بخش 15
Prose Version
Furious at Hajir's deception, Sohrab turned away and prepared for battle. He donned his armor and helmet, mounted his swift horse, and rode out like a drunken elephant, challenging the Iranian host. No warrior dared to meet his gaze. He mocked King Kavus, questioning his right to rule and threatening to hang him alive, vowing to leave no spearman standing in Iran. He then attacked the camp, uprooting tent pegs with his spear and causing panic among the soldiers. Terrified, Kavus sent Tus to summon Rustam. Rustam, though complaining that the King only remembered him in times of danger, donned his legendary tiger-skin armor, the Babr-e Bayan, and mounted Rakhsh. When he rode out and saw Sohrab, he was struck by the youth's resemblance to his own grandfather, Sam. Rustam invited Sohrab to fight apart from the armies, and Sohrab agreed. The young warrior taunted Rustam, mocking his age and claiming he would not last a single blow. Rustam replied calmly, warning Sohrab not to underestimate him, recounting his many victories over demons and armies. Then, Sohrab asked the question that could have saved them both: "Are you Rustam, of the line of Nariman?" But Rustam, wishing to conceal his identity, denied it, claiming to be a lesser warrior. Sohrab's heart sank, his hope of finding his father shattered.