Tales of The East

Tale's of The East
(Note: As the title said this was inspired by a CK2 game, as such the setting is in the far north western section of Central Asia to the easternmost section of central Russia. Also! Before I forget, this is my first short story, so take it easy if you wouldn't mind! Now, on to the story.)

Kencek Uyghurid was a powerful man, old, powerful, and dying. In his decades of leadership he had expanded Kirghiz territory and power immensely, he made the chiefdom of Kim bow down, had conquered the barbarous Nirm, and had captured five of its strange women from their domains. This, thought old Kencek, was a mistake, but a mistake he was willing to repeat over and over again...but only for one of them. Her name was Inyava Nydorid, and she was married to his sixth son Blush. For some reason, Kencek was very fond of Inyava, treating her like one of his own daughters, of which he had only one, not counting Inyava. In the year of 917, beneath the sky of Tengri Ulgen, Kencek called forth his children to return home to his capital city, for he knew his time was near and he wanted to bade his beloved children farewell. There was a secret undertone known only to Kencek, not even his wife Sibel knew of it.

This undertone was one of redemption, not for his children, for he had done right by them, only beating his third son Sevenc once when he was torturing a rat, otherwise never raising a hand to any of them. At least, he had done well by his biological children. This tone of redemption was for Inyava, not the other four women he had captured from the North, of which only three still lived. He no longer regarded them as conquests, but at the same time did not entirely feel at all concerned about them, marrying them off to his sons or having the 10 year old he found hiding in her fathers hill fort be educated into a strong Kirghiz woman. Only Inyava, for reasons not even Kencek understood had his affection. Weeks passed as Kencek prepared for his children's arrival with their families, of which most were rather large. On June 28th, 917, when all his children had arrived , and were situated comfortably inside the stone fort he had raised, or in the large city surrounding it, waiting till early evening he called his family forth.

Kencek had fought in the West many times, particularly the areas around Kiev, and the city had inspired him so, that when he decided to settle down a portion of his tribe in his homelands that he would mirror the cities of the West in its construction. His home reflected this; it was large, made of wood, and consisted of four structures, the first was very tall, standing at least 4 horses high, was squared, had a large inner courtyard; a second floor, was ringed by three complete walls with the fourth possessing an arch and left open aside from the curtains held up for privacy. The other four were miniature towers, reminiscent of circular watchtowers, only slightly shorter than the main building and instead of housing guards were only decorative.
The building itself was ringed by a small wooden wall that surrounded it, guards on watch and carrying torches patrolled it. His family gathered in the courtyard in front of Kencek's house where, underneath the lowering sun, carpets had been laid out in circular style with each having a fire and pillows ringing said fire. There was a shorter carpet laid out in a straight line directly in front of the houses that also had a fire in front of it and only three pillows upon it. Kencek emerged shortly after his children had arrived, and, with his wife Sibel to his right; slightly behind him, with his only servant Ciltanesi, whom had served Kencek almost immediately after he rose to become Chief, mirroring his wife position to the left.

"My family" began Kencek "know that I am pleased to see all of you here, and it gladdens me to see you all in good health!". Kencek continued his declaration by bidding his children come forth one at a time with their family's in tow to embrace them, along with their children and wives, as well as his only daughter Pekson's husband Kortan of House Havuksingia. After this, Kencek bade his family to sit down, and called forth villager's from his city who had volunteered to serve him this night. He had them bring three roasted goats, four lambs, and two sheep, attended by generous amounts of Kvass, and even expensively imported wine for Kortan, who despised Kvass Kencek had found out upon his son in law's first visit.
As the meal began Kencek was notably quiet, merely observing his family with a small smile upon his face, until one of his grandsons, emerging from the circle of Kencek's first son, whom his wife insisted he name Kencek as well, walked to the front of Kencek and stated "Grandfather, why are you silent? When last I visited all you did was tell us stories and adventures! Will you tell them again for me?" Kencek noted how Sibel turned to him with a small smile on her face and whispered "Go on than, he's waiting". Even the normally dour and silent Ciltanesi agreed with his wife. Despite this; Kencek only wanted a quiet night listening to the family he had not seen together for a very long time. His mind was made up, however, when his son Kencek cried out "Go on father! You remember how much we enjoyed your stories as children, why deny him the same enjoyment?".

