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Story Hour
True20 Al-Qadim: Zakharan Nights (updated 6/21/06)
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<blockquote data-quote="The Shadow" data-source="post: 2963222" data-attributes="member: 16760"><p>[A continuation of "Son of the Worthy", Abdul's background story. We'll likely get to continue further next week, and then there'll be a drought for a while again.]</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Kings die. Nations are ruined. But the pain of separation is the most unbearable. Have you not loved so deeply, that the separation was a knife in your own heart? Or are you a callous wind?" asks the Man in the Trees, leaning on a branch that shouldn't be able to support his weight. The branch bends so that the mud-caked green man sways above young Abdul.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Ah, but you're no djinn's son..." He peers close to Abdul, and within his eyes Abdul can make out his pupils which appear to be the silhouettes of upside down trees lit by lightning behind storm clouds. "You've come from Dar al-Ins...Are there more of you?"</p><p></p><p>Abdul shrugs uncomfortably, not wholly understanding. "I didn't mean to make her sadder. What's Dar al-Ins?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Sniffling the djinni girl seems to be relieved by the presence of the strange man in the trees.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "I...I don't honestly know," muses the man in the trees. "I suppose I should be the one to ask you." Seeing that Abdul doesn't have a malicious bone in his body, the strange man eases himself down, sitting cross-legged in a nest of branches that rises from the earth before you. "Have you prayed today?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Well, of course! I may be only a beggar-boy, but I try to be a good Muslim, sahib, inshallah."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "So be it," chortles the man in the trees. Raising his hands high, he faces the deep forest and begins his prayers. Abdul wonders how he knows which direction holy Huzuz is, but follows suit, as does the young djinniyeh.</p><p></p><p>Abdul prays devoutly, his stomach rumbling before he's done. Rising to his feet, he says a bit faintly, "I don't suppose you have any of that basbousa about you, sahib? I... haven't eaten today, except a crust Rafiqi gave me hours and hours ago."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Resuming his seat in his nest, the man in the trees smiles, "No basbousa, young ins, but my wife is preparing a fine shawrbat 'adas majroosha [pureed lentil soup], and she loves company." His nest is swooped up above Abdul's head by the branch, and he extends his hand towards the deep forest. In the distance Abdul hears the washing djinnieyh calling for him.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The young djinnieyh smiles, "Oh yes, I should like to meet your wife! What is she like? Will she have basbousa?"</p><p></p><p>Abdul sighs. "I would love to, sahib, but the dressing women are calling me, and his Majesty said I was supposed to go with them. Goodbye! And goodbye, Minatra!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Minatra waves and vanishes into the forest.</p><p></p><p>Abdul turns and heads dutifully back to the dressing djinniyeh by the waterfall.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Thereupon, young Abdul finds himself surrounded by three veiled djinniyeh, armed with coarse brushes, tinctures of rose water, toothbrushes of horse hair, and a bowl of shaving lather. "So there you are!" says one of the djinniyeh, teasingly. "Get in the water, boy," beckons the eldest, who is knee deep in the slow flowing stream.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> As Abdul nervously edges near the water, he notices that the two young djinniyeh seem disheveled, their veils are slightly skewed, their kohl [eye-liner] is running, and their hair is poorly combed. The elder djinniyeh waits patiently, with a look of smugness that looks as if engraved at birth.</p><p></p><p>Abdul furrows his brows at the djinniyeh and folds his arms, curling his lip stubbornly. (He would be greatly chagrined to know how adorable he looks doing this.) "You didn't want me to watch when YOU bathed. Why should I do it in front of you?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Young boy!" says the grandmotherly djinniyeh, pointing at Abdul. "Come here this instant!" All at once, young Abdul feels his body begin to become stiff. The djinniyeh's eyes seem to loom large as the water ripples outward from the djinniyeh.</p><p></p><p>Abdul sputters as he feels himself going numb. "Vixens! Harlots! Harridans! You only want to get me naked so you can unman me!" He almost certainly doesn't know what those words mean, but it sounds like something a hero would say.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Abdul is bodily dragged an unseen force toward the djinniyeh, who eyes him warily. She leans close to Abdul and whispers testily, "If only you knew. Now, can you clean as well as you can curse?" With that she places a sponge and bar of soap in Abdul's hands, and sloshes her way out of the water. With that, Abdul is immersed, falling into the stream.