by Boris Zubry
Could you turn away from the ugliness? Real ugliness… Exactly. The Khazars just walk away. Somehow, they turn away. They never participate or even watch anything like that, but they fight well and very smart. Well, I should not interfere with my soldiers. Not for something like that. They are good soldiers, and that is the reward they want. If that’s what they want, I’ll give it to them. My life was stressful enough already, and I did not need any confrontations with the Tatars, Kalmyks, Kyrgyz, Buryats, or anyone else in my camp. Yet, I have to watch the Muslims much closer though. That’s all. It was time to rest a little and not to think of unpleasant things. A few of my commanders, relatives, Subutai and I left pretending that we had some things to do and some orders to give. We did not want anyone to know that it was revolting even to us. We wanted to wait until the Tatars were done with what they did best, and the platform cleaned so we could come back and continue to enjoy the feast. I took a new Russian slave girl and went to my tent. It was her first time with me, and probably, she would fight resisting the violation. That always makes me harder. I liked it. Fight, girl. You are so beautiful. Kick harder. I will not cut your breasts off, and I will not kill you. I do not do things like that. I am not a Tatar nor a Kalmyk. I am more civilized. I just want to make love to you in an exceptional way I reserve for the slave girls. Don’t be afraid and come here. Let’s be friends. If I like you, it could be good for you in the end. My personal slaves live somewhat better than others. Sometimes they were even better off than people of the lesser tribes. Those people would love to be my slaves, but I do not need them for that. They are from the steppes or the neighboring settlements. What could I experience from them? What could they tell me? What do they know I don’t? No, that is not exciting at all. They should be free if we did not conquer them, and why would we conquer them. There is nothing they have that we want. We are of the same race and, in many ways, we are the same. They are our cousins and see things our way anyway.
A few hours later, when we were rested and ready to continue enjoying the good weather, good fortune and the feast, one of the guards, called Subutai to the city gates. It was not really unusual, but it was this day. Kiev was in shock, and nothing should be happening there if not the surrender. They had nothing left. The guard claimed that the Grand Duchess of Kiev wanted to see Subutai. That was interesting and quite unusual so, I decided to join him. No one ever wanted to see Subutai if not for a favor to ask. He was not a good-looking man nor a pleasant one. One could not have an intelligent conversation with him if it did not involve war, killing, or horses. So, it should be a favor she wanted. I liked Subutai because I knew him ever since I was a toddler and he always was good to me. When my father died, he became like a father to me. More, he was a friend. He told me everything I know and helped me to grow into what I am now. He did so much for me. Well, he was my father in a way. It was not by blood but in real life, and I loved him for that. Interesting, but Subutai did not court women but raped them instead. Well, he rarely raped the Mongolian women. One could get killed for that even by the woman. But, the others and the slaves had no chance. He always took what he wanted at the time, although if he regretted it later. No, he never regretted anything. Why would he? That was his character for all I know and we, Mongols, should either accept it or fight. So, I took Subutai as he was, and that was right. Subutai sired many children, but almost all of them were bustards, and he lost the count of them. It was somewhat sad, but then, he could claim the own clan. He never did, though. That was funny. What a wild horde it would be. He was a part of the most prominent tribe in the nation already. His children belonged to our clan and were welcomed everywhere. Thus, the Grand Duchess did not just want his company, she wanted something from him, and I wanted to know what it was and how he would handle that. It could be quite entertaining on a dreary day and the day was getting more boring by the minute. It was exhilarating last night, but we saw it all already.
“My dear lady!” Said Subutai pleasantly when we arrived at the meeting place. “What is your worry, desire? What can I do for you?” The Duchess wore a simple light cotton gown and was alone. Even the guards were some distance away. She was very pale, scared, and clearly was not sure of what to do next. We saw she was frightened. It was normal after the display on the hill. Most likely, she was on the wall with the rest of the city and saw everything that was there to see. She probably saw the entire parade of horror and imagined even more.
She saw the blood, gore, and suffering. What else was there to conceive? Yet, we left a few things for imagination, and, if you were a sensitive type, it could be the most terrifying thing. It was apparent, she was overwhelmed with the internal dilemma coming from her heart and from the soul. She was doing something she did not want to do but thought that was the right thing to do. Was she right?
“My Lord, you told me just a few days ago that I could call on you in times of need so, I am here. This is the most troublesome time of all. I am glad that Lord Batu is here as well. Lord Batu is known for fairness and consideration, and I trust that it is true. The time for compassion has come, and I wanted to ask you for mercy.” The Duchess was holding her tears back, but the voice betrayed her time and time again.
“Yes, of course, my Lady. What can we do for you? Do you need food, water, something else?” Subutai was smiling with the innocence of a cat that just swallowed a canary. Oh, he was cunning and diplomatic if he had to be. He never seized to astonish me; that’s how corrupt he was. “Tell us your desire, my Lady. We promise to do whatever we can to fulfill it. We are here to serve if we can. So, what is your worry? Please, talk to us openly. We are here to listen and to help if we can.”