"You think like your mother entirely to much" called out Kencek to his son than continued "But very well. Seeing as my boring tales are in such demand I will hasten to corner the market". Then, turning to his grandson he stated "And you my grandson? What will you have old Kencek tell you?". His grandson shouted out with great excitement "Speak of your time as the Ishad of Cumania! I want to know how you fought the Khazzarians!". "Very well than, grandson, I will tell you of the Khazzararian Khanate" said Kencek as his grandson raced to sit in his lap. "It was many years ago...." began Kencek as he told the story of his first visit to Kiev. The night wore on, and Kencek grew tired.
Removing his grandson from his lap, who had long since fallen asleep he rose and called for silence "My family, let it be known among you that seeing you together again is enough to make Tengri Ulgen weep. I must retire now, but before you leave I have a request of each of you, stay awhile longer, for I have something I must tell you separately of great import. Therefore, my son Kencek, gather your family and join me in my house, we have much to discuss." With Ciltanesi by his side and Sibel on his arm, he began toward the house with his son Kencek in tow.

A short time later his children left, quiet and standing by the door way with their faces to the ground, then his wife who gathered the children to her, then finally Kencek emerged as well. He looked pained , said his goodbyes quickly then departed with his family. The next to be called was Kencek's daughter Pekson, who entered with her husband Kortan. The first to exit was Kortan who sat down on a pillow and gazed to the star's. Pekson was next, who appeared to be wiping something from her face. She said her goodbyes and took her husband and left as if hurrying.

The same happened with Kenceks sons Sevenc, Uzur, Saru, Kotyan, and Asep. leaving only Blush and his wife with their three children in the courtyard alone. Ciltanesi came from the house and instructed Blush to take his children into the house but leave his wife Inyava behind. Blush did so with confusion. His children were, as expected, the first to leave, siting down by their mother. Blush excited some time later, pale, and told his wife to enter, and that he was taking the children back to the house they were staying at. "Then I am to walk back alone? Unprotected at night?" said Inyava. "No, wife" said Blush "my father has much to talk about with you, and by the time he is through the night will be over. I will see you in the morning".
With an embrace and a kiss Blush disappeared into the night, only the torches of the guards around them standing out. Inyava walked inside the house where she was stopped by Ciltanesi, who directed her toward the stars in the center of the room. She ascended and was approached by Sibel . "Where is the Chief?" Inyava asked, who refused to call the man who kidnapped her liege. "My husband is in bed, the room to the center is ours" explained Sibel. Inyava departed, and approached the door. She paused, doubt and hatred bubbling away at her. Here was the man who stole her world, on the other side of this door, and he dared speak to her? Putting her thoughts aside she opened the door. The room was bright, candles ringing the walls. Kencek was indeed in bed, with a chair, an actual chair, sitting next to him where he motioned for Inyava to sit down. She did so and waited for him to speak.

"My daughter, for you are my daughter, regardless of your origins. I know that you hate me, and your hate is justified. You know I am dying soon, I am old and you can see it. I want to reach an understanding with you, for I know that stealing you away from your clan's fortress was wrong, but it is a wrong that I would recommit every time. I want you to know my reasons and understand them. Then you will tell me of your old life, compare it to your new one, and through that I hope that we may find common ground. But before any of that. I can see you want to speak. Speak, daughter, and let my redemption begin." Inyava tensed at the words. He kidnapped her! Took away her family, friends, even her language, and he wanted to reach an understanding with her to ease his passing?

"No" Inyava began "We will not reach an understanding old Chief, you will not have my forgiveness, nor the grace of my time or presence." She began to rise but was stopped by Kencek's hand on her leg. She swatted it away and yelled "Do not touch me monster! I am not your daughter" she said, the word daughter laced with venom. Kencek said in reply "Does doubt not eat away at you? Do you not want to know why I did what I did?". "I do no...." Inyava paused. "Fine, then, son of a bastard, I will humor you're dying wish. You may tell me of your reasons. But only after I ask my question." she said. "Why did you do it?" she said bluntly. "The answer to that lies in my story, allow me to speak and all will become clear." said Kencek. "Very well. But know that you try my already thin patience.".

