ON THE TRACK OF THE SUN
Legendary Saga from the Island of Krk [1]
Children, I heard this from my grandfather, and he heard it from his, this story was passed down from clan to clan, since the beginning of our clan, our tribe and our nation. Remember this well because one day you will also have grandchildren, who will want to learn everything about our clan, tribe and nation.[2]
Anton Mrakovčić Pavlić
I. RED WARRIORS OF CHORASMIA
1. After the turmoil of a working day had passed, the Emperor of Chorasmia[3], a vast Empire that stretched from Asia Minor on the north[4] to Indian Mogul on the south[5], from Afghanistan on the east[6] to the Red Sea on the west[7], went to rest on a terrace, in a deep shade of a pergola, over which a thick vine had untangled its branches, shoots and dense leaves. From the terrace, there was a magnificent view over the Tigris and its green plains.
2. The plains stretched as far as the eye could see. They were split into smaller squares, crops. The color of each crop showed what was growing there. Near the Tigris, fields of reed and bulrush spread up to 300-500 fathoms[8] wide. Behind the bulrush, in front of the field, a high embankment was built as a protection from flooding.
THE EMBANKMENT
3. Every here and there, the embankment[9] had openings locked by double wooden doors, gates. Special mechanisms raised and lowered the gates, and during high waters, people threw loam[10] and stones over it, so it appeared as small hills on top of the embankment. His ancestors built the embankment.
4. Thousands and thousands of people worked on the embankment. Thousands of oxen, horses, mules and donkeys were dragging the carts filled with stones and carrying soil and loam in special wicker baskets, which hung from the pack saddles on both sides of the animal. The bottom of a basket was locked by a handle. Before the basket was opened, they would protect the feet of the animal with boards, and then let the soil and loam fall from the basket to the ground.
5. People who worked on the embankments were paid very well, they were devoted and did their jobs professionally. They lived, worked and died on the embankments. Around the embankments people were grazing their cattle, cultivating gardens, sowing grain, sorghum, summer cypress and rye. They were also planting turnips, carrots, squash and cucumbers. They planted vines, fig trees and dates on top of the embankments. Everything that grew there was nice, sturdy and healthy. The imperial court was filled with fruits and vegetables from the embankments.
6. Every year, they reserved large amounts of money for financing the construction of the embankments. They had a big impact on the harvest, which also had an impact on the amount of money that was going to end up back in the imperial treasury. The Tigris looked like a fishbone, a spine from which the rib bones spread on both sides. From the above, it seemed like a wide green and blue line that disappeared and vanished somewhere far away in a white haze.
7. During the droughts, they released water and irrigated the fields from the outlets in the embankments. All the canals were then filled with water, shining as silver lines beneath the bright sun, with storks, ducks, geese, swans, woodcocks and herons walking around while hunting for frogs, snakes, worms and little fish. Every summer these canals had to be cleaned because they would quickly get filled and clogged with reed, bulrush and other aquatic plants.
THE TRAVEL ALONG THE EMBANKMENT
8. He remembered the first time he visited the embankment with his father. His father, the Emperor, knew all the master builders, so they took him and his entourage along the embankment and explained how they built everything and what was left to be done. They took a long drive along the embankment in their carriages.
9. Every night they would stop and arrange their cars and carriages in a circle. In the middle, they would light a fire, eat, drink and roast meat. They would sing until late into the night. On the fifteenth day, they had reached the end of the embankment. Then the master builder started explaining where they planned to start building farther.
10. They placed willow sticks where the biggest amount of water was coming from. The sticks stuck out one fathom high above the ground. That was the first step. He was a curious and nosey ten-year-old, so he did not miss not even one word from the master builder. The master was explaining and pointing to the place right next to the willow sticks, where they would build a stonewall using the biggest stones. These stones were brought to the construction site inside big baskets on carriages from distant quarries.
11. They spent days and nights extracting the stones, which were towed by the four biggest oxen. After they brought the stones, they arranged them in piles, and later used for building the large stonewalls[11]. They built the stonewalls by forming two lines of big stones and filling the middle with gravel and grit.
12. The first stonewall, the one made of the biggest stones, will be right next to the willow sticks, which will later become willow trees and protect the stonewall from high waters with its trunks. Three fathoms behind the first one, there will be another stonewall made with equally large stones. The space between them will be jammed with loam and covered with big stones, which will be protecting the top of the embankment from water.
13. Three hundred fathoms behind the last stonewall, they will build another one, which will be two fathoms taller than the one in front. Ten fathoms behind, they will build another stonewall and they will jam the middle with loam, boulders and smaller and bigger stones from the quarry. A hundred fathoms behind the stonewall they will dump the soil and gravel and then build two more stonewalls, two fathoms taller, and jam the middle with loam again. Behind the last stonewall, they will dump the soil with a light incline towards the fields, which are leveled with the lowest water levels of the Tigris.
14. The top of each embankment was covered with boulders, big stones and stairs, which the water could not move, even during the biggest floods. When the water level rises to the first step, the amount of water is two times higher than the usual. When it reaches the second step, the amount is three times higher, and when it reaches the third step, the amount is five times higher. The Emperor listened closely and asked everything that seemed important.
15. The master builder was calm and clear, answering the questions asked by the Emperor and his entourage. It was obvious that he knew everything about the water, dams, loam, soil, stones and the aquatic vegetation. Around the master builder stood ten young men, who were, at his signal, bringing the plans drawn on parchment and showing them to the Emperor. He remembered how he was quiet and careful not to say anything stupid. He was afraid that, if he said something stupid, his father would give him a dirty look and scold him later at home. He thought to himself “fear is a good teacher”[12], so he kept quiet.
16. The master builder also had a man by his side, who was responsible for the distribution of water among the folk in times of drought. He explained that they start by opening the canals in the headwaters and continue by opening the ones downstream. This way, everyone gets enough water and everyone is satisfied. Every farmer knew precisely when it's his turn and waited by his field. After the irrigation was done, he would get a signal to close the wooden doors on the canal, and at the same time, his neighbor would open his. In every field, there was a well where they collected the water to use between two distributions.
17. On the way back, the Emperor was very pleased and said: “Did you understand and remember everything? Because one day, when I am no longer here, and you become the Emperor, this knowledge will be of very good use to you”. He had realized that these embankments, dams and canals for water distribution and irrigation were very important for the farmers and also of a big importance for the whole Empire, and he had never erased that from his memory.
THE PORT
18. Below the castle[13], there was a large port with many docks, made from trunks of Lebanese cedar, covered with thick cedar planks. During high waters, the water would easily carry away the planks, so after every heavy rain and flood, the docks had to be repaired and rebuilt. During times with lots of trading, the ships could not wait, so every year they built many new docks.
19. Some docks were made of connected and anchored ships, completely enclosed, caulked and coated with black[14], which could not sink. From these docks, that did not sink even during the highest waters, lead the stairs to the coast. A lot of ships were docked in the port, transporting many goods from one province to another, from the seas, rivers and canals to the farthest corners of the Empire.
20. Emperor's battle fleet, efurica (riverine naval fleet)[15], was on one side of the port, which if needed, defended his merchant ships. There was a nice view of the ships from the imperial palace. These were long and narrow ships propelled by oars[16] and larger and wider ones with one triangular sail, which sailed across wide rivers. Upstream, the ships were pulled by oxen, hitched with yokes on long ropes, fifty pairs of oxen by ship.
21. Right next to the river there was a wide road, along which the oxen pulled the ships. Few times a year, they poured sand over the road to cover the rocks, which made it easier for the oxen to pull and also protected the shoes on their hooves. The road seemed as a yellow-brownish line that stretched across the horizon.
22. The road was a first line of defense during high waters. There were bridges along the road, so the water could flow towards the other embankment and spread into the bushes. On the other side of the Tigris existed the same road, the canal system and the embankment towards the arable land. While he was watching, at least twenty ships were sailing up and down the river. There were also as many ships in the port, loading and unloading the goods.
23. There was one road leading towards the castle and farther inland, along which traveled carts, horses, camels and donkeys leaving the port, and another road leading towards the port along which traveled carts and draft animals. The roads were at least three hundred fathoms away from each other. The space in the middle was used for the animals and carts waiting for loading or unloading of the goods they transported. He heard the carts creaking, the animals and drivers making fuss. Wherever he looked, he saw wagons and animals.
FISHING ON THE TIGRIS
24. The Tigris was rich in fish, which the fishermen were trying to catch from their kufas[17], woven boats coated in goatskin. They made the fishing lines from the horsetail hairs. Some of them were up to twenty fathoms long. The hooks were made from horns or sometimes by smiths who made them of bronze. Many times happened that a large fish takes the bait and cuts off the fishing line, but sometimes if it did not snap, the fish would drag the boat around the river as a harnessed horse.
25. A pair of larger fishing boats, with four or six pairs of paddles, were pulling together a linen fishing net. They made these boats of reed bundles, which were bound together into a larger bundle, three or four fathoms long. Three of these large bundles made a bottom, which was bound with even thicker bundles from the sides. These boats sailed nicely, but there was always some water in the bottom. That is why they covered the bottom with wooden boards. There were oarlocks on the side bundles. In the middle were two tall davits, bifurcated beams tied together, on which they placed the auxiliary masts and winches. The fishing net pulleys were placed on winches. Some of the boats had bows and sterns covered with cow skin.
26. The fishing net had lead weights on the bottom, which made it heavier, and the top was tied to a buoy that made it float just below the surface. In the middle of the net, there was a sack in which the fish was stored, and every hour they would lift and empty the sack using winches and pulleys. They had the nets submerged in water and were fishing only while sailing downstream. They paddled upstream with the nets lifted, because otherwise it was too heavy to paddle. They kept the fish in special baskets covered with wattle until they would dock.