She smiled with a countenance full of hope and anticipation. She hoped for the human response in the most horrific situation. If they did not experience it and were just told the stories, this horror, they would not believe any of that. No one could be that cruel, that inhuman. She wanted to trust the words despite better judgment. The entire city populace was covering the walls waiting for a miracle. Air was thick, still and quiet that was interrupted only by the buzzing of the enormous fat flies surrounding the human mount on the hill but still evolving around the entire city. That was the time of the feast for them, and they enjoyed every second of it. The Duchess and the people were hoping for a gesture of goodwill. Was there any goodwill left anywhere? In my empire? In the world? I did not want to interfere, but I wanted to see it too.
“My Lords, my husband and all these noble people you are tor… killing over there. Please, I beg of you. Let them go or kill them quickly. What is the point in such violence that cannot even be described? They are humans, and you are humans. And, the slaves… Children… What did they do to deserve that? Why… Do you make war on them too? How could that help you? What do you want from us? From them… You came to take the city. So, take it. Attack, scale the walls, kill all of us and be done with that. You can do it, you are so powerful.” Now, she was crying. She was not weeping, screaming, even moving. There was no sound coming from her. The little drops of tears were leaving the wet scars on her pale, perfect face.
“Duchess, I offered you once before, and I am offering it again. Listen to me and take my offer. I will not offer it again.” Subutai dismounted and slowly walked on his short, badly bowed legs toward the Duchess.
Most of Mongols had the short badly bowed legs because of the lifetime on the move, on the horse, in the saddle that started very early in your life. That was not very attractive to some, but the Mongols apprised it differently. The badly bowed legs told the story and demonstrated the character of the person. The grimace on the Duchess's face showed the revolution she experienced as a result of his offensive smell. Yes, we smelled.
I don't know if Subutai ever really washed his body. Maybe his mother did it for him when he was a child. Washing was not widely accepted by the Mongols. We believed that the body oils and the offensive smell protected us from the sicknesses propelling the demons of the illnesses away. Thus, we
all smelled, but it was our smell, and we did not really notice it until the new smell offended or attracted our senses. Both happened and often. Actually, we rarely noted unpleasant odors, but the pleasant ones drew us in so much. That was different. Well, nonetheless, a respectable Mongol would thoroughly wash the body twice a year. That was a custom most of us followed. Yet, Subutai was not that respectable, and he followed only the traditions he liked. What he liked was not precisely what I did. After all, we were different people.
“My Lady take the women and the children and leave this place of death. We would guarantee you the safe conduct anywhere you may want to go. Do not go to Suzdal. Suzdal is not what it was before. We are there already, and most of Suzdal is not. We’ve been there for a little while already. I will give you a hundred of my best bodyguards to protect you. This is the best I can do for you, my Lady. Take it and save as many people as you can.”
The commander of my personal Khazar Tumen and a few bodyguards were right next to me watching the scene. They were with us for a long time and knew what was coming. I softly whispered to them to get the troops ready for the attack, and the messenger went to the camp. I knew Subutai all too well. He was preparing the stage for something, and that something could only be the end of the city. Subutai would use this situation to our advantage one way or another so, the troops had to be ready. Some small units and the individual soldiers started to move closer to us, closer to the gates. I saw probably a thousand regulars concentrating around us, and the entire Tumen was assembling on the hill just a short distance away. Cannons were never moved in the first place so, they were in place and aiming at the gate and the walls. Well, I saw them running to the high ground and closer to the city.
Good people. Subutai saw it too. He looked at me and smiled. What a sly dog. Just do not call him that to his eyes. You may lose your head or get a knife into your eye. He knew that I would understand him. After all, he raised me. My eyes searched the camp, and I noticed the units of my Tumens, forming all around the city. I could not see the Tatars, but I knew that they would be hiding among the hills ready to chase anyone breaking through of our iron ring. Also, they were prepared to protect our rear in case if anyone tried to relieve the city. I had no idea who would attempt to do that, but I would rather be safe than sorry. My army was very well trained, and everyone knew his place during the battle. I did not have to worry about that. Thousands of my people fought as one man. The horrible death was a reward for not following my orders, and this rule was firmly enforced. After all, they were good people, and I trusted all of them with my life.
“We cannot leave, My Lord Subutai. We would not leave Kiev. This is our city, our home, the only home we have. We will fight along the side of our husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. That’s our way of life. Would your women abandon you if the roles reversed? I think not. We cannot live without them so, we will share their future equally. Whatever it may be.” She was staring toward our camp with a life mount, maybe not even seeing it. She was searching for people she knew, the friends, the relatives. She looked so tall, so strong, so commanding in front of almost bridged ancient walls of Kiev and Kiev was looking at her with the wide-open eyes full of horror and admiration. She was so proud, and I admired her spirit as well. She was a good woman, and every leader should have a wife like that. My wives were not like that, but I will find the right one soon enough. I am looking already every time I get a chance. I met many beauties, but they were not what I want. Maybe I should look outside the steppes, maybe the Khazar woman.