"You must remember when I stole you away from your homeland. It was the year 905, when I began raiding your original fathers lands to prepare them for my invasion. I captured the fortress of Nirm, and imagine my surprise to find a girl hiding in the fortress cellar. At first, you were a bargaining chip, I will admit that. " Paused Kencek for breath, Invaya merely listening. " A source of coin for my lands, but as I awaited your fathers counter attack, I surveyed the lands soon to be mine. I found them much like I was expecting, cold, desolate, sparely seeded with your countrymen. Does that sound like you're homeland, daughter? The only thing I found surprising was how poor the land was, how hungry the people were, and how few animals their were." "They were hungry and poor because of you! The animals were driven off by your stupid war." interrupted Inyava.

"Partly, I will agree to that my daughter" replied Kencek. "Stop calling me your daughter you miserable fool of a man. You are not, will not, and can not, be my father. Now continue your story before I leave this den of pig filth for the last time." Kencek took her words with care, expecting this barrage; he continued "As I was saying, the lands were poor, and hungry, not because of me, though I played a small part in it, because of the mismanagement of your first father. He made your people hunt for his endless feasts, take their fur to increase his wealth and impress his High Chief. The people were constantly on the move, with no rest, starvation an ever present concern. They were cold, weary, and tired. Do you wish to know what happened when my men came upon a small group of your kin when they failed to flee at the sight of my men as we crossed into your first fathers lands for the first time?

We did not slaughter them, as you might think, no we spared them. My riders gave them their cloaks and three days worth of food and pointed them to my lands, not out of kindness or to satisfy Tengri Ulgan, no, they did it out of pity, your kin were fleeing your father's endless hunts and unceasing greed. What at first I envisioned as conquest became a quest of liberation. I will lie to you, or gross over details, or omit things to improve my standing in your eyes, not because I try to win you over, though my tale's point is certainty to that goal, but because I want you to understand my reasons, good or ill, and decide based on that." Kencek paused, taking a drink of Kvass from the table near his bed. " I burnt down your fathers hold" Kencek resumed "I killed many of your countrymen, as did my men, while losing few in return, we pillaged, we stole, but through it all I restrained my men, as this was a just war, a war to liberate a people from poverty, and starvation, from an incompetent Chief.

And it is with this knowledge, that I took you, far far away from your fathers hungry poor lands. I took you to my home, brought you food, gave you shelter. In time my son Blush took a liking to you, and I gave you to him, in hopes of you creating a new, normal life for yourself within my domain. Why? You may ask, my daughter? Because, for seemingly no reason at all, you stuck a cord with me, and so I brought to my land. This is not all of my tale, but it is your turn to speak. Say what you will, then tell me of your old life, daughter." Kencek stopped speaking, merely observing the foster daughter who hated him rightly so. "You...you think that poverty and hunger give you the right to steal someone? Take them from all they hold dear, all they know, all they love? That you were saving me from my supposed evil father and that it made you a hero? Is that how you justify this? Answer me Old Chief!" Inyava spoke with fury. Kencek answered evenly, taking her anger as his due. "Justify? No, there is nothing just in what I did, nothing right. I acknowledge this, and make no excuse.

I tell you why I did this to you, not if what I did was right. I freely admit that taking you was a mistake, but a mistake that I would repeat if I had to live a thousand life times; for you are my daughter. Now, tell me, how did you live before I took you from your fathers hold? Speak, Invaya of Nirm, and let us compare the old to the new." Closed Kencek. Invaya was taken aback by the chiefs declaration. She expected excuses, him to try make her believe what he did was the best for her. She did not know how to deal with such honestly. Did he really mean what he said? Invaya did not know, but believed he did. Regardless of his honestly, she didn't know how to respond to the Chief, so she decided to do what he asked. She would tell him of her life, and see how he reacted. That, that she decided would prove if he was honest or not.

"Chief of the Kirghiz, Kencek, I will tell you of my old life, the life you stole from me." Started Invaya and then continued after taking a deep breath "I lived on the move, much as you said of my people, and yes, my father did enjoy a large amount of hunts, but he did not starve his people, he shared the meat with commoner and noble alike, he used the fur to provide for me and my four other siblings, and to protect his realm from animals like you! Unfortunately, he did not succeed." Invaya finished. " And now, tell me O' Great Chief of Chiefs, how are you any different from my father? Aside from being a monster, that is.". Kensek tensed, then fought down his anger and replied steadily

"How am I different? Now that, that is a good but ignorant question, my daughter. Have you been so blinded by your hate of me to see how my people prosper? Even those of the Kim who I conquered like your home? When I fought in the West I saw the great cities of what the local people refer to as the Rus, I saw the plentiful food the people ate, how they lived not in fear of starvation, how they were able to live in one place, not for weeks or days, but forever, and how it made them strong, made them wealthy. This is what I have started to do for my people here. Do you recall the feast we enjoyed this night? Before my return from the West, that would have been unthinkable, not merely because we moved from place to place, but because my lands were barren, just a sea of grass swallowing the world of my people. I brought peasants from the West, and paid them to teach my people, some did not like the break from tradition, others thought that their ways would make us weak. None can deny their ways have made us wealthy indeed.