27. One tenth of the profit from the sold fish would end up in the imperial treasuries. The tax collectors were making sure that none of the fish was sold on the black market, because it did not fill the treasuries. It was the same with all the goods sold around the Empire. They would imprison and confiscate everything from those who did not obey the law.
28. Mostly they smuggled salt. They transported the salt or hal[18] by ships from the sea. There they got it from seawater, which was poured into shallow pools by the special wind-powered machines. Under the bright sun, the water would evaporate, leaving a layer of salt at the bottom. They used special wooden rakes for piling up the salt, and after it dried, it was ground in windmills and sold to the merchants who delivered it across the Empire. It was sold in big cities. The ones who tried paying less tax and keeping some salt to themselves would stop along the coast before they arrived at the port, unload part of the cargo, and later sell the rest across the settlements and small villages.
29. A breeze from the Tigris, constantly blowing along the river, was refreshing the gardens of his beautiful[19] palace. The Emperor was sitting in his armchair, wearing only pants and a silk shirt, watching a sparrow feeding on ripe berries from a red grape. On the side of the terrace grew a big fig tree, with many beautiful ripe figs and a blackbird feeding on them with his little yellow beak.
30. In front of the Emperor, there was a big and nicely decorated platter filled with fruits of all kinds. There was a mix of pomegranates, blackberries, strawberries, figs, apricots, oranges, pears, apples and grapes with carrots, radish and peeled turnip roots. There was also a smaller platter filled with almonds, walnuts, palm seeds, pine nuts and hazelnuts.
31. It was all sorted by color and size, creating an eye-pleasing harmony. On the side, there was a jug filled with wine that was covered with a beautiful woven napkin. There was also a water jug with a lid made of forged tin, which was opened by pressing on a feather.
32. Beneath the imperial terrace spread the beautiful gardens, which terraced down to the Tigris. Every evening, his children and maids watered the gardens, terrace by terrace. He could hear the sounds of grapples tumbling and transferring water to higher terraces. Ceramic grapples were lined around a wheel, one behind the other. When they first go out of the river, they make a large stream of water flow, which then becomes smaller and smaller until only the drops remain falling, shining like pearls beneath the western Sun.
33. He was watching the wheels turning and pushing the water to the higher level. Harnessed buffaloes spun the wheels slowly and monotonously. On the highest level, there was a big stone tank from which the water was flowing through the pipes leading to smaller tanks on every level. In the dusk, when the heat drops, the maids would carry the water in jugs and water every plant, tree and vine.
HRVUATS
34. In the corner of the garden, which was enclosed by a high wall, stood a guard and watched what was happening around the castle. The Emperor was looking at his slim figure and observing what he was wearing. The guard was a tall and slim young man, wearing black pants tied with shoe straps below the knees.
35. He had a linen shirt over his pants. On his chest, there was a thin chain mail[20], which had the breast and back plates for the front and the back, and spaulders covering his shoulders. Those were darkened shoulder plates that could not be seen from a distance and expose his position by reflecting the sunlight.
36. A long recurve bow[21] hung over his right shoulder. He had a quiver by the left side of his belt, a container full of arrows which had the stabilizers made of colorful feathers, visible from afar.
37. A long sword[22] hung on the left side of his back, whose hilt stuck out over his left shoulder, while the pommel was covered with a black cloth so it wouldn’t reflect the setting sun.
38. He had a helmet[23] on his head, with protection for his nose and cheeks, as well as a gorget that was almost touching the spaulders. It protected his neck and spine from the sword strikes during the battle.
39. Around his waist, he had two longer and one shorter knife, and in his hands, he held a javelin[24], a short spear for throwing. It was tied to his arm with a leather belt so it could be easily pulled.
40. The guard raised his arm to protect his eyes from the setting sun, and watched the road coming from the east towards the palace. There was a dust cloud approaching quickly. The Emperor was looking in the same direction. He was waiting for a messenger on a horse[25] who will bring him the news from the eastern borders of the Empire, where his army was fighting against Momuls[26].
41. Those borders were never as safe as the ones towards the North, which were guarded by the Hrvuats (Croats)[27]. His whole personal guard were Hrvuats. Every other summer the cossizs (generals)[28] of Hrvuatian troops were sending forth three hundred of their best warriors to his personal guard corps. Every other summer he would replace one-third of his officers and warriors.
42. A post rider was reining his horse relentlessly. The horse was covered in foam. A second horse was on a leash, saddled, and was running beside him. Every two kilometers, the post riders were jumping from one horse to another while riding. Every ten kilometers, there were stations where they changed horses, drank a little bit of a sweet rose drink, which they called sorbet, and instantly galloped farther on a prepared horse.
43. As soon as they saw the messenger, the guards who were at the entrance had quickly lowered the bridge and lifted the entrance door. The messenger entered the fort without stopping. He came towards the Emperor, kneeled before him, and gave him a folded parchment sent by his great cossiz[29], the commander in chief of his troops on the battleground. The messenger then quietly stepped back.
44. He was all dirty, dusty and barely standing. Two of the imperial bodyguards took him by the arms to the barracks, and sat him on the sofa. He muttered something, laid down and fell asleep. They covered him and said: “We will let him get enough sleep, because he rode here from the battleground without stopping.”
45. The Emperor unwrapped the parchment and laid it down on the table in front of him. He took off the seal and unfolded it. The whole parchment was written out in big red letters. When the Emperor read it, his face turned pale. The news about the arrival of the messenger spread like the wind around the fort.
46. The Emperor’s entourage came quickly and stood around him. The Emperor, who was very pale, had calmed down. He poured some wine and water into a cup. He raised his cup and had a sip. He smiled and told everyone that the position is not good and the battlefront is giving in. He turned around and gave orders to have his war carriage and his uniform and weapons ready, and that the courtiers and his personal guard corps prepare for the battle. Everyone went silent.
47. The great cossiz (great general) of the guard corps[30] was the first to talk with his strong, manly voice, and he took no excuses. He gave his cossizs an order to prepare everything in silence and as soon as possible. He did not have to say it twice. They ran to the stables, the shelters for the cattle and the troops. They told their warriors what to do. Just like they practiced, in a blink of an eye, the horses were saddled.
PREPARING OF A CAMPAIGN
48. The war chariots were brought from the stables. They were put away in stables so they wouldn't get ruined by heat. The war wagons[31] were ready, and the horses saddled. The warriors were dressed and armed. The Emperor's war chariot, as well as the carriages for the great cossiz and the other cossizs were ready. The personal guard corps were lined and waiting for the Emperor.
49. The horses were uneasy, digging the ground with their horseshoes, turning and rubbing their heads and trying to bite each other. The warriors were soothing them, holding the reins, caressing their foreheads and necks and telling them to be calm. The horses were fed and anxious to run, they were stepping forwards and backward nonstop, keeping the warriors alert. They were waiting for the Emperor, who was giving the last instructions to his clerks, officers, tax collectors, treasurers and guards.
50. He said goodbye to his wife and daughter, and hugged both of his sons. They wanted to accompany him, but he wouldn't let them. He told them to look after the castle, their mother and their sister, and to study hard, because one never knows what could happen.
51. Next, he gave orders to everyone. He sent runners[32] and riders[33] everywhere, with the orders for the whole army to prepare and reach the foot of the mountain as soon as possible. He ordered to triple the guards on the borders, and instructed not to let anyone inside the Empire.
52. His war chariot was gilded. It had two wheels, slightly away from the basket. The war chariots had iron axles. They had bladed hubs, with the blades placed in a form of the king Solomon's sign, which were slitting everything within their reach. The charioteer was in the front. The Emperor's spot was in the middle, and his two warriors were in the back. Five horses were harnessed to the chariot. Three of them in the middle were attached with draught poles, and two at the flanks with reins. The horses could move two or three fathoms away from the chariot, and sweep the infantry with the attached belts.
53. The charioteer was wearing a purple[34] uniform. He had a gold armor, which protected his chest, back, arms and thighs. On his head he had a helmet[35] with a spike. He had a sword tucked into the left side of the chariot, and a couple of knives tucked into his belt. In his hands he held a whip and reins.
54. The Emperor wore a purple uniform with a gold armor. By his belt, he had a quiver filled with arrows, on his chest a sword with a gold pommel and by his yellow belt a couple of longer and one shorter knife. On his head, he had a helmet with spikes that represented a crown.
55. His two warriors, who were in the elevated part of the basket from behind, had the same purple uniforms, gilded armors that protected their chest and back, helmets with spikes and plumes. In their hands they had long spears[36], but also kept the light ones, javelins[37], on both sides of the chariot. By their belts, they had axes[38] and two pairs of knives. In the back, there were shields, attached to the basket, which they used as a protection from the enemies' arrows.
56. The great cossiz's war chariot was equally equipped. Their armors[39] were made of steel. Their helmets were also made of steel[40], with spikes and horsetail plumes. They were covered with red cloaks[41], the ones tied with a buckle in front. The chariots had around twenty centimeters long blades[42], attached to their wheel hubs, which were used for breaking the wheels of their enemies' war wagons and also the legs of the infantrymen and horses.
57. The war wagons[43] were four-wheeled battle carriages, which could fit eight to ten warriors who were shooting arrows, short and long spears at the enemy soldiers, while hidden behind thick boards that protected them from arrows. They were pulled by a pair of horses, and sometimes two pairs. Each horse was harnessed individually, covered with a firmly sewn cover, which protected the horse from the arrows, spears and swords, but if it still got wounded or killed, they would unhook it and leave, so the others could continue pulling forward.
