Donning his heavy mail with grim determination, Giv mounted his terrifying charger and rode up the rocky trail of Mount Sepid to avenge the fallen Iranian champions. From the high summit, Forud looked down upon the approaching knight and observed to Tokhar that while the Iranian host possessed unmatched valor, their leaders lacked wisdom—and a headless champion is like a body devoid of soul. Tokhar peered closely and warned the prince: 'This is Giv, a war-elephant of a man who bound the hands of your grandfather Piran and brought terror to two Turanian hosts. His armor was crafted for Siyavash and no shaft will pierce it. Shoot not at the hero, but directly into the chest of his horse, so that he may be forced to retreat on foot.'
Forud drew his bow to its full ear-length and loosed a deadly arrow straight into the breast of Giv’s steed. The majestic charger collapsed beneath him, and Giv was forced to dismount and turn back with his heavy shield slung over his shoulder, as mocking laughter echoed down from the heights of Sepid-Kuh. Upon his return to the camp, the Iranian lords gave thanks to God that Giv was unhurt, but his young son Bijan stepped forward with biting words, taunting his father for fleeing before a single mountain archer. Enraged by the boy's disrespect, Giv struck Bijan across the head with his whip, rebuking him for mistaking reckless ignorance for true valor.
Smarting from the blow and burning with wounded pride, Bijan swore a formidable oath by the Creator and the King's crown that he would not rest until he had avenged Zaraspe and confronted the archer on the peak. He went to Gostaham to demand a warhorse and weapons. Though Gostaham warned him that the cliff was a death trap where even eagles struggled to climb, Bijan refused to break his oath. Seeing his nephew's unyielding spirit, Gostaham yielded his finest wolf-like steed. Learning of his son's perilous quest, Giv sent Siyavash’s invincible armor and a royal helmet to protect Bijan. Armored in steel and driven by sacred vengeance, Bijan set his face toward the summit of Mount Sepid.