-Where must we take those corpses?-Asked Aleksandre.
-Take them to the Gelikari cliff and throw them away.
-As you command,father.
Aleksandre came downstairs with his younger brothers and soon they were in the yard.3 princes were going towards the gate,when they spotted a stranger on his horse riding towards the fortress entrance.
-Who is that man,Aleksandre?
-How would I know,Luarsab?I have never seen our soldiers dressed liked that.
-Is he Ottoman?
-In all likelihood,Vakhtang.Let's go to him and confirm if he is Ottoman or not.
The princes went to the gate and opened it.As soon as the gate was opened,the stranger got off his horse and approached them.
-Who are you?Why are you here?-Aleksandre asked the stranger in Ottoman Turkish.
-I am one of the bodyguards of the Ottoman sultan-Murad III.I came here in order to deliver sultan Murad's letter to king Simon.
-I am king Simon's son-Aleksandre.Come with me upstairs.You will deliver the letter to my father yourself.Bind your horse on the gate and follow me.
Aleksandre went forward.He told one of his father's wardens to go with Vakhtang and Luarsab towards the Gelikari cliff and throw the corpses away.Afterwards,prince Aleksandre went inside the stronghold.The sultan's bodyguard followed him and soon they ended up in front of the king.Simon was sitting at the table with his wife and daughter-in-law.As soon as he spotted the stranger beside Aleksandre,he asked his son:
-Aleksandre,who is this man next to you?
-He is the bodyguard of the Ottoman sultan-Murad III.He came here in order to deliver the sultan's letter to you.
-Oh,really?Let's see,what the sultan wants.Let him come to me and give me the letter.
Simon looked at the Ottoman soldier again and by his facial expression he realized,that the sultan's offer would be something sly.
-Come towards me and give me the letter.-Simon told him in Ottoman Turkish.
The sultan's bodyguard approached him and gave the king the sultan's letter.Simon opened it and read attentively its content.He got outrageous and as soon as he was done reading the letter,he tore it apart and shouted:
-How dare you,you cunning and vicious conqueror!I will never surrender!I would rather die on the battlefield,than obeying you!
Simon calmed himself down by breathing deeply and then looked at his son:
-Aleksandre,behead him at once!Right here!
-As you command me,father!
Aleksandre cut the bodyguard's head with his sword.
-Son,put his head in this brown wooden box full of honey and seal it well.Go downstairs and order the wardens to deliver it to Istanbul.Wait,I must write the short answer to the sultan.
Simon took the sheet of paper,inkpot and feather.He wrote in Ottoman Turkish:
"You cunning and rootless conqueror,here is my answer to your offer.This is the head of your bodyguard.Your life will pass and you will die on your deathbed with your unfulfilled wish of conquering my kingdom.Do whatever you please.I am not afraid of your army.Send your janissaries here and I will slaughter them with immense pleasure.
King Simon "