58. The cavalrymen[44] were dressed in black uniforms, with chest armors, helmets with spikes and black horsetail plumes. They all had red cloaks on top of their uniforms. They had a long recurve bow, arrows, a long sword attached to the saddle, a long spear with a war flag[45] under the spike and a shield. Beneath the spike of the long spear, waived the war flag in the Emperor’s colors. The horses had head armors. On their hips, they had covers that were sewn under their saddle and protected them from the arrows and stabs.
59. The infantry had chain mails, helmets, spaulders, breastplates and backplates. A long recurve bow, arrows, a nicked shield, a longsword, a long spear, a couple of knives by the belt and some food and extra shoes in a satchel. On their feet, they had thick shoes, tied over the pants around the shins.
60. All Hrvuats had a mark on the left side of their chest, squares of red and gold, red and silver, red and yellow, or some other color that was appropriate for their ranks.
61. The troops had beasts painted on their shields. The first had a scorpion, the second a snake, the third a dragon[46], the fourth had a cat, the fifth an ant and the sixth a lion.
62. Everyone in the army was covered with a red cloak[47] that protected them from the sun, frost, rain and snow. They slept on it and covered themselves with it. It was made of thick wool and cotton. It was sewn by well-trained tailors. After weaving, they impregnated the fabric and soaked it in a melted bee wax, oil and vinegar. These kinds of cloaks were durable and served their purpose.
63. The Emperor consulted with the great cossiz, lifted his sword and marched with his personal guard corps towards the East. After ten kilometers, they met their troops, which were in disarray, ripped, tired and wounded, going towards the fortress. They stopped them and asked about what had happened. They told them they were suddenly attacked and defeated by Momuls.
64. The Emperor wanted to know more about the battle, how they got attacked by Momuls, and he wanted to hear everyone’s opinion on why their troops had gotten so horribly defeated. After many hours of listening, he turned around and went to his tent. Tired and angry, he fell asleep fast, laying on a tiger skin. The guards around the tent were carefully walking and watching after the Emperor, so he could get a good sleep and rest well.
THE IMPERIAL CASTLE
65. The Emperor fell asleep quickly, and dreamt of his castle gleaming in the sun. It was a magnificent palace. There was a high wall with twenty-five towers surrounding it. It had been built by his great grandfather. His ancestors upgraded it to their liking. They added pillars, lintels, whole new wings, new halls, and of course, towers and walls. There was a wide moat filled with water around the castle. The inside of the palace was embellished with silver, gold and maiolica[48]. There were magnificent mosaics, statues and paintings on the walls.
66. In the front, the back and on both sides of the palace, there were beautiful gardens with many creeks, ponds, fountains, smaller and bigger waterfalls. The water was flowing and sprinkling all around, so when the sun was shining, all the colors of the rainbow would appear. The water was brought from afar by tunnels, canals and lead pipes.
67. The gardens were filled with trees of all kinds, from all around the world. Ponds, creeks and waterfalls were filled with many kinds of colorful fish, brought from all over the world. His family lived in one wing of the palace, and his harem was in the other. The middle part was filled with halls, offices and registries, where his officials, clerks and servants were writing and noting everything that happens in the Empire.
68. The taxes he specified for each parish, župania[49] and province, and the money flowing into his treasuries were precisely noted. Every tax collector and clerk answered directly to the Emperor, for every receipt and every expense that was made. His treasuries were filled with gold, silver, gems and artworks, which were either bought or gifted, or perhaps a part of his or his ancestors' spoils.
69. The Empress was a beautiful, tall and hardworking woman, loved by everyone. His father had chosen her for him, while he was still a child. She was much older than him, so she always thought she could advise him. Together they had a daughter and two sons. She looked after them and raised them. He saw his sons two or three times a month and was teaching them battle skills. Together with them and his cossizs, he would ride horses to get to various competitions. He taught them how to shoot arrows, throw spears and how to use swords and knives. He also taught them how to defend themselves barehanded and other things that could be used for protection.
70. He saw his daughter once or twice a month. He taught her riding, told her stories and walked with her around the beautiful gardens filled with roses. He showed her fish inside creeks and ponds and told her where he got each one and what they were called.
THE HAREM
71. His harem, with more than two hundred concubines and odalisques[50], was his favorite part of the palace. It was covered in gold and silver and embellished with many mosaics, paintings and statues.
72. The halls were airy, bright and full of life. The floors were paved with the finest porcelain tiles brought from China, the marble from Altai[51] and the basalt from Egypt[52]. The palace wing had three floors, with hundreds of rooms on each one. The floors were covered with thick carpets, which covered the foot up to the ankle. These carpets of silk, wool and cotton were made by the local weavers.
73. The halls were lined with pilasters with gilded plinths and capitals, usually decorated in motives of love scenes. The mosaics and wall carpets also presented the love life.
75. The furniture was made of carved sandalwood and ebony brought from Indias and Africa. The sheets, pillowcases and covers were made of pure silk, brought from China by caravans.
76. He dreamt about coming to the harem, but none of the concubines or odalisques were there. The eunuchs and sandali[53] were gone. His chief consort, suhitana, always waited to share with him the news from the harem: which girl got pregnant, which was transferred to the other part along with the other pregnant women, which ones had nothing to do in the harem, which ones argued and fought, and how many new women were brought from the županias. She would tell him how many were sent back to the house of sighs because of their sickness, where women used to wait up to three weeks to be transferred to the harem.
77. When a young girl arrived at the harem, suhitana would take her alongside two sandali to the house of sighs. In there, the girl had to take off her clothes so the suhitana could check and feel her whole body. Then the sandali would wash her and dress her in a special robe.
78. The sandali, who slept in a room next to the young woman's room, constantly supervised her and informed the suhitana: what was she doing, how she behaved, what and how much she ate and how often she washed herself. Suhitana informed the Emperor about the eunuchs, which one did not behave well and should be punished, and which sandal was not suitable for the harem anymore and has to be drowned in the Tigris, because he was not good for any kind of job anymore.
79. There was a young girl at the end of a long hallway, who was brought to him by his warriors while she was still a young child of six or seven years. She was very pretty, even as a child. She had grey-blue eyes, blonde hair and a beautiful, heavenly face. She was tall and she danced and sang beautifully. He sent her to the suhitana and ordered her to find her a job at the harem. Since then, he had not seen her at the harem and did not know what had happened with her.
80. Now, suddenly, there was a slim, lean girl standing at the end of the hallway. She had a beautiful face and beautiful, blonde hair falling over her shoulders and back, reaching down to her divine behind, on top of slim and long legs. Her beautiful thighs and shins were outlined through a silky dress. She had golden shoes on her feet. She walked quietly as a cat, swinging her hips and her derriere.
81. Her beautiful, shaped and firm breasts were visible under the dress, white as snow. Her dark nipples painted the silky dress dark. The dress was tied around her waist with a wide belt and fastened with a gold buckle on her chest.
82. She smiled and waved at him graciously. As he walked towards her, she entered one of the halls. She ran with grace and suavity. He went after her. She stopped in the middle of the hall. In her hands, she held a porcelain keg with his favorite drink. When he came closer, she offered him a cup and poured some inside.
83. He was watching her and couldn't take his eyes off her. She seemed as a fairy from the tales his nannies used to tell him. He emptied the cup and returned it to the goddess. He imagined her without any clothes. He pictured her firm breasts, flat and slim belly, beautiful velvet skin on her legs and a dark overgrown bush between her thighs.
84. Just when he thought he could reach her, a noise of heavy drums, horse hooves and extremely loud trumpets woke him up. He rubbed his dreamy eyes and cursed. He realized it had all been a dream and that his reality is much different.
85. He called his servant and ordered him to prepare his armor and battle uniform. He quickly washed himself, dressed and hopped on a horse in front of his tent. With his entourage waiting for him, he went towards the cossizas[54] (divisions) arriving at the camp. Throughout the whole day, many cossizas arrived, led by his best officers. He gave orders to the scouts to find out where Momuls are and what they are doing.
86. He commanded his troops to rest and not to be too visible. He did not allow them to light a fire, move and relocate, so they wouldn't raise dust and reveal themselves and their intentions to Momuls. The second and the third day were the same. More and more cossizas were arriving. The officers came to greet him and he gave them orders. The cossizas were preparing and they were all assigned to certain positions, and new cossizas kept arriving for another fifteen days.
THE HEADQUARTERS MEETING
87. After the last cossiza had arrived, the Emperor summoned the headquarters meeting[55]. The great cossizs and cossizs arrived with their clerks and servants. They were all dressed in beautiful robes. Their armors, helmets and plumes were very bright and shiny. Their chariots were decorated with colorful ornaments.
88. Their horses were the most beautiful ones that their župania could breed. They had wide nostrils, nice and elongated heads and long and bent necks. Their chests were wide and very muscular, their stomachs slim and their legs long, with strong hooves and horseshoes made of brass. Their manes were braided in long braids, decorated with colorful ribbons. As they were approaching, they turned the chariots facing the tent, and the horses facing away from the tent.
89. Each cossiz had a charioteer and two warriors guarding, watching the chariots and horses and making sure that no one uninvited gets close to the tent where the headquarters meeting was in progress. Their uniforms were nicely decorated. The chain mails and armors were bright and shiny. On their backs they had cloaks that protected them from the sun during the day, and frost during the night.
90. Unlike their beautiful uniforms, gilded weapons and armors, their cheeks and arms revealed, regardless of their age, how experienced they actually were. They were covered in cuts and scars, even more visible on their muscular bodies.
91. They all lined and sat in a circle, one beside the other. Each with a long sword in front of him, leaning against it with his long, strong and hairy arms. The meeting lasted for a couple of hours. The one who wanted to speak had to raise his hand and wait for the Emperor's sign. The great cossiz of the reconnoiters was the first to speak. He gave them a lot of information about Momuls. He told them where they are, what they are doing and how many of them are there.