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Abdul also notices the fourth djinniyeh appear from behind the waterfall, tying her veil back on as she slips along the stream's edge to join her sisters.</p><p></p><p>Abdul washes contentedly. After a time, he feels contrite enough to call out, "I'm sorry I called you names. I was scared."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The younger djinniyeh sigh at Abdul's sincere apology and whisper to each other, but the matron is unimpressed. "I have been called worse names by grown men! Surely you shall grow up to become just as they are. Clean yourself some more, boy." Her eyes narrow.</p><p></p><p>Abdul says humbly, "Yes sayyida," and does as he is told.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "His majesty, the Khedive, wishes to have you dressed as one of his court before he presents you, and that means you shall not be smelling like you rolled from a pig sty. Make sure to wash behind your ears. Every month the entire court gathers and the Khedive issues his commands and introduces visitors from distant Amberabad, from Krak al-Majlis even, and I'll not have you looking like some wastrel. Gargle and clean your mouth out. Now there are some clothes for you on the far shore of the stream. Well, get swimming!" She snaps, though it is clear she enjoys being called 'sayyida.'</p><p></p><p>Abdul repeats, "Yes, sayyida." He swims over and dries off. His jaw drops at the clothes. "Are these... are these... really for ME? Surely there's some mistake?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Fine silks of ochre dun and honeydew, embroidered with real gold about the collar and cuffs lie atop a rock. Beneath is a pair of rose colored pantaloons, and at the base of the rock is a pair of pale blue slippers encrusted with crystals in the shape of a swan.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Don't flatter yourself," admonishes the matron, "they were once the belongings of a minor courtier in the Khedive's court. Now then, how do you look?"</p><p></p><p>Abdul gets dressed in a daze. "Sayyida, I don't know from courtiers, but I've never had anything like this before!" He isn't quite sure where everything goes, but he does his best. "They're so soft!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Getting the pantaloons on the right side front, Abdul finds himself with the predicament of crossing the stream to reach the rest of the djinniyeh. "Yes, yes, now we must get back to court. The Khedive is expecting us."</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Um. How do I get across without getting wet?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Sighing, the matron waves her hand, and Abdul finds a path of wide lotus pads buoy up from the depths of the stream. Abdul estimates they'll hold his weight, at least for a moment - enough to get across perhaps.</p><p></p><p>Abdul skips across gaily. He's still pretty much taking things in his stride like a dream. Abdul does remember to say, "Thank you, sayyida!" though.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "You are welcome, Abdul," says the matron with what passes for a smile on her aged face. She admonishes the younger djinniyeh to fix their outfits, and she leads Abdul up the stone stairway lit by fireflies now that it has turned to dusk.</p><p></p><p>Abdul trots along, secretly happy that she isn't mad at him any more.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The Khedive's Palace is deceptive in its appearance. Before Abdul's very eyes, the dark towers, partially obscured by fog rolling over the mountains, are lit from within. As each brazier is lit, windows (and doors) flicker to life, fires lighting the castle in a luminous spiral. A procession of djinni approach the vast gate by way of an arching bridge overseen by two armored djinn. Following the sound of a beating drum, Abdul sees Aqisan in the background playing upon his drum.</p><p></p><p>Abdul walks along, eyes shining, drinking it all in.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The matron chirps, "Now this way Abdul, these are nobles of the Jinn court, though pay no mind to any peries among them - they're apt to unman you if you take my meaning." Despite her sourness, the matron winks at Abdul, half-friendly, half-frightening.</p><p></p><p>Abdul nods solemnly. "I'll remember that, sayyida. What's a peri?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "A husband-stealer who can take the form of a ringdove. If you--" All at once the matron is cut off as the rhythmic drum misses a beat and stops. The sounds of conversation and laughter filter in, and then Abdul realizes that a palanquin is being paraded across the bridge. Aqisan stares with dumb wonder as a veiled djinniyeh peers at the crowd as she is carried through. Abdul is certain her eyes meet his, and feels his heart skip a beat.</p><p></p><p>Abdul smiles and waves shyly.