Having fled the catastrophic battlefield of Davazdah Rokh, the Turanian brothers Lahak and Farshidvard rode seven leagues in haste until they believed themselves safe from the Iranian host. They came upon a verdant grove filled with flowing waters, singing birds, and roaming game beneath leafy shades. Parched and weary, they dismounted, hunted game, roasted meat over an open flame, and ate. Exhausted by sorrow and battle, both heroes eventually succumbed to a deep slumber beneath the canopy of the forest.
Yet Gustahm, the relentless Iranian warrior, was in hot pursuit. As he neared the sanctuary, his swift warhorse caught the scent of the Turanian steeds and let out a resounding neigh. The horse of Lahak answered in kind, shaking the sleep from the brothers. Waking in alarm, Farshidvard warned Lahak that their fate had caught up to them. Mounting their steeds, they rode out of the grove onto the open plain, only to see Gustahm pursuing them single-handedly.
Realizing it was but one knight, they turned, but Gustahm charged like a ravenous lion, loose arrows flying from his bow. A lethal shaft pierced Farshidvard through the helmet, shattering his skull, and the valiant son of Viseh fell lifeless to the earth. Seeing his brother slain, Lahak was overcome with agony and grief; drawing his sword, he threw himself into a desperate combat. Both champions struck furiously, inflicting horrific wounds upon one another, until Gustahm found his opening and swung a decisive blow, severing Lahak's head like a ball struck by a polo mallet.
The fickle wheel of heaven turned once more. Though victorious, Gustahm was mortally wounded, his body slashed from head to foot. Bent double over his saddle, bleeding profusely, he managed to ride to a nearby spring. He tied his horse to a tree, drank deeply of the cool water, and collapsed onto the dark soil. In agonizing pain, he lifted his soul to the Almighty, praying that Yazdan might send Bijan, son of Giv, or another noble champion to find him—living or dead—and carry his body to the Iranian camp, along with the severed heads of the Turanian lords, so King Kai Khosrow would know that Gustahm fell with eternal honor on the field of glory.