92. He discussed their cavalry for a long time. He described their commanders, riders, weapons and their attacking strategy. He found that there are many of them and that they attack in the form of a crescent moon. He said: “They are the strongest on flanks. The youngest warriors are usually in the middle. Behind them, there is a reserve with older and experienced warriors, who gallop and, without looking, crush and go over everything on their path.
93. They begin by shooting arrows. They shoot from their horses, and after the last one, they immediately start the attack. They scare the enemies with their dreadful screams and then cut them with bent sabers, which were forged over twenty times to become more flexible. Each time after reforging, they were quenched in young mares' urine, and the last three times, in young girls' urine.
94. Their sabers are light, sharp and firm. Their horses are small, resilient and fast. They do not wear horseshoes. Their hooves are hard and durable. They are very good riders. They ride their horses without saddles. Each Momul holds another horse on a rein and jumps from one to another during the battle. Horses are used to riding and are not easily scared.
95. Momuls do not have any siege equipment and throwing devices, so it is hard for them to conquer a city or an enclosed camp. They prefer attacking a moving army, and defeating the enemy with a powerful onslaught before it prepares a defense. They attack in a quarter moon formation, but it is not a rule.”
96. Every great cossiz[56] and cossiz had the right to speak, defend his opinion and fight for it. After they were done talking, the Emperor spoke and told them what they are going to do. He said: “I heard and understood everyone's opinion. You all had similar ideas and advice. From now on you will follow my command, because two korbans[57] (captains) sink the ship. I have decided to make the great cossiz from the north my deputy commander. You all know him well and how he already won many battles against Momuls and defeated their khans.”
97. As a sign of approval, they all banged their swords on shields. “His deputy will be the great cossiz from the east, who is also well known as a brave and diligent warrior, who always ends his battles against his enemies with a triumph.
98. I advise each of you to choose your deputy, and that your deputy also chooses his, because, in a battle, you never know who dies and who lives. Inform your officers and warriors how to behave in the battle, and who replaces you in case some of you die. Tell them about the foe that is ahead of us and what each of them needs to do to defeat them.
99. Inspect the war chariots and wagons, horses, weapons, catapults and other throwing devices. Place the battle machines in good positions, from where they can be useful and easily used. In the morning, in the dawn, we will set off, fast walking towards Momuls' troops. A cossiza will go in front of the army, and it will be well connected with the scouts and defend the army from the possible sudden attack from the front.
100. The vanguard cossiza will be in contact with the headquarters through messengers and runners. There will also be cossizas on the flanks, which will protect and defend the army from the sides and also communicate with the army and its headquarters through messengers.
101. There will also be a cossiza protecting the army from sudden attacks from the back. All cossizas inside the army will have guards on the front and back.
102. A troop after troop will fast walk towards the battlefield. In the middle of each cossiza, there will be the cossiz with his collonels[58], mayors[59] and logistic officers[60].
103. “The Emperor with his staff and logistic officers will be placed in the middle, between the great cossizs. Behind them will go wagons with food, backup weapons and ammunition, siege machines: arrow firing catapults, catapults, ballistae, battering rams, rams, inflatable animal skins[61], and construction material for bridges, rafts and ormanicas (oarships)[62] for bridging the streams and rivers.
104. Next, the inland fleet, efurica, will go with its cars and equipment. Its sailors, efurs[63], will help with crossing the rivers and waters. Other cossizas and a guard cossiza in the rear will go behind them.
105. When we arrive at the battlefield, the scout troop and the head cossiza will stay in the middle. The great cossizas from the formation will go in order: first one to the left, second to the right, third to the left, fourth to the right, and so on until the imperial guard corps, which will remain in the middle.
106. The cossizas behind the imperial guard corps will line up in the same way, first to the left, second to the right, third to the left and forth to the right, as a protection for the cossizas in the front. They will line behind everyone and protect the back of the army.
107. The efurica will be beside the battle devices and help the mechanics with whatever they need. Upon arrival to the battlefield, the first lines should be fortified by deep trenches with spiky sticks inside, with twigs and straw over them.
108. Behind the trenches, in the canals, will be the spearmen with their long spears. Behind them, the archers will line, and in the back, war wagons and cavalry. Behind the cavalry will go the battle devices.
109. You will let your enemies attack first. When they fill the whole sky with arrows, you cover yourselves with shields. When they start the attack, you will immediately use the battle devices and shower them with rocks, stones and sling bullets.
110. The archers will immediately start shooting the arrows, and the spearmen, lined in spearhead formations[64], will wait for the Momuls' cavalry with their long spears. The war chariots, war wagon crews and cavalry with their long and short spears and long swords, will wait to defeat the ones who don't get killed by rocks, arrows and long spears. If Momuls break through our first lines, the reserve cossiza should immediately fill the gap in our lines and start the attack.
111. Be careful of their flanks, because their best warriors are lined there. If the enemy starts to flee, do not send all of your troops to follow them, but pick the cavalry companies and troops for the chase, and the rest of the cossiza should stay in position inside the trenches, ready for a possible trick attack.
112. While fast marching and relocating, scouts should check water and grass, because if Momuls poison it, animals and people will die or get sick, and then the enemy will easily defeat us. Scouts should take thirsty and hungry goats and if they stay alive after drinking and eating, then the water can be consumed by other animals and people. They should do the same with grass.
113. And now we will all have a glass of wine in honor of the goddess Aštur[65], so she would help us defeat the enemy.” When they all had glasses in their hands, the servants poured them some wine, and when the Emperor gave a sign, everyone drank half of the wine and spilled the rest over the shoulder to the ground, in the name of victory. The Emperor then said goodbye and sent them with god's mercy back to their cossizas.
THE BATTLEFIELD
114. When the cossizs entered the chariots, the charioteers reined the horses and, followed by the cossiz's guard corps, went to their headquarters. The war flags on chariots and spears of the cossiz's guard riders were tied so they wouldn't flutter and make noise.
115. In the morning, at early dawn, the troops were ready. When the Emperor gave a sign, they started marching. The troops were moving as agreed, without noise, creaking and throbbing. The equipment was affixed. The war chariots were greased and everything on them was tied. On the first day, they crossed many versts[66].
116. The ride was calm and without surprises. On the second day around noon, they saw a couple of fast Momulian riders who were galloping towards their troops. Before the evening, they noticed the Momulian cavalry reconnaissance behind the nearby mountains again, galloping in a cloud of dust. They did not care, nor shoot towards the first lines. The messengers informed the Emperor about the Momulian scouts.
117. The Emperor ordered to arrest a couple of Momulian horsemen and wanted information about their numbers and intentions. He promised a big reward to whoever catches them and brings them alive.
118. The cossiz of reconnoiters told that to his scouts. Those were the best warriors, picked out from the whole army, who experienced many battles and wars and knew how to catch enemies and make them talk. In the evening they brought a dozen of young and scared Momuls. They fell into a trap made by the scouts. They interrogated them the whole night and did not find out anything more than they already knew.
119. The third and fourth days went by without any difficulties. On the morning of the fifth day, when they started preparing for the road, they realized a few horses died and some of the goats that were drinking water got bloated and were vomiting. They immediately warned everyone not to let the horses drink the water which was not marked. They used lambskin on stick as a mark. During the rest of the journey, nothing had happened.
120. In the evening they stopped a couple of miles in front of the enemy. They arranged as ordered and immediately started digging deep and wide trenches with sticks inside. They covered them with reed and grass. They sent the guards in front of the troops that were digging trenches for spearmen, behind them came the archers, cavalry and battle devices, they were all preparing for the battle. The battle devices were assembled, positioned and tested. The efurs (riverine sailors) were helping to arrange the heavy machinery. They were searching for the best position from where the machinery will be the most effective.
MOMULS
121. They covered the trenches with knitted reed and dumped some soil and bush over it to make it undetectable. At dawn, the first Momulian cavalry units came close to the companies of the head cossiza. They were shooting arrows, threatening and laughing at each other, but no serious battles happened.
122. Around noon, the real battle against Momulian cavalry started. The assault was hard. They ran into the regiment of the vanguard cossiza, which was lined and ready at the front line.
123. Momuls came riding on their fast horses, loosening arrows and rushing to the front line of the imperial regiment in a wild gallop. At the same time, projectiles, stones, arrows and little kegs filled with burning resin were thrown at them from the throwing devices. Meanwhile, the archers were shooting a rain of arrows.
124. Momuls were surprised by the amount of projectiles and arrows. The ones that reached the front line were hit with long and short spears, which were thinning out their ranks. The ones who remained alive were fleeing back towards their camp on horses or foot. Momuls who lost theirs were hanging off the horses of the ones who were riding back, and together they were escaping towards their camp as fast as they could.
125. The evening was calm. During the night, both sides were trying to break into each other’s camp, but none were successful. They knew that both sides had experienced soldiers and that it will be a fight to the death. The Khagan[67] summoned his khans. They consulted about who does what and where everyone will be during the attack.
126. He told them: 'A formidable foe is before us, who can only be defeated if he makes a mistake. Be brave and cunning, but being cunning will help you more than being brave. Do not waste your men. We will attack at dawn, and the rising Sun will help us by blinding the imperial troops. The center will attack first with their young and inexperienced soldiers, next we will flank and circle them, and there we will defeat them.'
127. The khans shortly went over their tactics and rode towards their troops. Both camps were obscure and quiet. The only sounds that could be heard were the hunting dogs barking, horses neighing, hungry and thirsty goats bleating, donkeys braying and strange sounds of camels that reminded of the boiling water in a big kettle over a fire.
