بخش 21
Prose Version
In this section, Afrasiyab, the King of Turan, receives news of his army's defeat and Piran's capture. Enraged, he gathers a fresh army and rushes to the battlefield, covering two days' journey in one. He finds his troops scattered and demoralized. He questions them, and Sepehrm reveals that a single warrior, Giv, defeated the entire army. Afrasiyab then encounters Piran, wounded and bound. Piran describes Giv's supernatural strength and explains how he was captured and forced to swear an oath to save his life. Afrasiyab, furious and contemptuous, dismisses Piran and vows to catch the fugitives himself, fearing the prophecy that a king born of both Turanian and Kayanian blood will destroy Turan. He orders his commander Human to race to the Jihun River (Oxus) to cut off their escape. Meanwhile, Keykhosrow, Giv, and Farangis reach the Jihun, desperate to cross. They ask the ferryman for passage, but the greedy man demands an exorbitant toll: either Giv's armor, the legendary horse Shabrang Behzad, Farangis, or Keykhosrow himself. Giv refuses these impossible demands and decides they must swim across the perilous river on their horses. Keykhosrow prays to God for protection, and trusting in divine favor, rides his horse into the rushing waters. Farangis and Giv follow him. Miraculously, they cross the swollen river safely, a feat that astounds the ferryman, who compares it to the legendary crossing of Fereydun. Realizing his mistake, the ferryman tries to apologize with gifts, but Giv rebukes him and sends him away. Shortly after, Afrasiyab arrives at the riverbank, only to find the fugitives have already crossed and there are no boats available.