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The matron tugs Abdul to his knees. "Psst! Kneel!"</p><p></p><p>Abdul does so, resigning himself to not comprehending anything until later. "Who is it?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "The daughter of the Khedive, Sitt Ninya, who resists the hand of all who seek her in marriage." Though the matron dared not look up while kneeling, now she looks after the palanquin with bitterness, "She was once my student."</p><p></p><p>Abdul says politely, "I'm sure you taught her well, inshallah."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Mutely, the matron leads Abdul into the gates. As Abdul passes Aqisan, the great drummer winks at him and begins drumming a familiar tune that Abdul recalls from his childhood, a tune merchants would play in the souk. It sounds like a conversation between a chirping bird and rumbling lion.</p><p></p><p>Abdul sighs happily to himself. It's good to have something familiar amidst all the strangeness. "May I ask you a question, sayyida? Besides this one, I mean."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "No you cannot talk to her. Yes, you must bathe daily. Yes, you must speak before court." The matron rattles off these answers as if she has done this before.</p><p></p><p>Abdul blinks. "Well, I'm sure those are good answers, but they don't go to my question. I guess I just wanted to understand something His Majesty said earlier."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "What's that, Abdul?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Something about 'abandoning mortalkind'. I didn't really understand it, and he seemed to think I'd already asked for it, but I hadn't."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Ah," says the matron, watching Abdul carefully while guiding him through the gathering of djinn. Stopping to direct some servants who turn into whirlwinds and vanish upon receiving their commands, the matron leads Abdul to a small alcove. Thereupon the matron recites two of the names of God, the Most Merciful. "A pocket created when the palace was erected. Several like it exist. We are completely invisible and inaudible to all who pass so long as nothing crosses this boundary," she indicates a groove in the floor separatingt he alcove from the main passage.</p><p></p><p>Abdul nods. He is trying to look and sound casual, but he's really rather nervous and fidgety. He probably doesn't understand what "inaudible" means, either, but he isn't about to ask.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Now boy...Abdul, tell me what is bothering you." The matron sits in a small stone chair carved from the wall.</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Well, Aqisan told me I'd be able to go back and visit my brothers soon enough, but then the Khedive asked me all about my family and decided I was gonna 'abandon mortalkind' and that doesn't sound good and while this is a beautiful place, I guess I just wondered, um, what he meant by that and all."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Wistfully looking past Abdul, the matron sighs. "The Khedive has no children, so you are very precious to him, as are all children who enter his court, but you in particular because you are a human boy. You will come to understand what makes you special when you grow older."</p><p></p><p>Abdul says hopefully, "Well, my brothers need a home too, and I'll bet they'd be just as precious to him as I am!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Yes, Abdul, but think about this: How many brothers do your brothers have? Would you bring them all here?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "None of us have any families, sayyida. It's just the six of us. And Akim, but he really really really doesn't count, honest!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "It cannot be, Abdul. Other courts might abduct mortals out of high-mindedness, but the Khedive has no such pretensions. That means he won't do it because he thinks it's wrong. You, on the other hand, came because of a wish, and that is a sacred thing enshrined in our laws."</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "But at least I can go back and help them, right? So they don't get beaten by Akim every day and have things to eat and maybe apprenticeships or something? I can make wishes about that too!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Smiling gently, the matron shakes her head, "Until the terms of your wish are fulfilled you cannot leave or the honor of the Khedive would be forfeit. I can show you your brothers when you wish, however, so that you may know what becomes of them."</p><p></p><p>Abdul's face drains of color. "But I didn't wish for this! I wished for wisdom!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "And so you shall receive it," says the matron rising. "Now prepare yourself to audience with the Khedive."</p><p></p><p>Abdul looks quite shell-shocked. He's chewing his lip, his eyes are watering, his breath coming hard... a woman as experienced at the dijinniyeh surely realizes the tears are coming soon.