128. The guards were carefully and quietly patrolling their positions, making sure not to miss anything. Missing something would mean getting killed by the enemy's knife or dagger and leaving comrades in the enemy's arms. During the night, rarely any soldier and warrior was sleeping. Officers from both sides were going over the battlefield in their minds and imagining various situations they could find themselves in during the battle. The Emperor was also restless. For a few short moments he fell asleep, but he quickly woke up thinking he heard terrible screams of Momulian warriors.
129. He was up before dawn, walked around his tent, gave orders to dress him in his battle uniform and put on his armor. He tried the sword that he liked the best, tested the knives and short spears and patted the helmet by the plume. He gave orders to everyone to get ready for the attack. Every great cossiz was already prepared. The troops were armed. Soldiers were cleaning and sharpening the swords, knives, javelins, shovels and spears. They were checking the stabilizers and arrow tips, strings and limbs of the bows, and the horse equipment, saddles, reins, breastplates and girths.
130. Without noise, in absolute silence, they went to their positions, where they waited and dug pits and trenches. The first light appeared on the East, which quickly turned into dawn. Dark blue, light blue, blush, yellow, red and golden decorations were quickly switching across the sky.
THE BATTLE
131. Beautiful colors and shades painted the sky, changing so fast as if they were chasing each other. The whole sky was like a beautiful painting and it was impossible to sense what was happening beneath it. When the first rays of Sun appeared on the flaming sky, the river of horsemen rushed from the Momulian camp. Hundreds of thousands of human and horse heads were approaching, swaying, raising and lowering. For a brief moment the Momulian troops had stopped, realigned and rode towards the bowshot.
132. The imperial vanguard cossiza had quickly withdrawn behind the front line, kneeled into shallow trenches and raised its shields. The khans gave signals to Momuls to start firing arrows towards the imperial troops. The sky went black from the arrows. They were hammering into the shields that looked like hedgehogs full of spines. On the other side, the imperial battle devices started firing rocks, boulders, pots and kegs filled with burning resin and heavy arrows. Arrows made the sky look dark. The forward centurias, battalions and regiments used shields to protect their bodies from sharp and deadly arrows.
133. Momulian screams made the mountains tremble, as they were galloping like savages and holding their sabers high above their heads while riding towards the imperial troops. Their horses were shiny from the sweat and dew on their hairs. Their long untangled manes rustled like silk. The thud of horses' hoofs sounded like the beating of the biggest drums. Catapults and slings were serving their purpose. They were hitting horses and riders all around, so the ranks were thinning out.
134. Once again a second wave of Momulian riders attacked. This time they did not stop nor shoot any arrows, because they were afraid of hitting their own men. In a gallop, they were tearing down everything in their path. A lot of them fell into gullies, horses and riders impaled on sticks. Wedged formations of spearman did wonders to Momulian lines. Slings and archers, which had incredibly powerful arrows and recurve bows, reached up to seventy fathoms ahead.
135. Once again the Momulian troops attacked, but the imperial troops successfully resisted. The Emperor decided to chase after the Momulian troops that were fleeing back towards their camp, he wanted to catch them before they realign. His battlewagon and the whole unit of battlewagons, separated into three columns, rushed towards Momuls and surrounded them on two sides. The Emperor's personal guard corps stormed into the open field. Behind him rushed the vanguard cavalry.
136. The spearmen and archers thought they had to move forward, so they left their positions behind the trenches. The battlefield became chaotic, their formed lines were now mixed. What was minutes ago a sorted army, now became a mix of all military branches. They were chasing after Momuls, killing them while running. Some of them were jumping into their camp and stealing everything they could. They were taking bows and sabers from their fallen cavalry and chased after their horses. They were stripping armor and helmets from Momuls' dead bodies.
137. From a hill, the Khagan watched the debacle of his troops. He was blue in the face from anger and rage. Then he calmed down. He had a sip of kumis from the paunch, spit through his teeth and whispered to his khans: “It is our time now. Not many of us are left. The ones who escaped are of no worth anymore. Follow me!” He jumped on his fast horse and galloped towards the Emperor's beautiful battlewagon, which was shining and sparkling in the Eastern Sun. The Emperor sparkled in his gold armor as a morning star in the darkest night.
138. The war flags on the Emperor's chariot and his personal guard corps’ spears fluttered and flapped in the wind. The imperial cossizas' war flags were everywhere around. The Khagan's guard corps, that consisted only of the best warriors, was pushing its way through the scattered imperial troops, which had lost all sense of danger because they were drunk from the sweet smell of victory. The Khagan was within a bowshot of the Emperor's chariot. His warriors halted their horses, drew their bows and released thousands of arrows towards their main target[68], the Emperor.
139. When the personal guard corps’ warriors saw what is happening, they tried to stop the attack, but they didn't succeed. The Emperor was hit in his right arm by a heavy arrow through the hole in his armor. The arrow went through his chest and stopped at the inner left side of the armor. The Emperor was holding to his chest with his left hand, and to a handle with his right. The javeliners[69] on his chariot were holding him. He heard them screaming: 'A medic, a medic here, we need a medic. The medic rode to the chariot and was covered in blood. He saw what happened and said: “What the medic can do, who will he cure when he can't raise the dead?”
140. Some of the warriors who were nearby were yelling: “The Emperor was hit, they killed him.” As quick as fire, the news spread across the whole battlefield. The Khagan quickly ordered his riders to find and return the fleeing warriors, rearrange the troops and attack at the scattered imperial army. The great cossiz of the North, who was supposed to replace the Emperor in case he died, was lying in the tent, wounded by the Momulian saber.
141. The Eastern cossiz was celebrating with his cossizs, drinking wine in the name of victory and the goddess Aštur. When they told him what happened, he tried to take the command, but he didn't succeed. The great cossizs of other divisions, who knew what was happening, started preparing their troops, but didn't manage with all the chaos around.
142. The Khagan gave orders to his soldiers to gallop across the whole battlefield and cut down and kill everything that is moving. He strictly ordered them not to take anything from the enemy and promised to dismember anyone in whose possession he finds even the tiniest thing. Momuls, who were almost defeated, suddenly got themselves together and started with their bloodshed.
143. The imperial soldiers defended themselves individually and in groups, but they couldn't hold off Momulian horsemen attacking with their sharp sabers. There was blood flowing through the battlefield and heads, arms and bodies flying around. The human and animal corpses were all mixed. Momulian horses were all foamy and bloody, the riders were sweaty, bloody and tired, but they weren't stopping. They were swinging their sabers, riding their horses and stepping over everything that moved on the battlefield.
THE MEMORIES
144. The Emperor, hit by an arrow, was slowly losing his power. He was becoming weaker and weaker. Suddenly his whole life was flashing before his eyes. A picture after picture was flying by. He tried stopping it, but he couldn't. First, he saw himself as a little child. His nannies, girls and servants were around him, and his mother, watching over him like a hawk over her hatchling.
145. He remembered his father, who took him around the gardens and told him stories about their ancestors. He remembered the first time he rode a pony, with his father holding it on a leash, and how they were both so proud of it.
146. He remembered his wedding. When he was six years old, his father married him to a Princess that was twelve or thirteen years old. After the big wedding and celebration, the two of them went to play with little boats at a fountain that watered the gardens. He remembered how, when he got older, his father let him attend the imperial military meeting. He also thought of his teacher who taught him how to write on clay tablets and read what he wrote.
147. He thought of his mother's death. He remembered her on her deathbed. She was lying still. Her pale face was outlined by her curly grey hair. She had gold coins over her eyes. Her full lips were pale. From her neck down, she was covered with a white sheet, white as snow, which hung down to the floor.
148. Over her head, on a gold chain, hung the imperial crown with many diamonds and pearls. On every side, there were six candles in a candlestick, which burned slowly and were barely lighting up the room in which she was lying in.
149. Around her deathbed, her friends and maids were kneeling and praying for her soul. There was a heavy and slightly sweet smell of incense and rose oil, scented all over the palace. It was the first time he saw tears in his father's eyes. It seemed impossible. He couldn't imagine that such a determined, brave and tough husband could cry. He and his brother were numb, they couldn't even cry from all the sadness. They stood quietly in a corner.
150. A few years later, his father died. Once again the whole palace was filled with a sweet smell of incense and rose oil. Then he realized he was now alone with his brother. They agreed to do everything together. They did not have to worry about the funeral, it was all organized by Alan[70], the pagan priest[71] of the goddess Aštur.
151. The funeral was very nice. His father's chariot was pulled by six black horses, the ones most beautiful in the whole Empire. On all four corners of the chariot, there were long spears with gold tips. The flags were at half-mast. The imperial shields were tied to all four sides of the basket, painted nicely in the colors of the Empire.
152. The ebony casket was open, nicely polished and shining as Sun. The inside was covered with a silk purple puffing. The Emperor was lying dressed in the most beautiful uniform with gold ornaments and a gold diamond crown. On his chest, he had the imperial sword with a gold hilt and a shiny scabbard with a blue sheen. On his feet, he had black, polished boots with gold spurs that were tied on the heel and around the foot.
153. Each boot had a tap on the front sole, which bent upwards and ended over the vamp above the toes. His grey hair was braided. His eyebrows were combed on his forehead, gold coins were keeping his lids closed so his eyes wouldn't open during the funeral. In the other chariot, there was the lid of the casket that was engraved in golden letters and said: “Emperor of Chorasmia, the supreme commander and knight.”
