بخش 7
Prose Version
Garsivaz arrives at the Iranian camp with the magnificent gifts and delivers Afrasiyab's message of peace. Siavash, surprised by the sudden offer and the lavishness of the gifts, consults with Rostam. They are suspicious but agree to consider the proposal carefully. After a week of deliberation and gathering intelligence, Siavash and Rostam decide that accepting peace is the wisest course of action, provided Afrasiyab agrees to their terms. Siavash meets Garsivaz and states his conditions: Afrasiyab must return all Iranian lands he has occupied and send one hundred of his close relatives as hostages to ensure he keeps his word. Garsivaz relays these harsh conditions to Afrasiyab. Afrasiyab, desperate to avoid the prophecy's outcome, reluctantly agrees and sends the hostages along with more gifts. He withdraws his troops from the occupied lands, including Bukhara, Samarkand, and Sogdiana, and retreats to Gang. Siavash, pleased with the outcome, sends Rostam to King Kavus with a letter explaining the situation and asking for his approval of the peace treaty. He believes he has achieved a great victory without shedding blood. However, when Rostam delivers the news to Kavus, the King is furious. He accuses Siavash and Rostam of being deceived by Afrasiyab and accepting bribes. He believes Afrasiyab is weak and should be destroyed, not given a chance to regroup. Kavus rejects the peace treaty and orders Siavash to kill the hostages and attack Afrasiyab immediately. Rostam defends Siavash, arguing that breaking a treaty is dishonorable and that peace is preferable to war when the enemy has conceded. Kavus, in a rage, dismisses Rostam, accusing him of being the bad influence on Siavash. He orders Tus to take command of the army and tells Rostam to return to Sistan. Rostam leaves the court in anger, predicting disaster. Kavus then writes a harsh letter to Siavash, ordering him to break the treaty or hand over command to Tus and return to the court.