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The matron's demeanor becomes cold once more. "I know what I need to. You may stay here as long as you wish and console yourself Abdul. No one will disturb you." With that she wraps her skirts about her and vanishes in puff of smoke.</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> Alone and bereft, Abdul sobs once. But, the veteran of a thousand beatings by a man who hated tears, he thrusts it down and wipes his eyes. He looks around, dazed, not sure what to do now.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Abdul hears a whispering voice through a small grate in the rock wall above him.</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> Not having been taught the social niceties, Abdul has no qualms about putting his ear to the grate.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "...Dear God, help me to be strong *sniff* The sayyida will not let me marry Ishna, the one I love, and everyday she takes my wicked sisters to perform their foul rites unbeknownst to the Khedive. *sob* And even the Khedive hates the work I do and belittles me for every effort so now I am afraid to act at all... *sniff* Please, forgive me, for tonight I will leave..." All at once the voice grows quiet, as if the djinniyeh speaking knows she's being listened to.</p><p></p><p>Abdul squints through the grate to see who it is.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Immediately Abdul recognizes the youngest of the washing djinniyeh, the one who came from behind the waterfall. All at once, he is eye to eye with her as she peers through the grate. "You??" She says in shock.</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Um, yes? Hi."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "What are you doing eavesdropping on me? And how do you know about the hidden spaces? And...why...why are you crying?" She asks, growing softer. Indeed, Abdul had not realized it, but a tear was running down his face.</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "I heard you praying. The sayyida took me here. And, um, I'm not crying." He wipes furiously at his cheek with his sleeve.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Oh, my mistake, it-it must have been a shadow," she says cleverly. "So, what did the sayyida tell you?" She asks sarcastically.</p><p></p><p>Abdul swallows hard. "That, that, that I'm not gonna see my brothers again." Now he IS crying.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Oh, I'm so terribly sorry. The must be such nice boys for you to cry like that. Here, take this," she presses a handkerchief embroidered with a feather through the grate. "Here."</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "They took me in and showed me how to live and now I'm in nice clothes and stuff and they're hungry and getting beaten by Akim and I made the wrong wish and I can't DO anything about it!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> As Abdul receives the handkerchief, the djinniyeh turns to a mist which flows through the grate and forms into the shape of a woman by Abdul, slowly rematerializing into the djinniyeh as she places an arm around Abdul's shoulder. "They are fortunate to have a friend like you, thinking and worrying about them even from so very far away."</p><p></p><p>Abdul quickly soaks the handkerchief. "I don't know about fortunate. I've 'abandoned mortalkind' without even knowing I was going to, and can't help them and they won't know what happened to me!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> The djinniyeh strokes Abdul's hair, then looks out the "curtain" which keeps them hidden from the outside world. "You-- you could come with us if you like. With Ishan and I tonight while court is called. We have a horse, the finest mare I've ever seen, named Bint-al-Dawra [Daughter of the Wind]. We plan to ride to Amberabad and seek refuge in a peri's court, where my love and I shall be wed. There are others of your kind in the City of Amber, you know, even sha'ir. Perhaps they could help undo your wish there?"</p><p></p><p>Abdul sighs. "I d-don't know."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Biting her lip, the djinniyeh frowns. "You won't tell anyone about this will you? Oh, say you won't. I am already afraid sayyida Zianah will find out, and she makes no idle threats. She doesn't know about your wish does she?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "I don't know who sayyida Zianah is. Is she the one who was with you three at the waterfall? Then yes, she does."</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> "Oh, I wish you hadn't said so. She surely seeks to bewitch you. Once she boasted that she could turn a wish inside out if she wished, and sayyida, well, she makes no idle threats. I don't think you are safe here. Are you sure you won't come with us?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Abdul:</strong> "Won't that make His Majesty really mad at me?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Pressing her finger to her pursed lips, the djinniyeh servant raises her finger, "Think how mad he'll be when he learns that one of his sons has run off with a simple servant!"