154. Around the lid were his weapons and some of his horse equipment. His devoted cossizs were riding beside. Their horses, uniforms and weapons were cleaned, polished and in their positions, which showed how experienced they were. The horses had the most beautiful saddles, and on the sides hanged their swords, sabers, quivers, and recurve bows. Each held a long spear with red tassels beneath the tip and flags at half-mast. The spears were leaning against their legs, braced firmly by the stirrup.
155. Two horses behind them rode he, the Prince, and as of this morning, the Emperor. He was wearing a black uniform with golden fringes around the shoulders. Across his chest, he had gold bands that were attached by gold buttons. His pants had red bands on the sides, split by a golden band in the middle. His feet were in gold stirrups, and he was wearing soft black boots with gold spurs, reaching almost up to his knees.
156. His black horse had a braided mane that ended in two tails reaching almost to his eyes. He had a gold bridle and gold reins. His legs were wrapped in golden ribbon. Tips of the horseshoe nails were visible on his polished hooves. The horse was walking in the rhythm of the drums following the funeral, proudly tilting his head to the left and lifting his legs up high.
157. Behind him rode his wife, wearing wide pants, tied with a golden band beneath the ankle. Her pants were black, just as the Emperor's uniform. She had a black embroidered cloak with a hood and fine lace, which she could look through and was covering her face from the front. She also had a black horse that was proudly tilting his neck and his head to the side. The horse had a beautiful mane combed to the side. His golden bridle, golden reins and a saddle with silver and gold squares made him heavenly beautiful.
158. Two horses behind her rode his cousins, separated in columns of four. They all had the same black horses with beautiful silver equipment. The men were wearing black uniforms with silver patches, and women, just as the Princess, wore black dresses covering from head to toe. Their cheeks were not entirely covered, but just up to their nose. Behind them were his clerks, treasurers, notaries and emissaries.
159. Right in front of the war chariots, wearing white dresses and red vests, with wide and heavy khanjar daggers in their hands, walked the sandali separated in two rows, with their hairs braided, wearing blue bands around their foreheads. In front of them, walked the late Emperor's concubines and harem beauties in three rows, wearing outfits white as snow, with their heads covered with beautiful white lace.
160. On their feet, they had golden sandals, and each one had a red carnation in their hands. In front of them, divided into four rows, walked the eunuchs holding wide and heavy khanjars. They all had shaven heads and white bands around their foreheads. They were wearing wide pants tied around the ankles and shirts white as snow. Over their shirts, they had blue vests trimmed with red thread.
161. The priests of the god Hor[72] and the goddess Aštur, wearing red robes embroidered with golden thread and golden miters on their heads, were at the head of the funeral. The priests held the censers, candles and little bowls filled with oil. The Emperor's personal guard was at the side, with the best horses from the imperial stable. The flags on every spear were at half-mast.
162. The horses harnessed to the imperial chariot had the most beautiful gilded belts and bridles, and plumes made of peacock's feathers between their ears. They walked lifting their legs high and showing their plumes proudly.
163. They were slowly walking toward the Emperor's tomb, which was carved out by the slaves under the command of the goddess Aštur's priests. The late Emperor saw the tomb two times, when it was finished and when they buried his wife, the Empress. The Prince was inside only one time when they buried his mother.
164. The tomb was large. It was ten fathoms long and six fathoms wide. In the middle, there was a wide table on which his mother was resting on the left side, and the right side remained empty for his father. The tomb was decorated with gold and silver statues and paintings. All around there were bowls filled with aromatic oils. The edge of the ceiling was decorated with a painting of the Tigris with boats and fishermen catching fish. The map of Chorasmia was painted all over the ceiling. The floor was covered with polished marble tiles, representing the crests of the Empire and every župania.
165. Next to the imperial tomb there was another one, equally long and connected to the imperial tomb by a door, which was also nicely decorated with silver and gold. The floor was, just as in the imperial tomb, made of the finest porcelain brought from China. Step by step, with the beating of the drums, they were getting closer to the tomb. When they got to the tomb, the priests opened the door and lifted the imperial casket. They said their last goodbyes to their father, uncle and cousin. The cossizs took the lid from the other chariot and closed the imperial casket with great respect.
166. Six great cossizs carried the Emperor to his resting place. Afterward, they brought his weapons, horse equipment and his favorite horse into the tomb. The trumpets, horns, oboes and drums started playing. Right after they laid him to rest, they sang the sad elegy, and the highest priest narrated about everything good that the late Emperor had done during his life and how good he was towards his people.
167. They sprinkled lots of incense on the burning torches in iron racks, cut the horse's head, laid him on his belly with his legs bent, and impaled his severed head on his neck, resting on a pillow, piercing the head through the middle of the forehead. Afterward, they sealed the tomb.
168. At the same time, other priests took the harem women to the other tomb. There, behind the closed doors, the eunuchs cut their heads off with their khanjars and laid them on the floor, one beside the other. Next, the priests killed the eunuchs and sandali, and laid them between beheaded harem women and the Emperor's tomb. One of the priests told them to always serve the Emperor, just as they did while he was alive.
169. The special servants poured the best wine from the imperial cellars for everyone present at the funeral. When the cups were full, the Prince, and as of this morning, the Emperor, gave a sign and everyone drank from their cups. Then everyone shouted: “glory to the Emperor, long live the Emperor”. After that, everyone had to leave the area around the tomb, only the priests of the goddess Aštur remained.
170. The priests hid the tomb and guarded it for three months, until the grass and trees entirely covered the spot where the tomb was. Anyone who came close to the tomb was killed and buried far away from the tomb. In the end, the priests went to the goddess Aštur's temple that was close to the imperial palace. At the imperial command, the spies killed them in an ambush. This way, no one knew where the tomb was hidden. They made sure that the late Emperor and the Empress had the eternal peace.
171. His cossizs, warriors and many envoys from other countries came to the funeral. They brought gifts, gold, silk, precious stones, horses and camels. They gifted the new Emperor. They all praised the wise reign of his father and advised him to follow his example.
172. He was twenty years old when he took the throne. He was young, handsome, smart and ruled how he wanted. He took everyone's advice, but did as he thought was the best. He divided the Empire into several provinces, županias. The županias were ruled by the great župans in his name. The great cossizs had the military authority.
173. The taxes were collected in his treasuries. The treasure was kept by the treasurer who was responsible for every coin. Several great župans tried to trick him, and he always remembered the look on their faces when he told them they will be killed.
THE BROTHER
174. His younger brother helped him with whatever he needed. He was a very handsome man, a good warrior and a hunter. Every time he could, he went tiger hunting to southern, and bear and wild bull hunting to northern provinces. He would always come back with a prey. His friends who hunted with him always said he was a brave and risky hunter.
175. One time a large tiger that killed animals across fields and paths, was seen close to the imperial palace. People were coming and reporting the damage he made. One day, an imperial hostler came to the palace and said how he saw the tiger slaughtering the three most beautiful horses from the imperial stable. The Prince went to his brother and asked him for permission to kill the beast, which doesn't spare even the imperial horses. The Emperor laughed and permitted him, but told him to be careful.
176. He prepared the best hunters and went hunting with them in the evening. They lit a fire and stayed up throughout the night drinking slowly. In the morning they spread across fields and roads. They agreed if anyone sees the tiger, he will signal by blowing a horn. They walked around the whole morning, but there was no sign of the tiger. Around noon they all met again, tied their horses and lay in the shade.
177. In the evening, they once again split into pairs and went to different sides. There was no sign of the tiger until the evening. Before the twilight, the sound of the horn came from the thicket beside the Tigris. They all rushed their horses towards the sound. When they came close, they saw the tiger's footprints in the mud near the water. They were slowly, carefully, going through the mud and following the footprints. They searched around a large area, but didn't find anything. The trace was suddenly lost. They decided to wait near that spot. They tied their horses to their spears. They laid out their fur blankets and lay to rest, changing the watch every two hours. The night passed. They woke up, cleaned themselves and went searching again.
178. They walked slowly, as quiet as possible. They sent the horses to the back so they can protect them. They walked slowly through the high grass, reed and bulrush, ten steps away from each other. They all had their bows and arrows ready for shooting. The vegetation around the Tigris was dense and full of mosquitoes, scorpions and snakes of many kinds. Every now and then, a frightened bird would shriek.
179. Suddenly they all stopped and prepared their arrows. The tiger was nowhere to be found. Tired, bitten by mosquitoes, they moved away from the thicket and climbed a little hill with a tall pine tree that made a lot of shade. They sat there. They drank some sorbet, had a few pieces of bread and cheese, but made sure they don't eat too much, and lay on the fur blankets. They didn't even fall asleep when they heard two short blasts of a horn.
180. They jumped to their feet and quickly, like they weren't walking the whole morning, went in the direction of the sound. The Prince was there first. When they came close to the spot, they saw frightened boys on top of a tree, pointing to a flock of sheep covered in blood, and sheep lying around the path. The kids were pointing towards a thicket, claiming the tiger was somewhere in there.
181. The Prince was going step by step towards the thicket with his bow drawn and a heavy arrow. When he was four or five fathoms away from the thicket, suddenly something moved. The tiger was ready for attack, its muscles were tight, its ears lying down flat, it was like a stretched spring. In a blink of an eye, it jumped towards the Prince. The Prince shot a heavy arrow. The tiger was flying through the air towards him. The arrow and the tiger met in the air. A sharp hit was heard. The stricken tiger was still in the air and finally fell on the Prince.
182. The sound of teeth grinding and bones breaking was heard. The other hunters stopped and put their bows down. They went towards the tiger with their swords. The Prince was covered with the tiger's body. The first one who got to the tiger, stabbed it with his sword down to the hilt. The others came too. There was blood everywhere around and beneath the tiger's body. They turned over its body and saw the dead Prince beneath him. His neck and his right arm were broken.
