95 Bakhchysarai

It was the second time I was in the capital of Crimea, but it was the first time that I had a better look at the local architecture ... everything was built in the Tatar style, although there were also Turkish and Italian influences... Of course, the most impressive building in the capital was Khan's Palace.

Several minutes later, Saddat returned, accompanied by Khan's brother Shahin Giray and a few soldiers.

"Peace be upon you, Prince Jazłowiecki." (Shahin Giray)

"And peace be upon you, too." (MC)

"Your messenger was here recently, now you are here in person, so something must have happened." (Shahin Giray)

"You're right, but it'll be better if we talk in a more discreet place ..." (MC)

I looked at Kolga's people. I didn't know them and wasn't sure if they could be trusted.

"... And in a smaller group." (MC)

Shahin understood my remark, but assured me that they were trusted people and we could speak openly in front of them, but after a while we went to the palace. Taking the opportunity, I asked Kolga to tell me a little about the Palace itself ... I saw the harem building, although I could not enter it. He also showed me two mosques, the Great Khan Mosque and the Small Khan Mosque, gardens ... next to which there was a small cemetery, guest quarters, then he led me to the summer pavilion where I was supposed to wait for Chan.

The servants appeared almost immediately, bringing various fruits and drinks. Moments later, Khan himself arrived, accompanied by several courtiers.

"Peace be upon you, Prince Jazłowiecki." (Khan Mehmed)

"And peace be upon you, too." (MC)

"It's nice to meet Prince Jazłowiecki in person. In difficult times, it's hard to find a good ally, so thank you for your help." (Khan Mehmed)

I was a Pole, so I knew something about good allies ... or rather the lack of them... it was even funny ... during World War II, Hungary, which was an ally of Hitler, although forced to cooperate, supplied weapons to the Polish Underground Army, helped in the escape of Polish civilians and officers, and before the attack on Poland, Hungarian Prime Minister Pál Teleki wrote to Hitler that he rather blow up his own railroads than take part in an attack... and there was also France and England.

Of course, every war is different and nothing is black or white. In the 1930s ... Western European countries simply believed that Hitler's tanks on the border with Poland were part of a humanitarian convoy to help the persecuted Jewish minority.

"I perfectly understand that a good ally is as valuable as a virtuous wife, but this can only be found out in times of need... Moscow is planning an attack on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth next year..." (MC)

"Chan is not an ally of the King of Poland." (Toğay)

I looked at the man who interrupted me, he was one of the people accompanying Chan ... a few years older than me, sharp features, angry look. Well dressed which proves that it is rather someone with a high position or from a rich family.

I looked at him even more closely, part of his chest was exposed with a tattoo on it ... I don't know if it was a normal custom among Tatars, but I only knew one tartar with a tattoo from history ... I decided to take a risk.

"Why is some Arğıns dog speaking for Khan?" (MC)

Before the brawl broke out Khan gestured for the man to leave the room... though he was not pleased, he could not go against Khan's will.

"Prince, do you know this man?" (Shahin Giray)

"I see him for the first time, but I heard about him from friends in High Porta. I wasn't sure if it was him, but I saw his chest and tattoo... his name is Arğın Doğan Toğay?" (MC)

Mentioning the High Porta in the conversation, I suggested that this man was the Sultan's spy ... which was a lie. I was just going to use Khan's hands to get rid of another enemy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ... in the future he and his Tatars would support the Chmielnicki uprising.

"Are you suggesting he's spying for the Sultan?" (Shahin Giray)

"I don't know... I don't know him, but this tattoo and name are familiar to me. Maybe my man was telling the truth, maybe he was lying. Decide for yourself ... I didn't come here to talk about insignificant things." (MC)

Khan interrupted our brief exchange.

"Prince mentioned Moscow and the war ... Perhaps Arğın Doğan Toğay is a spy or maybe not, but he is right in one thing. The Crimean Khanate is not an ally of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Your war does not concern us." (Khan Mehmed)

"I did not come here to ask for help, I came because this war can bring us both benefits ... I offer goods for goods. If you lend me 50 thousand Tatars, after conquering Moscow you will be able to take half of the population captive, only men and young boys... that's some 75,000 or 80,000 people you can sell to the Sultan." (MC)

"First, the city must be conquered ... the hunt has not yet begun and you are giving away game you don't have." (Khan Mehmed)

"The Cossacks and the Tsar's subjects will help me to capture Moscow, and almost the entire Moscow army will be occupied in Smolensk, far, far from the capital of their country... If a herd of sheep is not guarded, it will become the food of the wolves." (MC)

Chan said he had to consider my proposal and that he would notify me of his decision the next day, then he apologized to me and ordered the servants to take me to the guest quarters.

There was nothing left for me to do but wait, luckily one day is not long ... unfortunately it was only the second stage of preparations for the war. I still had to transport most of the supplies and all the cannons to the north, recruit the Lisowczyków.