</p><p></p><p>Abdul sighs hopelessly. "Well, that'll make him mad, I guess, but it IS his son, and you know people and things and live here and all. I don't know anything!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Abdul can hear a trumpet blast twice. "The summons to court! I must away. Here, take this key," she says, pressing a copper key into Abdul's hand. "If you change your mind, come to the Khedive's stable by midnight. Oh, good luck to you." She lingers a moment, reaching for Abdul's cheek before vanishing into mist.</p><p></p><p>Abdul blinks, looking down at the key. He tucks it and the handkerchief in a pocket (awkwardly - he's not used to them) and says to himself, "I guess I'm supposed to go to court too. But where is it?" He steps across the groove in the floor and shyly asks anyone nearby for directions.</p><p></p><p><strong>Narrator:</strong> Aqisan intercepts Abdul. "Ah, son of the worthy, there you are. The Khedive was beginning to worry. I take it you've prepared a speech for the gathered nobility? No? Well then we'll have to improvise..."</p><p></p><p>Abdul just looks at Aqisan bleakly. "You told me I'd be able to go back and visit my brothers shortly."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Shadow, post: 2963222, member: 16760"] [A continuation of "Son of the Worthy", Abdul's background story. We'll likely get to continue further next week, and then there'll be a drought for a while again.] [b]Narrator:[/b] "Kings die. Nations are ruined. But the pain of separation is the most unbearable. Have you not loved so deeply, that the separation was a knife in your own heart? Or are you a callous wind?" asks the Man in the Trees, leaning on a branch that shouldn't be able to support his weight. The branch bends so that the mud-caked green man sways above young Abdul. [b]Narrator:[/b] "Ah, but you're no djinn's son..." He peers close to Abdul, and within his eyes Abdul can make out his pupils which appear to be the silhouettes of upside down trees lit by lightning behind storm clouds. "You've come from Dar al-Ins...Are there more of you?" Abdul shrugs uncomfortably, not wholly understanding. "I didn't mean to make her sadder. What's Dar al-Ins?" [b]Narrator:[/b] Sniffling the djinni girl seems to be relieved by the presence of the strange man in the trees. [b]Narrator:[/b] "I...I don't honestly know," muses the man in the trees. "I suppose I should be the one to ask you." Seeing that Abdul doesn't have a malicious bone in his body, the strange man eases himself down, sitting cross-legged in a nest of branches that rises from the earth before you. "Have you prayed today?" [b]Abdul:[/b] "Well, of course! I may be only a beggar-boy, but I try to be a good Muslim, sahib, inshallah." [b]Narrator:[/b] "So be it," chortles the man in the trees. Raising his hands high, he faces the deep forest and begins his prayers. Abdul wonders how he knows which direction holy Huzuz is, but follows suit, as does the young djinniyeh. Abdul prays devoutly, his stomach rumbling before he's done. Rising to his feet, he says a bit faintly, "I don't suppose you have any of that basbousa about you, sahib? I... haven't eaten today, except a crust Rafiqi gave me hours and hours ago." [b]Narrator:[/b] Resuming his seat in his nest, the man in the trees smiles, "No basbousa, young ins, but my wife is preparing a fine shawrbat 'adas majroosha [pureed lentil soup], and she loves company." His nest is swooped up above Abdul's head by the branch, and he extends his hand towards the deep forest. In the distance Abdul hears the washing djinnieyh calling for him. [b]Narrator:[/b] The young djinnieyh smiles, "Oh yes, I should like to meet your wife! What is she like? Will she have basbousa?" Abdul sighs. "I would love to, sahib, but the dressing women are calling me, and his Majesty said I was supposed to go with them. Goodbye! And goodbye, Minatra!" [b]Narrator:[/b] Minatra waves and vanishes into the forest. Abdul turns and heads dutifully back to the dressing djinniyeh by the waterfall. [b]Narrator:[/b] Thereupon, young Abdul finds himself surrounded by three veiled djinniyeh, armed with coarse brushes, tinctures of rose water, toothbrushes of horse hair, and a bowl of shaving lather. "So there you are!" says one of the djinniyeh, teasingly. "Get in the water, boy," beckons the eldest, who is knee deep in the slow flowing stream. [b]Narrator:[/b] As Abdul nervously edges near the water, he notices that the two young djinniyeh seem disheveled, their veils are slightly skewed, their kohl [eye-liner] is running, and their hair is poorly combed. The elder djinniyeh waits patiently, with a look of smugness that looks as if engraved at birth. Abdul furrows his brows at the djinniyeh and folds his arms, curling his lip stubbornly. (He would be greatly chagrined to know how adorable he looks doing this.) "You didn't want me to watch when YOU bathed. Why should I do it in front of you?" [b]Narrator:[/b] "Young boy!" says the grandmotherly djinniyeh, pointing at