When Iskandar read the letter from Queen Qaydafeh, he sounded the brass trumpets and marched his vast army. For a full month they traversed the roads until they reached the borders of King Faryan's realm—a monarch blessed with vast treasure, armies, and a magnificent fortress city whose high walls not even a leopard could scale. Iskandar besieged the stronghold and ordered Catholicos to bring forth the siege engines and catapults. Within a week, the towering citadel fell, and the triumphant host entered the city. Yet Iskandar commanded that no blood be spilled.
Amidst the spoils, Shahrgir, one of Iskandar's commanders, captured Qaydruch—the son of Queen Qaydafeh—along with his bride, the daughter of Faryan. Qaydruch was the pride of Faryan's heart and a cherished prince. Learning who the royal prisoner was, Iskandar devised a brilliant stratagem. He summoned his wise vizier, Bitqun, placed him upon the throne, and conferred upon him the royal crown and power. Iskandar instructed Bitqun: 'Sit upon the throne as king, while I stand before you girded as a humble envoy. When Qaydruch and his bride are brought before you in chains, feign fury and order their immediate execution. Then I shall step forward to plead for their lives, and you shall grant them to me, so that Qaydruch considers me his savior.'
At dawn, as the sun drew its golden blade across the sky, Bitqun took his place upon the throne, with Iskandar standing attentively as the envoy. Shahrgir brought forth Qaydruch and his fair bride in tears. Bitqun pretended to fly into a rage and commanded the executioner to strike off both their heads with an Indian sword. Thereupon, Iskandar stepped forward, kissed the ground, and pleaded: 'O King, the Creator of the World does not approve of severing the heads of the innocent. Grant their lives to me!' Bitqun granted the request, sparing the couple. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Qaydruch swore eternal loyalty to this brave envoy, unaware he was Iskandar himself, and agreed to accompany him back to Queen Qaydafeh to negotiate terms of peace.