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Chapter 19: A chance encounter

Farrukhzad was on the road again. After staying near Amol for a few days to see whether anyone contracted the plague, they set off again after no one had symptoms. Being on the road heading to Zarang, last stop in their journey, Farrukhzad felt relieved. Relieved he had it behind him. The fruits of his labour would come eventually, as more people started supporting and accepting their Shahanshah. It was quite calm journey, just riding a horse, stopping for night, and then continuing. He started to get used to this cycle, as the journey to Zarang was much longer than from Rasht to Amol. Just going to Zarang was around half of the whole journey taken. After around slightly less than two weeks, they were at Zarang. And they were met with a surprising sight. An army of few thousands were at the gates, camping outside the city walls.

"A siege? No, that isn\'t right." thought Farrukhzad. They approached the camping army, going through the tent city. Soldiers camping there wore Persian uniforms. They watched Farrukhzad and his company, eyeing them suspiciously. Farrukhzad dismounted and walked to the nearest soldiers.

"Where can I find your commander?" asked Farrukhzad with authority. The two soldiers looked at each other and then one of them pointed to a certain tent.

"He should be there." said the man pointing. Farrukhzad thanked them and continued on to the tent with the two soldiers watching him and whispering something to each other. When Farrukhzad arrived to the tent, he was met with a pair of soldiers and their spears that prohibited them from entering.

"State your business." said one of the soldiers.

"I believe I do not need to state my business. Let me introduce myself. Farrukhzad, wuzurg framadar of the Empire of Iranians."

The soldiers went pale after hearing that and immediately withdrew their spears. Farrukhzad, without a word, entered the tent. There, a man was sitting, writing something. Farrukhzad immediately recognized him.

"Piruz Khosrow. What a coincidence."

After hearing his name, Piruz looked up into Farrukhzad\'s face and smiled on him.

"Farrukhzad. You old bastard. It sure is coincidence. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same. I\'m on my way to Zarang. It was met with a plague, you see. And on orders of our Shahanshah, may he be immortal, I fund a relief effort."

"So you went from a city to city, bringing money and supplies?"

"Exactly. But enough about me. What is this about? What is the army doing here?"

"We were at Merv, fought the G?ktürks and now, we\'re returning. But we ran into a problem. Marzban of Merv were only able to grant us supplies to Zarang. And he didn\'t lie. Our supplies are running low and Zarang can\'t provide us any. Because of the plague."

Farrukhzad frowned and started thinking if there was anything he could do to help.

"I have to meet with the city representatives. I\'ll try to negotiate with them. If their supplies would suffice, I\'ll give you the ones we have for them."

"Thank you, my friend. I am very desperate."

Farrukhzad left the tent and went on to the meeting. Local authorities were very serious about the quarantine, as the whole negotiations were held by shouting at each other from and under the walls. It was bizarre. After a few minutes and a sore throat, a soldier brought a cup of wine to Farrukhzad. He found out that their supply level is good and that they have enough for them – but not enough so they can give some to a few thousand soldiers. Knowing that, Farrukhzad gave them only the funds and medical supplies, ensuring the spread of his Shahanshah\'s fame. He was glad they took the quarantine seriously, but this was too much even for him. His throat hurt from the relentless long-distance shouting. It wasn\'t a walk in a rose garden. But he had it behind him, with only return to Istakhr remaining. He then went back to Piruz\'s tent, smiling at him upon entering.

"How did it go?" asked Piruz, who, upon seeing Farrukhzad burst out of his seat.

"It went well. The supplies are yours."

"Thank Ahura Mazda. I seriously thought I\'m screwed." said Piruz, looking relieved. Farrukhzad just smiled.

"Are you also heading to Istakhr now, my friend? Perhaps you could go with us." said Piruz.

"I will, gladly. At least we\'ll have a company. My lads must be tired from the road."

"Great. Then, let us rest for today and we can embark tomorrow."

After that, they spend the whole day talking about all sorts of topics. Politics, women, army, warfare and administrative matters. Then after drinking a few cups of wine, Piruz asked Farrukhzad a bit sensitive question.

"My friend I have to ask you. You are wuzurg framadar, right? Chosen by our Shahanshah, may he be immortal."

Farrukhzad nodded.

"I\'ll speak bluntly now, but I don\'t mean any disrespect. Do you really trust that child-emperor? Do you believe him?"

Farrukhzad wasn\'t that surprised. He knew this question would eventually come, as he himself was a factionalist in the past and it wasn\'t very common for the likes of him to suddenly side with the royal power.

"I do. There is something in that child that just makes me believe him. Trust him. Every time I speak with him, I have this feeling that he will become great one day. I just can\'t help it. Maybe it\'s that I am na?ve, maybe it\'s because I am idealistic. Or maybe, I just don\'t have other choice but to believe. You see in what state we currently are. You should see it. It wouldn\'t be impossible for a fool like myself to be so desperate to believe a child on a throne. But I digress."

Piruz looked at Farrukhzad with a serious yet empathic look. As if he stole his words.

"What about you, Piruz? I don\'t think you ever talked to him though, so maybe you\'ll have a different point of view."

"I don\'t know. I was preparing for the worst when I heard a child will rule us. I didn\'t thought he\'ll last so long. Almost half a year now. But he did and so did my opinion of him rise. When Rostam came to me with a command from the Shahanshah himself, I was surprised. I still have my doubts, but it looks like he\'s trying at least. And that is the bare minimum a good ruler must do, in my opinion."

Farrukhzad smiled at him. Maybe they were of different factions, of different views of different things, but one thing they could agree on. That child was exceptional.