Abdul. "Come here this instant!" All at once, young Abdul feels his body begin to become stiff. The djinniyeh's eyes seem to loom large as the water ripples outward from the djinniyeh. Abdul sputters as he feels himself going numb. "Vixens! Harlots! Harridans! You only want to get me naked so you can unman me!" He almost certainly doesn't know what those words mean, but it sounds like something a hero would say. [b]Narrator:[/b] Abdul is bodily dragged an unseen force toward the djinniyeh, who eyes him warily. She leans close to Abdul and whispers testily, "If only you knew. Now, can you clean as well as you can curse?" With that she places a sponge and bar of soap in Abdul's hands, and sloshes her way out of the water. With that, Abdul is immersed, falling into the stream. [b]Narrator:[/b] Abdul also notices the fourth djinniyeh appear from behind the waterfall, tying her veil back on as she slips along the stream's edge to join her sisters. Abdul washes contentedly. After a time, he feels contrite enough to call out, "I'm sorry I called you names. I was scared." [b]Narrator:[/b] The younger djinniyeh sigh at Abdul's sincere apology and whisper to each other, but the matron is unimpressed. "I have been called worse names by grown men! Surely you shall grow up to become just as they are. Clean yourself some more, boy." Her eyes narrow. Abdul says humbly, "Yes sayyida," and does as he is told. [b]Narrator:[/b] "His majesty, the Khedive, wishes to have you dressed as one of his court before he presents you, and that means you shall not be smelling like you rolled from a pig sty. Make sure to wash behind your ears. Every month the entire court gathers and the Khedive issues his commands and introduces visitors from distant Amberabad, from Krak al-Majlis even, and I'll not have you looking like some wastrel. Gargle and clean your mouth out. Now there are some clothes for you on the far shore of the stream. Well, get swimming!" She snaps, though it is clear she enjoys being called 'sayyida.' Abdul repeats, "Yes, sayyida." He swims over and dries off. His jaw drops at the clothes. "Are these... are these... really for ME? Surely there's some mistake?" [b]Narrator:[/b] Fine silks of ochre dun and honeydew, embroidered with real gold about the collar and cuffs lie atop a rock. Beneath is a pair of rose colored pantaloons, and at the base of the rock is a pair of pale blue slippers encrusted with crystals in the shape of a swan. [b]Narrator:[/b] "Don't flatter yourself," admonishes the matron, "they were once the belongings of a minor courtier in the Khedive's court. Now then, how do you look?" Abdul gets dressed in a daze. "Sayyida, I don't know from courtiers, but I've never had anything like this before!" He isn't quite sure where everything goes, but he does his best. "They're so soft!" [b]Narrator:[/b] Getting the pantaloons on the right side front, Abdul finds himself with the predicament of crossing the stream to reach the rest of the djinniyeh. "Yes, yes, now we must get back to court. The Khedive is expecting us." [b]Abdul:[/b] "Um. How do I get across without getting wet?" [b]Narrator:[/b] Sighing, the matron waves her hand, and Abdul finds a path of wide lotus pads buoy up from the depths of the stream. Abdul estimates they'll hold his weight, at least for a moment - enough to get across perhaps. Abdul skips across gaily. He's still pretty much taking things in his stride like a dream. Abdul does remember to say, "Thank you, sayyida!" though. [b]Narrator:[/b] "You are welcome, Abdul," says the matron with what passes for a smile on her aged face. She admonishes the younger djinniyeh to fix their outfits, and she leads Abdul up the stone stairway lit by fireflies now that it has turned to dusk. Abdul trots along, secretly happy that she isn't mad at him any more. [b]Narrator:[/b] The Khedive's Palace is deceptive in its appearance. Before Abdul's very eyes, the dark towers, partially obscured by fog rolling over the mountains, are lit from within. As each brazier is lit, windows (and doors) flicker to life, fires lighting the castle in a luminous spiral. A procession of djinni approach the vast gate by way of an arching bridge overseen by two armored djinn. Following the sound of a beating drum, Abdul sees Aqisan in the background playing upon his drum. Abdul walks along, eyes shining, drinking it all in. [b]Narrator:[/b] The matron chirps, "Now this way Abdul, these are nobles of the Jinn court, though pay no mind to any peries among them - they're apt to unman you if you take my meaning." Despite her sourness, the matron winks at Abdul, half-friendly, half-frightening. Abdul nods solemnly. "I'll remember that, sayyida. What's a peri?" [b]Narrator:[/b] "A husband-stealer who can take the form of a ringdove. If you--" All at once the matron is cut off as the rhythmic drum misses a beat and stops. The sounds of conversation and laughter filter in, and then Abdul realizes that a palanquin is being paraded across the bridge. Aqisan stares with dumb wonder as a veiled djinniyeh peers at the crowd as she is carried through. Abdul is certain her eyes meet his, and