183. The tiger was hit with a heavy arrow through the left side of its chest. They took a knife and opened up its chest. The arrow went right through its heart, but it still had enough strength left to kill the Prince. They blew the horns to signal the hostlers to bring the horses. They put two spears next to each other, pierced the holes through the edges of the bull's skin and pulled the spears through the holes. Afterward, they laid the dead Prince's body and tied the spears to the horses' saddles.
184. The Prince was laid with his feet toward the horse in the front. They covered his eyes with two gold coins. They brought his dead body to the imperial yard. The Emperor couldn't believe what happened. The Prince was his right-hand man, he helped him with everything and always gave him good advice. They buried the Prince with full honors and traditionally mourned him for three days.
185. It also went through his mind when he, as a twelve-year-old had slept with a woman for the first time. It was one of the slaves who worked in their gardens. Even now he got tingles from the feeling spreading from the lower part of his belly, all the way to his chest and his head. He had the chills and remembered that feeling until now. Every time he thought about it or slept with a woman, he had chills in the rhythm that was becoming denser, finishing with a feeling of weakness and relaxation.
186. He remembered the first time he slept with the Empress. She was older than him and it seemed like she wasn't trying her best to please him. There was no curving, crawling and turning of the bodies he experienced when he was with the slave. She used to wrap around him like ivy, kiss him, bite him and lick him. The connection of their bodies was like clouds crashing, bending, spinning in the storm and changing colors and shades, with bolts lighting and a strong wind sweeping across the province.
187. He remembered the birth of his first son. He was extremely happy and proud. Everyone congratulated him. He showered the child with gifts. Everything that he brought him, it seemed like it was not good enough for his son. The child was beautiful and very joyful. His mother fed and raised him on her own. She did not let nannies come close to him. They became closer after the birth of their child. Not long after the first, came the second and the third. After the last child, they drifted apart. She cared only about the kids. She almost didn't even care about him anymore.
188. That was the first time he found a concubine. She was young, beautiful and soft. She pleased him as much as she could. The nights with her were like songs. After the hard day of work, he would go to her chambers. There they would drink, sing, talk about everything and always end up in bed, where his concubine was unsurpassed.
189. She gave him all kinds of pleasures. He would get the tingles from only thinking about her. Many times he found himself thinking about her firm breasts, lean body, long legs, her velvet skin and her crotch lined with hairs sprinkled with shiny drops, blushing and calling for caresses, even during the most heated meetings.
190. One time during a campaign, they brought him a dozen slaves. They were all beautiful as roses. He brought them to his court and that was how he started building his harem. Each of his concubines was different than the other. Every night he would try another. Each one made him happy in her way and did the best she could. He often slept with five or six odalisques in the same night.
191. Every time he came to the harem, he was very welcomed. At the suhitana's signal, who managed the harem, the concubines, odalisques, eunuchs and sandali turned the chamber into the most beautiful stage. The odalisques were singing and belly dancing to the sound of harps and zithers. Their veils were flying around their young, lean, soft and nicely shaped bodies. Their breasts were tight, firm and soft, their bellies lean and their behinds perky and tight.
192. They were walking and jiggling their breasts, thighs and behinds while lasciviously licking their lips, pears or peaches with their moist tongues. Long legs and velvet skin on their thighs were very attractive, hiding and revealing the women's charms. The whole chamber had the smell of ambergris, incense, rose, anise, marigold, lemon, musk and amaryllis. He knew everything was prepared in his honor and he just had to snap his fingers to get anything he desired.
193. The nights were intense, full of sensuality, and the dawns unforgettable. He remembered the first time, and it happened suddenly by itself, without thinking. He was watching a show performed by the eunuchs together with his odalisques. One of his concubines was beside him. The light in the chamber was very low, only a few candles and oil lamps were burning. There was quiet music playing, and the whole chamber was filled with the smell of ambergris, musk and young female bodies.
194. The concubine came close to his side and started touching him with her foot. When she saw he liked it, she started rubbing her thigh on his thigh. He put his hand on her shoulder and caressed her. He slowly took off her vest, her silky dress and her skirt.
195. He didn't know how he got on top of her. He was kissing her chest and breasts. She was bending like a fish and touching his body softly. His penis was erect and he was rubbing up on her thighs. She moved and took him inside her. She started groaning and moaning. She was wrapping her legs around his hips. She was shaking and bending in his rhythm. He didn't see anything around.
196. It felt like they were alone in the world, and that the only important thing is their connection and pleasure. Other concubines and odalisques, after they saw them together, started caressing their arms, chests, hips, thighs and genitals. The whole chamber was in deep trance, craze and filled with desire for pleasure. Some of the older women invited the eunuchs to join the game, who then caressed their breasts, licked their thighs and crotches and stroked their behinds. The whole chamber was sighing and moaning.
197. Next to him was another odalisque, who was caressing his chest and behind and stimulating herself by rubbing on his thighs. He felt a twitch in the lower part of his belly. He was shivering more and more in the rhythm, and finally screamed and lay next to the concubine who was bending her body, legs and arms and whose belly was moving up and down until she reached the climax. The whole chamber was filled with the scent of young women's bodies, which was teasing his nostrils.
198. He quickly came back and started kissing his concubine again, who also wanted another love dance, connection and caresses in the wild rhythm of love. The whole chamber, in which there were more than a hundred women, was repeating everything with pleasure, gnashing and moaning and almost at the same moment, exhaustingly lay down on the silky rugs, sofas and covers.
199. He lay down on the sofa and watched what was happening around him. One of his odalisques started touching him. She was gently stroking his neck and pressing between his shoulder blades with her thumbs. With her two fingers, she was gently pressing across his spine, shoulder blades and ribs. She was pressing on his body, caressing his arms, legs and neck.
200. He was watching the concubines, odalisques and other harem women kissing and caressing each other’s breasts and behinds, licking and sucking each others bellies and genitals, until they reached the climax. The feeling after the climax was indescribably strong. They all craved the greatest pleasure and tried to delay the climax. The whole chamber was swaying, moving and sighing together.
201. It was the first time he saw and experienced women who craved the pleasure and fulfillment of their desires, who didn't just behave as machines doing what others demanded. They were human beings who desired, craved and enjoyed just as men did. Their passion pushed them as the greatest force and there was no more shame or regret for what they were doing. Suddenly there were no more images flying around as they were interrupted by a flaring light and an unforgettable melody. The light and melody were getting stronger, brighter and more comfortable and suddenly there was darkness.
THE DEFEAT
202. The Emperor's guard cossiza was fighting with immense courage around the imperial war chariot. The great cossiz of the imperial guard[73] was all over the battlefield. He was cutting and hitting Momulian warriors, helping his comrades and riding across the battlefield. His horse was covered in blood and foam. Momuls were pushing through and slowly killing his warriors, one by one. The Khagan was watching from the side and called off the attack. He invited the great cossiz and two of his officers for negotiations.
203. When they arrived, the Khagan told them to take the imperial war chariot, the dead Emperor's body and their fallen comrades and go wherever they want. He told them he was only doing this because he had never seen warriors like them. His warriors are also very brave and not giving in easily, but not like them.
204. He asked the cossiz where does he come from and where will he go. The cossiz replied he is a Hrvuat[74] and that the imperial cossiza is entirely made up of Hrvuats. Now that they no longer have an Emperor, they will return to their homeland and try to live off of what they have.
205. The Khagan asked one of the cossiz's warriors what does “Hrvuat” mean? The warrior replied it means a brave, honest, resilient, hardworking and smart man. The Khagan thought to himself: “Yes, that is exactly what I saw.”
206. The cossiz commanded his trumpeters to gather an assembly. The Khagan commanded his warriors to let them go in peace and move away from the battlefield. The cossiz stuck a banner into the ground. He lowered the flags at half-mast on the imperial and his war chariot. He commanded the spearmen to tie the flags around their spears. The warriors gathered within an hour around the great cossiz and the imperial war chariot, where the dead Emperor was lying.
207. Slowly, some of them inside the war wagons and chariots, some on horses, and others supporting themselves with their swords, javelins, broken spears and holding onto the horse saddles and bridles, were headed towards the imperial palace. What was once a proud, well equipped, armed and experienced army, now with its flags at half-mast, all ripped up, wounded, beaten up and exhausted, was barely walking towards the imperial palace. The Khagan kept his word, he let them go in peace.
208. Once they arrived at the imperial palace, they buried the Emperor with full honors. There was no time to take him to the imperial tomb, and they didn't even know where it was located because the priests were the only ones who knew the location, but they were killed after the funeral, so they took the secret to their graves. His odalisques, concubines and eunuchs were beheaded and laid inside the grave next to the Emperor. His horse was also killed and laid in front of him. His wife and kids, who were already grown up, went to the homeland of the Hrvuats together with the great cossiz of the imperial guard and the whole imperial guard cossiza, at least with what was left of it.
209. One of the Emperor's cousins stayed and was gathering the warriors. Slowly they attacked Momuls wherever they could. Their tactic was: “attack, destroy and flee.” More and more warriors were gathering. When there were many, they attacked the Momulian armies and banished them out of Chorasmia. They renewed Chorasmia and it was once again a great country. Momuls conquered Chorasmia once again in the 9th or 10th century A.D., but it was never mentioned again since then.
[1]Authors: Leonard Eleršek & Rado Žic Mikulin; Storyteller: Anton Mrakovčić Pavlić; Story recorder: Rado Žic Mikulin. Translation: Chakavian (Old Croat.) into Croatian: Leonard Eleršek & Rado Žic Mikulin; Croatian to English: Ana Maria Babin & Leonard Eleršek. Design & cover: Leonard Eleršek; Editor: Leonard Eleršek
Serie: Chorasmia; Publisher: Mythologia Cravatica 2020; available at: https://www.amazon.com/Track-Sun-Red-Warriors-Chorasmia-ebook/dp/B08KHTXMKF
[2] Introductory words that the last narrator of the story Anton Mrakovčić Pavlić always said before he started telling the story (Old Croat. štorja) to his children and grandchildren.
