Chapter 9

 Halime Sultan's eyes went wide as she saw Osman coming. Halime looked more than relieved. Hayal and Osman were shocked at the sight of Halime Sultan, Hayal's also shocked by the tribe's position. At the same time, Bamsi Bey, Bala, and Gonca Hatun came out from the tents, killing some of the soldiers and chanting at the same time. Balgay took no notice of them but gestured to Cerkutay to silence them. Osman looked more than happy to see Bala fighting like this with Bamsi Bey, Bala exchanging his happiness. "Welcome to Balgay's hell Osman! Give me my son if you wish for you and your friends to be free," Balgay demanded. Osman opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Emine. "We won't give you this Mongol kopek until you release everyone that's here," she shouted, tugging at Kongar's ropes. Balgay got even angrier and looked around. He took out his dagger and put it on Halime's neck. Kongar put on a childlike smirk. No, not my mother! Osman wanted to scream, but he had to make sure no one knew. "Let him go and I will let her go!" He croaked. "You let her out first and then you can have your kopek of a son," Osman responded. Balgay hesitated for a moment before finally letting her free. He eyed her mother and told her to stay calm. Hayal untied Kongar's ropes and gently pushed him forward. A sober expression had replaced her shock. She wasn't happy, but she wasn't sad. Emine looked at her in concern but Hayal shook her off. Balgay hugged Kongar and then gestured him to sit down in the ox cart, giving him some water. "AH Balgay! You took your soldier, but I can give you something even more powerful than him," Osman said casually. "What do you have that is better than my son? He is a tiger, a LION! Show me what you have!" Balgay yelled. Osman held up a green dagger and a letter holder. "Ok then. What if I say that I can give you the power of Genghis Khan?" he asked. "I swear on Gok Tengri, you can't get the power of Genghis Khan! Only worthy commanders like me can get it!" he shot back. "But, isn't what I'm holding the laws of Genghis Khan?" Osman asked. He opened his fist to make the items visible to others. Balgay looked beyond shocked. "Give me those laws! They are mine you shepherd!" "Then let my tribe and my alps go! Let's talk in peace." Balgay thought for a minute. "I can't let them go. But, I can put them off the verge of death." Osman nodded in agreement. He gestured for his free alps to go untie his family's hands. "Kongar! Go put them in the caged tent and watch over them carefully! Don't let anyone in!" Balgay ordered. Kongar nodded and hurriedly took the alps, Selcan and Gunduz included. But they both fought them off and made their way back towards Osman. He gestured to all the women to go into the tent. Osman, Gunduz, Dundar, Balgay, and Cerkutay all went inside the marquee to discuss about the laws.

"Bey'im, Balgay has raided the Kayi Tribe," Nizamettin reported. "Guzel! They shall now know what I meant about the Mongols. I will keep toying with Dundar to get him on my side, then slowly kill them all off," Alisar said. Nizamettin smiled at the plan. "Now, bring me the best artist of Sogut. I shall make him draw my two loves. Haydi Nizamettin!" Alisar ordered and he went up the stairs to his balcony. Nizamettin opened the gates and walked out in search of the best artist. "If Osman goes to his tribe, he won't come out alive I know for sure. And I will go to watch his death now. Soldiers! Bring my horse!" he ordered as he walked down the steps. "If the artist and Nizamettin come, keep the artist in a room and tell Nizamettin to catch up with me!" he told one of the guards as he left. "It's time to see what you're up to Osman. I won't let you away so easily." 

Selcan, Halime, Bala, Gonca, Emine, and Hayal were all sitting in Selcan Hatun's tent worrying about what to do about this crisis. Hayal suddenly stood up and got ready to leave the tent. "Hayal! Nereye gidiyorsun?" Halime asked. "Ana! I don't care what these people think! I will go see my brothers' best alps and walk around the tribe. I'm tired of sitting in here," Hayal declared. "No Hayal. Don't go. I still don't trust you around him. And I don't want you getting hurt," Emine responded quietly. "Emine, bacim, we have had this talk many times before. I've said it before and I'm saying it again. I am 19! Not 9! You don't have to go around the tribe with me and babysit me! Please! Ana! Explain this to her! Benim için lütfen!" she said and stormed out of the tent. Halime turned to Emine. "Yengim! Nedemek istiyorsun?" Emine's eyes widened at the use of the word yengim. She explained the situation to her and they all explained to her that she doesn't need to worry. Hayal was strong and able. But Emine was still doubtful. 