feels his heart skip a beat. Abdul smiles and waves shyly. [b]Narrator:[/b] The matron tugs Abdul to his knees. "Psst! Kneel!" Abdul does so, resigning himself to not comprehending anything until later. "Who is it?" [b]Narrator:[/b] "The daughter of the Khedive, Sitt Ninya, who resists the hand of all who seek her in marriage." Though the matron dared not look up while kneeling, now she looks after the palanquin with bitterness, "She was once my student." Abdul says politely, "I'm sure you taught her well, inshallah." [b]Narrator:[/b] Mutely, the matron leads Abdul into the gates. As Abdul passes Aqisan, the great drummer winks at him and begins drumming a familiar tune that Abdul recalls from his childhood, a tune merchants would play in the souk. It sounds like a conversation between a chirping bird and rumbling lion. Abdul sighs happily to himself. It's good to have something familiar amidst all the strangeness. "May I ask you a question, sayyida? Besides this one, I mean." [b]Narrator:[/b] "No you cannot talk to her. Yes, you must bathe daily. Yes, you must speak before court." The matron rattles off these answers as if she has done this before. Abdul blinks. "Well, I'm sure those are good answers, but they don't go to my question. I guess I just wanted to understand something His Majesty said earlier." [b]Narrator:[/b] "What's that, Abdul?" [b]Abdul:[/b] "Something about 'abandoning mortalkind'. I didn't really understand it, and he seemed to think I'd already asked for it, but I hadn't." [b]Narrator:[/b] "Ah," says the matron, watching Abdul carefully while guiding him through the gathering of djinn. Stopping to direct some servants who turn into whirlwinds and vanish upon receiving their commands, the matron leads Abdul to a small alcove. Thereupon the matron recites two of the names of God, the Most Merciful. "A pocket created when the palace was erected. Several like it exist. We are completely invisible and inaudible to all who pass so long as nothing crosses this boundary," she indicates a groove in the floor separatingt he alcove from the main passage. Abdul nods. He is trying to look and sound casual, but he's really rather nervous and fidgety. He probably doesn't understand what "inaudible" means, either, but he isn't about to ask. [b]Narrator:[/b] "Now boy...Abdul, tell me what is bothering you." The matron sits in a small stone chair carved from the wall. [b]Abdul:[/b] "Well, Aqisan told me I'd be able to go back and visit my brothers soon enough, but then the Khedive asked me all about my family and decided I was gonna 'abandon mortalkind' and that doesn't sound good and while this is a beautiful place, I guess I just wondered, um, what he meant by that and all." [b]Narrator:[/b] Wistfully looking past Abdul, the matron sighs. "The Khedive has no children, so you are very precious to him, as are all children who enter his court, but you in particular because you are a human boy. You will come to understand what makes you special when you grow older." Abdul says hopefully, "Well, my brothers need a home too, and I'll bet they'd be just as precious to him as I am!" [b]Narrator:[/b] "Yes, Abdul, but think about this: How many brothers do your brothers have? Would you bring them all here?" [b]Abdul:[/b] "None of us have any families, sayyida. It's just the six of us. And Akim, but he really really really doesn't count, honest!" [b]Narrator:[/b] "It cannot be, Abdul. Other courts might abduct mortals out of high-mindedness, but the Khedive has no such pretensions. That means he won't do it because he thinks it's wrong. You, on the other hand, came because of a wish, and that is a sacred thing enshrined in our laws." [b]Abdul:[/b] "But at least I can go back and help them, right? So they don't get beaten by Akim every day and have things to eat and maybe apprenticeships or something? I can make wishes about that too!" [b]Narrator:[/b] Smiling gently, the matron shakes her head, "Until the terms of your wish are fulfilled you cannot leave or the honor of the Khedive would be forfeit. I can show you your brothers when you wish, however, so that you may know what becomes of them." Abdul's face drains of color. "But I didn't wish for this! I wished for wisdom!" [b]Narrator:[/b] "And so you shall receive it," says the matron rising. "Now prepare yourself to audience with the Khedive." Abdul looks quite shell-shocked. He's chewing his lip, his eyes are watering, his breath coming hard... a woman as experienced at the dijinniyeh surely realizes the tears are coming soon. [b]Narrator:[/b] The matron's demeanor becomes cold once more. "I know what I need to. You may stay here as long as you wish and console yourself Abdul. No one will disturb you." With that she wraps her skirts about her and vanishes in puff of smoke. [b]Abdul:[/b] Alone and bereft, Abdul sobs once. But, the veteran of a thousand beatings by a man who hated tears, he thrusts it down and wipes his eyes. He looks around, dazed, not sure what to do now. [b]Narrator:[/b] Abdul hears a whispering voice through a small grate in the rock wall above him. [b]Abdul:[/b] Not having been taught the