Seeing himself cornered by the formidable host of Iran, Afrasiab summoned his valiant son Shideh to carry a cunning message to King Kay Khosrow. He instructed Shideh to argue that a war between a grandfather and a grandson defied divine custom, claiming that Fate, not his own hand, had ordained the tragic death of Siyavash. Afrasiab presented four choices to the Iranian monarch: first, to forgive the blood of Siyavash in exchange for the vast ancestral treasures, crowns, thrones, and all Iranian lands occupied by Turks; second, for the two monarchs to settle the war through single combat; third, for Kay Khosrow to duel a young prince like Pashang or Shideh; or fourth, to engage in a catastrophic general battle at dawn, turning the earth into a sea of blood.
Shideh rode forth beneath his black banner. After a brief skirmish between his vanguard and the Iranian scouts, he requested an audience. Qaran, son of Kaveh, rode out to receive the message and brought it back to Kay Khosrow. Upon hearing his grandfather's terms, Kay Khosrow smiled bitterly, recognizing the desperate ploy. However, the elders and wise mobads of Iran, weary of endless warfare, advised the king to accept the peace offer, claim the wealth and lands, and avoid placing the kingdom at risk.
Among all the leaders, only Rostam remained grimly silent, his heart burning with unquenchable vengeance for Siyavash. Kay Khosrow rebuked the army elders for their hesitation, invoking the tragic martyred souls of Iraj and Siyavash, and warning them never to trust the deceitful words of Afrasiab. He declared that Shideh's sorcery-forged armor and swift steed would avail him nothing against divine justice. Ashamed of their fear, the Iranian champions repented and swore allegiance to the death. Kay Khosrow resolved to step onto the battlefield himself, ready to cut down Shideh and bring the bloody saga of vengeance to its ultimate climax.