Caravans traverse my realm up and down, and start to travel to Nirm, now that you're home is fit for men to dwell there. My point, daughter, is thus, I am not a tyrant, what I take from my people I give back two fold. Your father merely took, never gave. Tell me this Invaya, when your father rode to defeat me when I invaded your land, did he ride for himself or did he ride for you, your siblings, and you're people? I leave you to figure it out. When I rode West at the bidding of my Khan, Vakmid the First of Cumania, I rode because my people were threatened, even though the war raged so far West as to be unnoticeable here in the plans of the East, I rode and became an Ishad for Vakmid, all for my people. I suffered in the dungeons of Kiev for six years before he bought my release. Did you know that? I did it for my people, not because of me, that is the difference between the man you once called father and the man who desires to be your new father before you, Inyava. Now, what of your new life Invaya? Does it measure up to the old?" Kencek finished and awaited the reaction from Invaya.
"Kencek, Chief of the Kirghiz, for the many things that you are, a monster, kidnapper, warmonger, I will give you this, and only this. You have given me a life of plenty, I am to travel freely, and I have three children, I will give you that. You ripped me from my siblings but in return you brought me, unwillingly, into a new family, and thought I long for the old, I am happy, happy and content. Do not take this as proof that I approve of you're actions Chief." Invaya related her new life to the old to Kencek, and Kencek asked a question of Invaya. "What do you think of Blush, father of you're children and my sixth son, daughter?"

Invaya thought, and while she did not love him, he treated her well, with warmth. "Chief, I do not love him" She began and seeing the Chief slightly wince gave her some pleasure. " I do enjoy his company however, for he is kind and warm. As a father, he is good enough. Now Chief, that is enough of me. We speak of you now, and you will tell me this. Why do you insist on calling me daughter? Has my hate not been sufficient a deterrent? Answer me, Kencek." Kencek looked towards the ceiling of his home, and took a deep breath, then began. "Invaya, woman that I stole from the North of my domain, I will tell you this, make of it what you will." Kencek took a sip of Kvass then resumed "I myself truly do not understand why I feel such affection of you, but I do. Perhaps it was the way your people suffered that brought out such sympathy, maybe it was destiny, or maybe I merely enjoy being a father so that I wanted another child to call mine. Invaya, truly your hate is insufficient, for my love endures beyond it." Kencek finished, waiting for Invaya to say something.

Invaya did not know what to think, here was her kidnapper, the man who had taken everything, yet given much in return...She did not know what to do. Kencek saw she was conflicted and spoke up once more. "Invaya, I do not ask for forgiveness, or approval, or even your love, I merely want you to understand. I am a monster, I admit as much, all you say of me is true and so much more. I accept your hate as just." Kencek then gently, slowly, placed his hand on Invaya's leg, and unlike earlier, she did not push it away, merely looking at it. Kencek spoke "All I want is for you to understand what I did, and why I did it. That is all I need from you. If you wish, you may leave and never return, Invaya Nydorid, child of the North."

What Invaya did surprised even her, for she began to cry, slowly at first, then to the point where it blinded her. "You stole my whole world, Kencek, my father is dead because of you! My siblings scattered to the winds. You have taken my family, and given yours in return. You released me from your dungeons, gave a life of plenty. My hate for you is hotter than the hell that your Westward war was, yet I feel...some sort of emotion for you, that is not hatred or anger. Something purer then it and I do not know what to do with it! Kencek Chief of Kirghiz, what are you?" asked Invaya. Kensek answered slowly" I am a man, Invaya, worse than most, better then some, but still a man. Invaya, will you stay this night with me? Not as foe nor adversary, but as father and daughter? Thus are my hopes. If not, you may leave, my wishes with you completed.".