social niceties, Abdul has no qualms about putting his ear to the grate. [b]Narrator:[/b] "...Dear God, help me to be strong *sniff* The sayyida will not let me marry Ishna, the one I love, and everyday she takes my wicked sisters to perform their foul rites unbeknownst to the Khedive. *sob* And even the Khedive hates the work I do and belittles me for every effort so now I am afraid to act at all... *sniff* Please, forgive me, for tonight I will leave..." All at once the voice grows quiet, as if the djinniyeh speaking knows she's being listened to. Abdul squints through the grate to see who it is. [b]Narrator:[/b] Immediately Abdul recognizes the youngest of the washing djinniyeh, the one who came from behind the waterfall. All at once, he is eye to eye with her as she peers through the grate. "You??" She says in shock. [b]Abdul:[/b] "Um, yes? Hi." [b]Narrator:[/b] "What are you doing eavesdropping on me? And how do you know about the hidden spaces? And...why...why are you crying?" She asks, growing softer. Indeed, Abdul had not realized it, but a tear was running down his face. [b]Abdul:[/b] "I heard you praying. The sayyida took me here. And, um, I'm not crying." He wipes furiously at his cheek with his sleeve. [b]Narrator:[/b] "Oh, my mistake, it-it must have been a shadow," she says cleverly. "So, what did the sayyida tell you?" She asks sarcastically. Abdul swallows hard. "That, that, that I'm not gonna see my brothers again." Now he IS crying. [b]Narrator:[/b] "Oh, I'm so terribly sorry. The must be such nice boys for you to cry like that. Here, take this," she presses a handkerchief embroidered with a feather through the grate. "Here." [b]Abdul:[/b] "They took me in and showed me how to live and now I'm in nice clothes and stuff and they're hungry and getting beaten by Akim and I made the wrong wish and I can't DO anything about it!" [b]Narrator:[/b] As Abdul receives the handkerchief, the djinniyeh turns to a mist which flows through the grate and forms into the shape of a woman by Abdul, slowly rematerializing into the djinniyeh as she places an arm around Abdul's shoulder. "They are fortunate to have a friend like you, thinking and worrying about them even from so very far away." Abdul quickly soaks the handkerchief. "I don't know about fortunate. I've 'abandoned mortalkind' without even knowing I was going to, and can't help them and they won't know what happened to me!" [b]Narrator:[/b] The djinniyeh strokes Abdul's hair, then looks out the "curtain" which keeps them hidden from the outside world. "You-- you could come with us if you like. With Ishan and I tonight while court is called. We have a horse, the finest mare I've ever seen, named Bint-al-Dawra [Daughter of the Wind]. We plan to ride to Amberabad and seek refuge in a peri's court, where my love and I shall be wed. There are others of your kind in the City of Amber, you know, even sha'ir. Perhaps they could help undo your wish there?" Abdul sighs. "I d-don't know." [b]Narrator:[/b] Biting her lip, the djinniyeh frowns. "You won't tell anyone about this will you? Oh, say you won't. I am already afraid sayyida Zianah will find out, and she makes no idle threats. She doesn't know about your wish does she?" [b]Abdul:[/b] "I don't know who sayyida Zianah is. Is she the one who was with you three at the waterfall? Then yes, she does." [b]Narrator:[/b] "Oh, I wish you hadn't said so. She surely seeks to bewitch you. Once she boasted that she could turn a wish inside out if she wished, and sayyida, well, she makes no idle threats. I don't think you are safe here. Are you sure you won't come with us?" [b]Abdul:[/b] "Won't that make His Majesty really mad at me?" [b]Narrator:[/b] Pressing her finger to her pursed lips, the djinniyeh servant raises her finger, "Think how mad he'll be when he learns that one of his sons has run off with a simple servant!" Abdul sighs hopelessly. "Well, that'll make him mad, I guess, but it IS his son, and you know people and things and live here and all. I don't know anything!" [b]Narrator:[/b] Abdul can hear a trumpet blast twice. "The summons to court! I must away. Here, take this key," she says, pressing a copper key into Abdul's hand. "If you change your mind, come to the Khedive's stable by midnight. Oh, good luck to you." She lingers a moment, reaching for Abdul's cheek before vanishing into mist. Abdul blinks, looking down at the key. He tucks it and the handkerchief in a pocket (awkwardly - he's not used to them) and says to himself, "I guess I'm supposed to go to court too. But where is it?" He steps across the groove in the floor and shyly asks anyone nearby for directions. [b]Narrator:[/b] Aqisan intercepts Abdul. "Ah, son of the worthy, there you are. The Khedive was beginning to worry. I take it you've prepared a speech for the gathered nobility? No? Well then we'll have to improvise..." Abdul just looks at Aqisan bleakly. "You told me I'd be able to go back and visit my brothers shortly." [/QUOTE]
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True20 Al-Qadim: Zakharan Nights (updated 6/21/06)
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