In the realm of Rum, there lived a proud noble named Ahern, descended from an ancient line of bronze-bodied chieftains. Though younger than Mirin, Ahern believed himself superior in wealth, swordsmanship, and stature. Desiring the hand of Caesar's youngest daughter, he sent a message to the sovereign, offering his hand in marriage to bolster the empire's prestige and military might.
Caesar replied that he bound himself by an immutable decree: his daughters would wed none save those who proved their prowess through superhuman trials. Pointing to the dread Mount Saqila, where a venomous dragon—a veritable trap of Ahriman—plagued the sky by pulling vultures down and devastated the surrounding lands, Caesar declared that only the hero who delivered the dragon's head would win the princess, royal treasures, and lands.
Ahern left Caesar's court heavy-hearted and distraught, knowing in his heart that he lacked the strength to slay such a beast. Suspecting that Mirin could never have truly slain the formidable wolf of Vila without aid, Ahern rode swiftly to Mirin's grand palace. Mirin dismissed his courtiers, leaving the two lords alone. Ahern pressed Mirin to reveal how he had accomplished his legendary deed.
Bound by honor and realizing the value of securing Ahern as a powerful ally, Mirin extracted a binding, solemn oath from Ahern never to speak of the secret by day or night. Mirin then penned a letter to Hishway, the trusted guardian of the riverbank who harbored the exiled hero Gushtasp. Ahern journeyed to the shore and delivered the letter to Hishway, who received him with lavish hospitality, feasting under the light of candles by the waters.
At dawn, as the golden sun rose over the azure vault of heaven, a noble knight of majestic stature—Gushtasp—approached riding his steed. Hishway greeted the warrior, presented Ahern and his noble lineage, and explained the plight of the dragon of Mount Saqila. Without hesitation, the valiant Gushtasp agreed to undertake the deadly hunt, asking only that a uniquely serrated, long blade—bristling with thorn-like spikes, tempered in poison and blood, and sharp as diamond—be forged for him to slay the beast.