The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 7.28

7.28

On the day after the battle Khusrú was brought out of the garden of Malik Shádí and was beheaded. That night, while Ghází Malik was at Indarpat, most of the nobles and chief men and officers came forth from the city to pay their respects, and the keys of the palace and of the city gates were brought to him. On the second day after the battle he proceeded with a great following from Indarpat to the palace of Sírí. He seated himself in the Hazár-sutún, and, in the presence of the assembled nobles, wept over the unhappy fate which had befallen Kutbu-d dín and the other sons of 'Aláu-d dín, his patron, * * and gave thanks to God for the victory he had gained. Then he cried with a loud voice, "I am one of those who have been brought up under 'Aláu-d dín and Kutbu-d dín, and the loyalty of my nature has roused me up against their enemies and destroyers. I have drawn my sword, and have taken revenge to the best of my power. Ye are the nobles of the State! If ye know of any son of our patron's blood, bring him forth immediately, and I will seat him on the throne, and will be the first to tender him my service and devotion. If the whole stock has been clean cut off, then do ye bring forward some worthy and proper person and raise him to the throne; I will pay my allegiance to him. I have drawn my sword to avenge my patrons, not to gain power and ascend a throne." * * * The assembled nobles unanimously replied that the usurpers had left no scion of the royal stock in existence.