[3] Old Croat. Harezm, Croat. Horezm, Horazmija, Russ. Hvarizem, Pers. Uvarazmia or Uvarazmish, Greek Chorasmia, the most developed state of Central Asia between 6th and 4th century BC; it was called the Central Asian Egipt. The territory of Chorasmia was located on the fertile lands south and east of the Aral Sea and along the Amu Darya (Greek Oxus).
[4] Old Croat. urinje, Croat. sjever.
[5] Old Croat. sorinje, Croat. jug.
[6] Old Croat. ishoj, Croat. istok.
[7] Old Croat. zahoj, Croat. zapad.
[8] Croat. sežanj, hvat or paš, Eng. fathom is an obsolete unit of length. The Croatian fathom was standardized in 1756 and is equal to 1,896484 meters.
[9] Old Croat. narin, Croat. nasip.
[10] Old Croat. žinta, Croat. ilovača, Eng. loam, soil composed mostly of sand, silt and a smaller amount of clay. In the epic literature of the Island of Krk, Žinta is a Croatian goddess of fertility.
[11] Stonewall; Croat. gromača, duplica; a type of wall made of unhewn stone and without mortar.
[12] Chakavian Croat. „Dobar je strah komu ga je Bog dal.“
[13] Old Croat. štanaj, Croat. utvrda, tvrđava, kaštel, Eng. castle
[14] Old Croat. blak, Eng. black, black pine resin, a waterproof protective coating used for blacking (Old Croat. blakanje) the wooden hulls and internal structural elements of a ship.
[15] Old Croat. efurica, riverine naval fleet (brown-water navy), especially important in the Old World, where life went by in the basins of large rivers. It used to provide protection of waterways, supply and quick relocation (maneuver) of troops.
[16] Old Croat. ruge.
[17] Kufa or kuphar, Old Croat. kofa (basket), from Arabic quffa (basket) and Akkadian quppu (basket), a type of round boat traditionally used on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in ancient and modern Mesopotamia.
[18] Old Croat. hal, Eng. salt.
[19] Old Croat. rušav, beautiful, brilliant, bright, divine; from the Croatian god Ruš, god of forests, oak groves and fields.
[20] Old Croat. veružnica.
[21] Old Croat. bogun, Croat. luk.
[22] Old Croat. mač končar, a long military sword with a grip wrapped in strong thread, wire or stripe of leather.
[23] Old Croat. timenac, Croat. kaciga.
[24] Old Croat. oštrulac, a short spear used for stabbing and throwing.
[25] Old Croat. kanić, a messenger horseman who quickly conveys a message, even over long distances.
[26] Old Croat. Momul, a mythical enemy, an expression used in the Island of Krk for any enemy, especially unfamiliar one or someone who Croats remember as savage and cruel, like Avars, Turks and Mongols; Mongols.
[27] Croats, also known as Croatians, Old Croat. Hrvuati or Horvati, Croat. Hrvati. a Slavic nation of Indo-Iranian origin that today lives in the Illyricum, between the Drava and the Adriatic Sea, on the territory of the modern Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and surrounding countries.
[28] Old Croat. kosiz or Croat. kasez is a general; commander of a large military formation called kosiza, equal to a brigade or division. Kosizi (Kosezi, Kasezi) is a Croatian tribe that carries the name of the brother Kosjenc from a medieval legend of the arrival of Croats in Illyricum under the leadership of the brothers Klukas, Lobel, Muhlo, Kosjenc, Hrvat and sisters Tuga and Buga. The legend was written down by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus in the 10th century.
[29] Old Croat. veli kosiz; a military rank equivalent to a great general, recorded in the folklore of Krk Island.
[30] Old Croat. veli kosiz straže.
[31] Old Croat. atalice, from Croat. at, horse.
[32] Old Croat. teklić is a messenger runner.
[33] Old Croat. kanić is a messenger horseman.
[34] Old Croat. njada, purple.
[35] Old Croat. timenac.
[36] Old Croat. sulica, a long spear, from Chakavian sulit (slim, slender, jimp).
[37] Old Croat. joštrulac, oštrulac, Croat. oštrulac (javelin), from Croat. oštar (sharp). According to the folklore, joštrulac is a short throwing spear. When used by the war wagon or war chariot crew, it is tied to the thrower’s arm by a five-meter-long leather belt, so he could pull it back and reuse after throwing.
[38] Old Croat. težica, light ax.
[39] Old Croat. nadac, from Old Croat. nado (steel).
[40] Old Croat. nado, jacal.
[41] Croat. kaban.
[42] Old Croat. svidrače, long blades mounted on wheel hubs on scythed chariots.
[43] Old Croat. atalice, from Old Croat. at, horse.
[44] Old Croat. jizdica, calvary, from Old Croat. jizd, riding, horse riding.
[45] Old Croat. vijora.
[46] Old Croat. požgaj, Croat. zmaj.
[47] Croat. kaban.
[48] Croat. majolika, Eng. majolica or maiolica, a ceramic product of baked clay coated in opaque tin-lead enamel. It was produced in Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium BC, in Persia during the Achaemenid dynasty, and it spread in Europe through Moors (Mauri) from Spain, where it is produced since the 9th century. The name Maiolica came from the old Italian name for the Spanish Island Mallorca (Majorca).
[49] Croat. županija is a county, a historical administrative division of Croatia. Old Croat. župan or veli župan (great župan) – the county major, has the civil authority in županija and is subjugated to the Ban, Kniz (Prince) or King.
[50] Croat. odaliska, Eng. odalisque, a white slave in a Turkish harem, ranked at the bottom of the social stratification of a harem.
[51] Old Croat. Altaj or Hlami-Ubarške (Avarian Mountains), the Altai Mountains, also spelled Altay Mountains, a mountain range in Central and East Asia.
[52] Old Croat. Misir, from Ottoman Turkish Mısır, and Arabic Miṣr.
[53] Croat. sandali, Eng. sandali or clean-shaven, a variety of eunuchs, men castrated to serve specific social functions.
[54] Old Croat. kosiza, a military unit equal to division, commanded by kosiz (general).
[55] Old Croat. ojat, military headquarters; ojat also means leadership. Old Croat. ojiti or ojati is a verb that means: to command or to lead.
[56] Old Croat. kosiz veli, Eng. great cossiz is a great general. According to the folklore of Krk Island, the great cossiz is ranked the highest in the Croatian army.
[57] Old Croat. korban, captain of a ship, from Old Croat. and Old Slavic korab or korablja (ship) and Old Croat. ban (the best). Proto-Slavic word korabľь, derives from Ancient Greek καράβιον (karábion) or κάραβος (kárabos), that means a ship, boat or vessel.
[58] Old Croat. trobojnik.
[59] Old Croat. and modern Croat. bojnik.
[60] Old Croat: vijorni časnik.
[61] Old Croat. mišina, an inflatable float made of animal skin, a common part of a soldier’s equipment, used since ancient times for crossing the rivers and building rafts.
[62] Old Croat. ormanica, ancient Croatian battleship propelled by oars.
[63] Old Croat. efur, member of efurica, a sailor and warrior on a riverine naval ship.
[64] Old Croat. kunica, cone, wedge formation.
[65]Old Croat. Aštur, Croatian goddess of war, love, hunger, care, penury, evil, pain and death; the Supreme Goddess of Croatian pantheon in the mythology of the Krk Island, where Aštur is also known as Ištur, Ištar or Uštur. She is a pre-Slavic, pagan goddess of unknown origin, and can be connected to the Phoenician goddess Ashtart or Aštart, Hebr. Aštaroth, Greek Astártē, Assyro-Babylonian Ištar, Sumerian Inanna, Canaanite Astarte, Aramaic Attar, pan-Asiatic Nana and ancient Indo-Iranian goddesses Aredvi Sura Anahita, Sarasvatī and Harahvati.
[66] Old Croat. and Croat. vrsta; Slavic verst, an obsolete unit of length of approximately 1,08 km.
[67] Old Croat. Kagan, Eng. Kagan, Khagan or Qaghan, a title of imperial rank in the Turkic, Mongolic and some other languages, equal to the status of an emperor and someone who rules a khaganate (empire).
[68] Old Croat. turga, target.
[69] Old Croat. oštrulači, javeliners.
[70] Old Croat. alan, means the highest. Archaic endemic comparison of the adjective al (high) in Chakavian Croatian language: al (high) – alak (higher) – alan (the highest). Mali Alan Saddle (Croat. mali means small or short) and Veliki Alan Saddle (Croat. veliki means big or tall) are among the highest saddles of the Velebit mountain in Croatia.
[71] Old Croat. žric or žrec, priest of a pagan cult.
[72] Hor, the Croatian god of Sun and war and the Supreme God of Croatian pantheon. In folk tales of the Krk Island, Hor is also known as Hr, Hrv and Har. Hor is a Slavic god of Iranian origin, in medieval Slavic mythology known as Hrs or Hors, Old Church Slavic: Хърсъ, Хорс. The ancient idol of Hor stood on a hill in Kiev (Kyiv), together with the idols of Perun, Dazhbog, Stribog, Semargl and Mokoshi, as the second most important god and the Supreme God of medieval Kievian Croats.
[73] Old Croat. kosiz veli osobnoga zdruga.
[74] Old Croat. Hrvuat, modern Croatian: Hrvat, Eng. Croat or Croatian.