Invaya thought, and thought, and finally answered slow but steady. "Chief Kensek, you are guilty of much, and by the Gods, mine and yours, you do not deserve me, or my attention. But this night, by Tengri Ulgan as our witness, you have won a daughter. A daughter who's hate is passionate, and angry, a daughter who does not love you, yet holds...some amount of affection for you none the less. Now, what will you do with that affection my...." Inyava took a breath, and mulled over adding the next part, then decided she had already let a demon win, so she might as well say it. "Father?". Kencek took a long drink of Kvass, then looked at the ceiling, and stared for what seemed like half an hour. Inyava grew impatient. Didn't she just give him the exact thing he wanted? Where was the gratitude? " Well, father? What do you have to say to your newest daughter?"
Kencek looked from the ceiling to Invaya. He did not see a smiling face, but neither did he see a scowl like he normally would. She looked pained, as if she were having an internal debate, which she most likely was. Kensek opened and closed his mouth, several times, thinking on what to say then deciding not to. Eventually, he decided words would not suffice. Kensek removed the hand he had on Invar's leg, and slowly brought it up to the side of her face. "My daughter" and for once he mused, she did not scowl or look at him like she wished him dead when he said it. Regardless, Kensek continued to talk "I have longed for you to accept me as your father for many years now, but you knew this. Let me say something you didn't know in its stead." Kensek paused to collect his breath. "What do I not know my Chief? What are you to tell me?" said Invaya. Kensek heard her name him her 'chief' and it gladdened him, gladdened him immensely.

"That you are to beautiful for tears, is all my daughter, that is all." Said Kensek. Invaya surprised Kensek by placing her hand on top of his and holing it there, burying her check against it. "Father" began Invaya "Know this. While you will never replace my first father, and I may never love you, you are a good substitute. An evil monster of a man, but a substitute none the less" Invaya grew quiet as Kensek looked away from her and brought his free arm up and whipped at his face. Invaya, though, wanted to see it, wanted to know his sincerity. He owed it to her to be sincere. So she removed Kensek's hand, stood up, and then gently sat down on the bed, and moved his head to look at hers. Kensek was done whipping his face, though the top of his grey beard looked wet. "Daughter" Kensek began "Rise, rise and come sit over on the other side of the bed. Invaya rose, and did as instructed. She sat on the bed and looked at the man who's only desire towards her for the last eight she had just fulfilled. Kensek looked at her for but a moment. Then drew her close and embraced her with both arms.

Invaya allowed the embrace to occur, but did not return it. She wrestled with it, then decided to do it. She returned the embrace slowly, and then closed her eyes. Kensek said nothing and merely continued it. The sun's first rays began to come in to the room through a small wooden window Kensek had left unclosed throughout the night, and he yawned. "My daughter, forgive me but the night closes and I tire. Do you tire also?. Inyava merely mumbled that she was. In truth she was exhausted. Kensek asked another question "I have a guest room in the right tower of my house, if you wish it, you may sleep their, daughter. If you wish." Kensek continued "I intend to send Sibek and Ciltanesi away for the day when I awake, if you would humor an old man, you could send your husband and my son Blush away, the city offers much in diversion, and he can manage himself well enough. What do you say, my newest daughter?" Invaya thought, and decided that yes, she would stay the day, if only to learn more of this man.

Kensek died in the year 920, three years after the night he gained his second daughter, and during that time he delegated his task's to his council and advisers, laid his sword in its sheath on a rack above the inner courtyard of his home, placed his bow above it on a separate rack, and placed his armor of boiled leather in his room, and retired from Vekmid the First of Cumania's service, and stepped down as his Ishad. The journey to do so would take six months and would be the last time he ventured west. He spent the final two and a half years of his life traveling his lands, speaking to his people, and visiting his family's and their courts. On the eve of his death his wife sent news to all. Khan Vekmid did not come, but an envoy in his stead did, and offered his apologies and gave a message from the Khan to his great former Ishad. The message was to be known only between the two of them, and Kensek never spoke of it to anyone.

His sons drew close, his grandchildren of which there was over a dozen gathered on his bed, and Pekson held his left hand. Invaya arrived with husband and three children in two and, to the delight of Kensek, as finally all his children were near, took his hand in hers. Kensek died thirty minutes later, after he reaffirmed that his sons remembered who got what, that his grandchildren knew that he loved them dearly, and that both Pekson and Invaya were the absolutely wonderful daughters he could have hoped for. His wife was seated at the far end of the bed, Ciltanesi at the other, and both watched as the old High Chief closed his eyes for the last time, after he looked each one in the eye and told them of their worth to him.