Three days had passed since they left Venice. Murad and his companions were still making their way through dense forests, deliberately avoiding city centers and major roads. They were careful to erase their tracks, wary of any possible pursuit. Viki remained silent. Since the death of her father, she had withdrawn completely, not uttering a single word. Her silence weighed heavily on both Murad and Balibey.
They were still wearing the clothes from the masquerade. No horses, no spare garments. Traveling on foot in such attire made the journey even more grueling. They needed to reach a town soon to acquire fresh clothes and mounts.
That night, they made camp by a river. Cafer had hunted a few birds, and Kasım cooked them using a fire kindled with nature energy. Fatigue marked every face. They sat around the fire for dinner. But Viki did not touch her food. Balibey sat quietly beside her, trying to offer her some, but she gently shook her head. She refused to eat.
Eventually, Balibey also set his plate aside. He didn't speak, but his eyes clearly said: "If you won't eat, I won't either."
The night grew deeper. One by one, everyone drifted into sleep. Balibey had taken the first watch. He sat by the fire, gazing into the glowing embers, lost in thought. The stillness was broken only by the crackling wood. Viki lay near him, curled in on herself.
Suddenly, she moved. When Balibey turned, he saw that Viki had sat up. He was about to ask if she needed anything, but she suddenly embraced him, her body trembling.
"It hurts so much," she cried, her voice breaking. "Every time I close my eyes, I see my father lying there. What am I supposed to do now, without him?"
Balibey froze. He didn't know what to say. But the words that came out felt like they had been waiting in his heart for a long time:
"I'm here. Right beside you."
He gently placed a hand on her head, caressing her hair. Viki sobbed into his chest, slowly beginning to calm down. As the quiet settled once more between them, Balibey spoke in a low voice:
"My real name… is Mustafa Giray. I am the last heir of the Crimean Giray Dynasty."
That stopped Viki in her tracks. Her teary eyes widened in surprise.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice still shaky but laced with curiosity.
Balibey turned his eyes toward the stars.
"My grandfather, Mehmed Giray, rebelled against the Ottomans. When he was captured and executed, the remaining children of the dynasty were raised in Istanbul under Ottoman watch. They were raised in loyalty and sent back to Crimea when deemed ready."
Viki stared into his eyes, stunned. She whispered:
"Then why hide your name? Why keep it a secret?"
Balibey fell silent for a moment. Then, locking eyes with her, he said quietly:
"I'll explain another time… Even what I've told you tonight weighs heavily on me."
Viki nodded slowly. The storm in her chest had eased. Balibey added one last thing:
"Until now, only the Sultan and the Mother of the Sultan knew this. Now… you know it too."
They both turned to gaze into the fire. The night fell upon them like a heavy blanket of secrets. A soft breeze rustled the trees, but in one of their hearts, for the first time, the weight had lifted — just a little.
Viki and Balibey remained beside the fire. Viki was still leaning into him, but her tears had dried, and the storm inside her had calmed. For the first time, she felt truly safe. Her eyelids grew heavy, her breathing slowed, and before long, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Balibey gently lowered her onto a blanket. Just as he turned to step away, Viki's hand grasped his wrist. She spoke in a sleepy whisper:
"Don't go… Stay with me."
He leaned down and smiled.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. Sleep," he said.
Viki's hand slowly released his, and she fell back into sleep. Balibey moved a few steps away but kept his eyes on her. Then he turned to the sky. Stars blinked quietly above, and he tried to surrender the turmoil inside him to the vast night.
Just then, Murad approached in silence. Balibey immediately let go of Viki's hand. He didn't want Murad to see.
Murad stood near the fire.
"Balibey, you should get some rest. I'll take the next watch," he said.
Balibey nodded silently and lay down a short distance from Viki. He lay on his back, eyes toward the heavens.
Just as he was closing his eyes, Murad spoke again, softer this time:
"Thank you… for being with her."
Balibey said nothing. He kept his eyes on the stars and, slowly, sank into sleep.
—
The next morning, they broke camp and continued on their way. With the sun still low, they crossed the river and approached the foot of a mid-sized hill. The sun had already climbed over the ridge. They followed narrow, winding paths up the slope. The journey was tiring, but no one wanted to stop.
From the top, a view opened up. Where the forest thinned, a small town appeared in the distance. Thin smoke rose from chimneys, and the tiled roofs gleamed in the sunlight.
As they continued, Murad turned to Balibey:
"We'll stop in this town. We need clothes and horses."
Balibey nodded. "Yes, my Sultan. We've put enough distance behind us."
Murad then called out to Cafer:
"Scout ahead. See if anyone's heard about us. Also, get basic clothes and bring them back. We can't enter looking like this."
"At once, my Sultan," Cafer said and disappeared down the trail.
About two hours later, he returned carrying a bundle. The clothes were simple but clean.
"This is a small farming town," Cafer reported. "They haven't heard anything. There's an inn in the center. We can spend the night."
Murad nodded. "Good."
They changed into the basic clothes and headed toward town. A few curious glances met them at the entrance, but no one approached or questioned them.
In the town square, they found the inn Cafer had mentioned. Murad asked for four rooms. Everyone went to clean up, rest, and shake off the exhaustion.
After sunset, they regrouped in Murad's room and ordered a simple but hearty meal. This time, Viki sat at the table and ate — a small but important change that visibly relieved both Murad and Balibey.
Just then, the toll of a large bell rang from outside. Shouts followed. A crowd's noise surged through the streets.
Balibey stood at once and moved to the window. What he saw made his chest tighten. The townspeople had gathered in the square, holding torches. A massive fire burned at the center, and beside it stood a woman, bound and terrified. She was crying for help.
This wasn't a ceremony.
It was an execution.
From inside, Murad's voice called out:
"Balibey, what's going on out there?"
Balibey didn't look away.
"You'll want to see this for yourself, my Sultan..."