention.
The men of the Khurshah family never parted from their blades, and the crowd murmured this explanation, excusing the groom's impolite conduct.
What intrigued them more, however, was the mystery of Rashid's right hand, the very hand severed by his father, the "King of Assassins."
Without his sword-bearing hand, Rashid, even as a Khurshah, seemed little more than a tiger deprived of its claws.
His right arm was completely concealed within his long sleeve, and the reins were hidden inside, gripped by some unseen object. To the casual observer, it appeared no different from the arm of any other man.
Those with a modicum of courtesy would not stare at another's flaw, but in the Iron Mountain bandit camp, courtesy was as rare as compassion. Thousands of eyes, after scanning the entire wedding procession and the groom's attire, fixated on the concealed, useless hand.
Rashid's expression grew colder, as though he himself were part of the "Iron Mountain" itself.
From a distance, "The Iron-headed Demon" caught sight of Rashid, and a smile spread across his face, clearing the clouds in his heart. Here came the true son of the "King of Assassins," a man beyond reproach. No one could discern any imperfection in him. This young man was truly worthy of his daughter. He opened his arms wide, ready to embrace his son-in-law.
Aryan also saw his enemy. The ten pairs of young boys and girls, along with a group of leaders, stood behind "The Iron-headed Demon," and he could clearly see the groom dismount to pay his respects to his father-in-law. When "The Iron-headed Demon" helped his son-in-law to his feet and gave him a warm embrace, Aryan noticed the glint of an iron hook emerging from Rashid's sleeve.
The hook flashed briefly, and Aryan was surprisingly calm, not feeling the anxiety he had anticipated.
This was the enemy of the Gulen family, perhaps this very young man had personally killed the Gulens and severed their heads.
Holding a red gift box, Aryan stood only a few steps away from Rashid. Suddenly, an impulse surged within him to rush forward, his body instinctively leaning forward.
A stern gaze fell upon him—Firouzeh was watching, silently warning him not to disgrace himself in front of the groom.
Startled, Aryan snapped back to his senses, immediately straightening his posture. His life had been spared by his father's painstaking efforts, and by the selfless sacrifices of Master Sabir and his sister. He could not waste it so easily.
He sought vengeance, but his target was no longer Rashid alone. The hatred of a family's annihilation could only be repaid with the annihilation of a family.
He had divine will guiding him.
Rashid rose, casually sweeping his gaze over the people behind his father-in-law. "The Iron-headed Demon" was a towering figure, obscuring many, yet Rashid still noticed a group of grinning bandits with crude faces. Despite their new clothes, the filth and brutishness of their appearance could not be concealed.
Rashid felt a pang of disappointment. Was this the power he was supposed to win over? How could his father have ever been impressed by such a ragtag group?
Aryan boldly met his gaze,He had to take a gamble, betting that Rashid and his close attendants wouldn't be able to recognize him directly. If they did, then in the time to come, no matter what, he would never be able to escape.
but Rashid showed no sign of recognition.
From the moment Aryan decided to infiltrate Alamut Castle, he knew the immense risk he was taking: someone here might recognize him, perhaps Rashid had already learned of his appearance.
Rashid had not identified him, so the first hurdle had been passed. But once inside the castle, how long could he continue to hide?
Aryan knew that the time given to him by divine will to exact his revenge was limited, and he had to act swiftly.