Mahmood

When a full week elapsed and King Kay Khosrow remained in sacred solitude, withholding his face from the realm, a grave murmur and apprehension swept through the Iranian camp. The noble paladins, elders, and counselor lords gathered in solemn assembly. Goudarz, son of Kashvad, and Tus of Nowzar’s royal lineage spoke long of tyranny and justice, recounting the chronicles of high-minded kings, God-fearing sovereigns, and those who had stumbled into dark paths.

Goudarz turned to his valiant son Giv, saying: 'O Giv, who hast suffered endless toil for the honor of Iran, a dark and arduous affair now confronteth us which we dare not hold light. Ride with all speed unto Zabulistan, and dispatch a swift horseman to Kabulistan. Inform Rostam that the King hath turned his face in strange seclusion and locked his doors upon his nobles—as though he sit in council with unseen demons! We offered humble pleas, yet received no word. We fear he may fall into delusion as did King Kavus of old. You, Zal, and the holy astrologers and mobads must ride to court, for only Dastan's wisdom can untie this knot.'

Giv listened with a heavy heart, selected a chosen troop of cavaliers, and set out upon the road to Sistan. When he arrived before Zal and Rostam and recounted the strange behavior of the King, the white-haired Zal sighed in deep sorrow, foreseeing a new epoch of trial. Zal immediately summoned the wisest mobads, sages, and star-gazers from Zabul and Kabul, and together with Rostam they set forth toward the Iranian court.

Meanwhile, having spent seven full days in fervent prayer, King Kay Khosrow ordered the court chamberlain to draw back the grand pavilion curtains on the dawn of the eighth day. He ascended his golden throne in royal state. The champions, paladins, and mobads entered, standing respectfully before his presence. The King greeted them warmly according to Kianian traditions and granted them elevated seats. Yet the devoted lords remained standing with hands folded, crying: 'O righteous King of luminous soul! Thine is the royal Glory from the sun unto the cosmic abyss! If thy sorrow springs from the ocean, we shall turn it to dry land; if it be a mountain, we shall root it out with our blades; if it requires treasure, our vaults are thine! Why hast thou barred thy doors against thy servants?'

Kay Khosrow gently replied that his heart's anguish stemmed neither from fear of enemies, nor lack of valiant armies, nor shortage of treasures. Rather, a secret and profound spiritual longing possessed his soul, for which he prayed day and night unto God. He promised to reveal his secret once divine illumination answered his prayer, bidding his noble paladins to rest their hearts and harbor no dark forebodings.