“Well, I see, you want to share whatever is coming to your men. That’s your decision. We respect your decision and can oblige that.” And, with his mighty hands, Subutai tore her clothes off, exposing the pregnant but still beautiful body pushing her to the ground. A cry of horror rang from the walls accompanying the Duchess cries of pain. Subutai was at his peak raping her in front of all these people as a prelude and a sneak preview to the rape of Russia. It was so symbolic besides being so brutal. Russia could not survive what was coming, and that was happening to every city, every corner of this country.
Kiev was the biggest city of Russia and, if Kiev falls, nothing could stand against the Golden Horde. Nothing else was big enough for that. That was the breaking point in the war. The Mongolian soldiers moved closer and closer to the walls not hiding under the colorful shields of peace any longer. The spirit of the city was finally broken, and the final attack was in the making. No one could stop what was going to happen. No one would even think of trying it. One needed the will to fight, and there was no will any longer. The intention was taken away by us. We crossed the breaking point for the Russians. I have to give it to Subutai, he was the master of war. The Kievan Russia had to figure out how to survive without Kiev until it was rebuilt and prospering again. The Mongols would level it out and then, run the wild horses over for a thousand times. They did not want to erase the memory of the place but to keep the horrifying memories alive. That war would last for a few years more and the Golden Horde for hundreds of years more.
Subutai took his time torturing the Duchess and then, a couple of Tatars took their turns. They considered it an honor to be the followers of Subutai the Great. After all, he was a hero from the old tales. That’s how they did it back then and still, do it now. She was quiet, not even sobbing. Blood was freely running from her womb. She was not dead but probably unconscious or on the way of losing her mind. Then, Subutai stepped forward again. He had a dagger-shaped in the form of a crescent with the sharp edge on the inside of the curve. These daggers were mainly used to cut the throats of animals and people alike. It was quick and painless, but who could tell it sure. After your throat was brutally cut and you bled out, you were dead less talking. And, Subutai slowly cut her ample ready to feed the new life breasts off. Thus, maybe it was a painless merciful death or perhaps not. We have no way of knowing. I have a dagger like that and used it for a few times, and I felt no pain. Ha, ha… The blade happened to be well suited for that task as well. She did not scream of the sudden and terrible pain but moaned in the wake of the dying dreams, the hastily fading future. She should be dead in a matter of seconds. Her spirit was gone already to a better place and was not coming back.
With the next stroke of the dagger, Subutai slit her belly open, looked inside with uncluttered interest, and pulled the unborn child out. Another cry of the despair came in waves from the wall. Subutai smiled and skewed the fetus on the pike of one of the soldiers standing right next to him. Then, he threw the pike aiming at the gates. The Mongols and the revulsion were close enough for that. The pike, with its message of horror, hit the target promptly in the center. Everyone was quiet standing still. Then, there was a crackling noise coming from the gates. All heads turned toward the sound. The gates were opening, and the white piece of close on the end of the stick indicated the peaceful request that even the Mongols and the Tatars would honor. This was one of the few things important enough for everyone.
“Sir… People… We want to take the bodies of the Duchess and the child. Can we? If you give us the Duke and the Boyars, we would appreciate it. Please do. We would bury them. We just want to honor and to bury them like Christians. That would be just right. Can you do that, please? Then, we can kill each other.” It was a man’s loud voice.
“Yes, go ahead. You can take the Duchess and the baby. But, the Duke and the Boyars are not ready yet. We will let you know.” Said Subutai and the gates opened. A few weary Russian soldiers in fine metal chainmail (Kalchuga - Russian), helmets called “Shishak” in Russian and with the sheathed swords came out hurriedly moving toward the body of the Duchess while two more soldiers were trying to pull the pike from the wood of the gates. None of them had any other weapons or the shields to have the free hands to carry the bodies. It was a grisly task one would accept only out of sheer necessity and never out of desire. Blood was still dripping out of both bodies – the small one, never been born and his mother that maybe regretted to be born.
“Now!” Yelled Subutai and struck the closest Russian soldier with the same dagger he used to assault the Duchess and her child. I pulled my sword out and pointed at the gates. Thousands of arrows hit the walls, and the people gathered there, killing many of them and creating a panic of the citywide dimensions. No, we could not hold it back. Not now. Even I did not have that power. The Russians made a mistake of trusting us. It was not for the first time. This was the opportunity that did not come too often. We had to use it and storm the city. Now, now, now. What was there to wait? The city was ripe for the taking so, take it. There was no fighting spirit left in there, but we were in high spirits. Of course, my grandfather was right when he told us not to waste an opportunity, but he never had an opportunity that good. No one ever had it that good, not even the ancients. I wonder what he would say if he saw it now. I think he would lead the charge.