Shahnameh - The Book of Kings (Synopsis, Part XIII)

Byzun and Manijeh

Peacetime now, and Kai Khosrau ruled with wisdom. And then men from Arman came, and begged audience with the Shah and pled for his help. They wanted a champion to kill wild boar from Turan that were destroying crops. No one volunteered even though the Shah offered rewards, except Byzun, Gew’s only son, and Gew was not pleased. Byzun talked him into it, though. The Shah made him take with him Girgin, the wise in counsel, for guidance. And Girgin recommended sleep, but Byzun wanted to hunt boar. And so Girgin told him he was on his own, and that he himself would watch. And Girgin was jealous at his success and wanted to ensnare Byzun, so he talked him into gong to spy on Afrasiyab’s women, who were celebrating spring in the forest.

Enter Manijeh, under cypress trees, the most beautiful of all (ed. - of course) and Afrasiyab’s daughter. And she spotted him, and sent a messenger, and then they spoke. He abandoned thought of leaving for a few days, but when she was supposed to leave, she drugged him and dragged him back with her into her rooms. Byzun wasn’t happy about being in Afrasiyab’s house, but Manijeh calmed him down. Many days later, Afrasiyab finally found out, and sent his brother Gersiwaz to take armed men to the women’s house, where Byzun was unarmed. Byzun quickly threatened to kill himself (it seems he had a hidden dagger) if he wasn’t brought to Afrasiyab.

That worked, but then Afrasiyab didn’t believe his story and sentenced Byzun to be hanged. Piran showed up and stayed the punishment until he could talk to Afrasiyab. And he reminded the king that they couldn’t really afford a war right now, and how about we just throw him into the dungeon? And so Byzun was thrown into a hole in the desert, laden with iron chains, and a giant stone covered the pit. Gersiwaz was then ordered to take Manijeh’s veil, robe, and crown because she had dishonored the family. She was taken and set loose in the desert, unable to set free Byzun, but through a small hole to feed him with bread she begged from a nearby city.

Meanwhile, Girgin returned to Iran and didn’t know what to say to the Shah or Gew. So he boasted of “his” deeds along with Byzun’s, and claimed a wild ass had kidnapped Byzun, claiming it must be a Deev. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t stick to his story, and the shah threw him in chains, saying that he would search until No Ruz, and then would look in his crystal ball.

Eventually he looked into the crystal ball and God granted him a vision, but Kai Khosrau could not find Byzun on any of the lands of earth. Then Ormuzd clarified and showed the pit and Manijeh beside it. Gew goes to Rustem, who chooses his men, and Girgin asks Rustem to intercede for the Shah’s forgiveness, which eventually he gave.

Rustem planned to go disguised as a merchant and took seven knights with him and 100 camels. He went to Piran and gave gifts, then asked for permission to sell within Turan. Word spread even to Manijeh, who questioned him, asking whether an army would come to rescue Byzun. Rustem, afraid of giving away the secret, told her he knew nothing and to go away. He softened as she cried, and gave her meat to give to Byzun, but hid a ring with his seal upon it, and Byzun took heart and laughed.

Laughter scared Manijeh, but Byzun didn’t want to tell her because women can’t keep a secret. She was hurt, and offended, so he made her swear a “great oath” and he told her. She played messenger to confirm it was him, and Rustem told her to build a fire so that she could pinpoint the spot for him.

The stone was immovable by the seven knights, so Rustem prayed, and told Byzun that God might be more willing if he would forgive Girgin, who had repented anyway, but Byzun didn’t want to. Rustem threatened to leave, so Byzun eventually did. Eventually he got out, but was scrawny.

Rustem took them back to the city and wanted to be told where the army was hidden, saying that Byzun shouldn’t go because he was too weak, but Byzun refused. And so they crept into Afrasiyab’s house and Rustem woke him up by making a speech about vengeance. His guards were dead, but he was able to escape because it was dark (ed. – this is why making speeches over live bodies is stupid, though waiting until the enemy is dead is only marginally smarter). So Rustem took the booty, and went away quickly, knowing that Afrasiyab would send an army after him. So Rustem sent Manijeh, the booty, and the slaves into Iran, and set himself at the head of the army, and Afrasiyab eventually fled again with a defeated army. AGAIN.

So they get back to the Shah, and Rustem goes home to Zal, who’s somehow still alive, and the Shah tells Byzun to always treat Manijeh well since she’s been so good to him.