Hayal walked over to the caged tent to go see the alps. She worried about Konur the most because they were close. She looked up to see Cerkutay guarding the tent, but eyed Kongar walking over there. "What do you want?" Cerkutay asked harshly. "I want to go see my alps. Move to the side and give me space!" she responded. She started walking towards the 'door' when someone grabbed her shoulder and turned around. "What is your problem girl?" Kongar asked. Hayal rolled her eyes and she made sure he saw. He got so mad and she enjoyed it. he raised his hand to slap her but she grabbed the hand and kneed him in the stomach, again. This time he didn't yelp in pain, but he just stood there like nothing happened. "Let me go inside and I promise you I won't set them free," she declared. Kongar gestured to Cerkutay to go to the marquee and he immediately started walking there. "You saying that makes me trust you even less." "Well then don't trust me, I don't care! I'm going inside and don't you DARE touch me again Kongar!" Hayal stormed off to go inside but Kongar grabbed her arm so tightly that it started hurting. He stared directly into her again and she felt weak again. She went off into some world so lost that when the drums started beating, she jumped back into reality, though she didn't shake him off and he didn't let go. Everyone else got out of their tents, Osman and Balgay included. "Allah! What trouble has fallen upon us now?" Emine mumbled. They looked to see Alisar Bey walking like he was the sultan. As soon as Bala saw him, she quickly back inside the tent, Selcan followed. "Kizim, what happened?" "I can't let Alisar see me, he'll get all lovey lovey and I HATE that guy to death," she complained. "Bala, me, Osman, Emine, and Hayal all know about the situation. We can handle it if it gets out of control. I'll tell Halime Sultan as well, she knows how to get these Seljuk people under control." Bala nodded in agreement and went back outside. Selcan got a little closer to Halime to tell the situation. She nodded and said something back. She knew they had it under control, but she felt a seed of worry still there. Bala went for a walk around the tribe so she could shake off her thoughts and calm down. When Alisar looked up to the marquee steps, he was shocked to see Osman standing there with no harm done. "Osman bey! What have you done to make yourself live?" he asked. "What I have done is none of your business. Unless you want to ask the dog who holds your leash what happened," he responded. Balgay got furious that he mentioned him that way. "Ben, Emir Sadettin Kopek'in oğlu Sanjak Bey Alişar bey! No one has the right to talk to me like that. If you insult me one more time..." he cut off, thinking about what to say. Halime looked beyond shocked by the mention of him being Sadettin's son. She couldn't keep it in so she yelled so that everyone could hear. "You son of a dog! First you sold yourself to the Mongols, and now you say that you are Sadettin Kopek's son! MAY ALLAH GIVE YOU THE BIGGEST PUNISHMENT!" she said. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT! SOLDIERS! PUT HER IN THE CAGE TENT! YOU WILL ALL HAVE TO SERVE ME FOR A NIGHT HERE!" "HOW DARE YOU PUT HER IN CAGE TENT IN MY TRIBE! I HOPE YOU REALIZE YOU ARE TALKING TO A SELJUK PRINCESS. YES, A SELJUK PRINCESS!" Osman countered. Alisar was now out of it. He got off his horse and started walking around the tribe to cool off. His soldiers scoured the tribe. Hayal could do nothing but scream her head off. "Alisar Alisar Alisar! He is the most annoying person on this planet. I want to kill him so bad!" she screamed. Kongar squeezed her arm for reassurance. "I know. I listen to him because Balgay does and man this Alisar guy has no manners," Kongar secretly agreed. Hayal jumped back a bit, but then she settled down a little. Hayal had a furious expression on her face and Kongar stared at her, taking in her hazel green eyes that he had never seen before. Hayal shook off his hand and started walking. "I'm going to see Bala Hatun, bye!" she said quickly. At the mention of her name, Kongar remembered that he had a little crush on her too, but he liked Hayal immensely. She rushed to find Bala, hoping she was okay.

Bala was wandering in the flower field, picking some flowers to distract her mind. How do I get this guy to hate me? she thought. She started walking back towards the tents when she heard a familiar someone speaking.

"Merhaba guzel'im." 

A/N: Who is this person who called her? And I know that Alisar isn't Sadettin's son but I had to twist it. So... bye now!