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Chapter Four: Business as Usual
Despite the news of a new Khan wreaking havoc across the world, Uros is more concerned with his marriage. His wife is getting old and Uros thinks of getting a new mistress. After some thought, he decides it would be more trouble than its worth.
He also gives some building advice to his son.
One dark and stormy night, a caravan stops in the capital. Curious, Uros invites the leader to a feast in the palace.
It's an interesting evening for everyone, as the caravan leader shares tales of far and strange lands.
As a parting gift, the caravan leader gives Uros a eunoch. Uros thanks him and wishes him well.
The Golden Horde is currently fighting a revolt and Uros Jr. is leading a war to liberate Wallachia. Uros Sr decides to join in.
While in his tent, Uros is visited by one of the local monks, who asks him for a donation. Uros agress.
The Horde can spare few troops to defend Wallachia and the combined Bulgarian-Serbian forces overwhelm them.
But the war is not without cost. Uros' hand is sliced off by an enemy soldier. In retaliation, Uros slices off the soldier's head.
The Khan has no interest in dealing with a far off duchy so close to Christian Europe. He lets it go and Bulgaria expands.
Uros' temper has not been helped by his missing hand, and his mood swings are worse than ever.
Irina has become a Catholic during her stay with the king of Castille. However, she is open to discussion about the matter with her father.
Uros is troubled by the fact his daughter is no longer Orthodox, and he pleads with her to come back to the true fold.
The Serbs are moving into Uros' newly conquered territories, and the locals are beginning to adopt Serbian customs.
One of Uros' grandchildren, a young woman by the name of Apples, comes of age. She is a master of scheming and plotting and would be of great assistance to any man that married her.
She is soon married to the prince of Sweden.
Uros continues to discuss theology with his daughter, but she is firmly Catholic.
The Monothelite heresy continues to spread.
Another grandchild, by the name of ninjahedgehog, comes of age. He is a master of all things military and very ambitious.
He is married to the queen of Trebizond.
The Monothelite issue comes to a boiling point as the heretics rise en masse to create a realm of their own.
Uros isn't going to let that happen.
With the aid of some mercenaries, he moves to wipe them out.
The faithful tear through the heretics.
And the Monothelites are quelled for now.
With the death of the old marshal, ninjahedgehog is appointed to the position and assigned to increasing recruitment.
Uros has come to the conclusion that a good king needs to have knowledge. He starts with astronomy and learns that comets are nothing to be worried about.
ninjahedgehog is not satisfied with his position and asks for a landed title. Uros doesn't feel like he has any titles to give, but should one come up he'll hand it out.
ninjahedgehog has a son, who is named Deceitful Penguin. No one knows what a penguin is or why it would be deceitful, but they accept the name.
In other news, Uros decides to hold a grand tournament for all the nights of the realm.
None is mightier than Uros the Strong, who despite missing a hand proves to be the most formidable opponent.
Uros has long wondered what it would be like to fly. He's learned some mathematics recently, so he decides to put them to use.
With the machine completed, he just needs a pilot. The blacksmith's dog has been barking all night long and Uros decides to kill two birds with one stone.
Unfortunately, the blacksmith is the one man stronger than Uros and he is forced to test the machine himself. It does not go well.
He did learn a few things about flying: flying is easy, landing is hard.
The Pope once again calls the faithful to war against the heathen. The target: Jerusalem.
Next Time: Death!