Distressed by the perilous tidings of the young Turanian champion, King Kavus commanded his scribe to draft a magnificent letter of praise and urgent summons to Rostam the Valiant. The epistle opened with blessings upon the Almighty Creator, before hailing Rostam as the invincible shield of Iran, the breaker of Hamavaran's fetters, and the conqueror of Mazandaran. Kavus warned that a dire threat had arisen which only Rostam could match, entreating him to mount his steed without a moment's pause and ride forth from Zabul with his wisest warriors. Charging Gev to speed like swift smoke to Zabulistan without tasting rest by day or night, Kavus dispatched him across the realm. Gev rode relentlessly until the trumpet blasts of the vanguard reached Zal Dastan. Rostam and his chieftains greeted Gev with high honors and conducted him to the royal hall. Upon receiving the royal letter and hearing Gev's dire tales of Sohrab, Rostam marvelled in disbelief, laughing that such a warrior matching Sam could emerge among the Turks. He recalled his own child with the princess of Samangan, yet believed him still an infant tasting milk, far too young for battle. Unaware of the tragic truth, Rostam invited Gev to feast and drink for a day to ease their fatigue, brushing off the urgency. One day of revelry turned into three as the wine flowed, delaying their departure while Kavus's command was temporarily forgotten in drunkenness.