A thunderous commotion and a din like doomsday broke out and stone slabs rained from the sky. A cry rent the night, “I was killed! Arzhang was my name.” Burq hurried to where Shakeel was lying in wait with his army and told him it was time for them to attack.
Hearing Arzhang’s death cry, the sorcerers of his camp ran to investigate. Zargham and Jansoz were released because Arzhang’s spell was broken and they ran to inform Princess Nafarman in the City of Purple Poppy that the sorcerer had been killed and that she must charge without delay and conduct a night raid on Arzhang’s camp.
Nafarman quickly mustered her army and attacked Arzhang’s camp while Shakeel charged it from another side. The foe faced a night raid on two fronts. Swords flashed and sorcerers deployed their magic. The battle raged the whole night and the mettle of the swordsmen was tested. In the morning, when the golden standard of Emperor Sun rose between the mountains and the Fair-faced Turk of Morn dispatched the Milky Way into the land of dreams, Arzhang’s army retreated in defeat toward the Pleasure Garden.
Princess Nafarman pillaged the tents, equipage and goods of the retreating enemy. Burq also ransacked the fields to collect an offering for Amar Ayyar. He said to Nafarman, “You must not stay here but return and join Mahrukh.” As Nafarman’s army was ready at her call, they started cheerfully toward Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp playing festive music. Before long they arrived at their destination and joined Mahrukh’s triumph incarnate camp.
Mahrukh embraced all of them and the sound of congratulations and felicitations filled the air. Queen Mahjabeen conferred a precious robe of honor on Burq and rewarded the other tricksters as well.
In the meanwhile, Arzhang’s defeated army arrived near the Pleasure Garden beating their chests in lamentations and tearing their collars into shreds.
Emperor Afrasiyab was busy carousing. A dancer was performing, wine was being drunk, and seventeen thousand renowned sorcerers were sitting around him respectfully. Suddenly, the noise of wailing and lamentations reached his ears. When Afrasiyab inquired, he learned that Arzhang had been killed and the army that had accompanied him had fled in defeat.
Afrasiyab sent for the commanders of the army and sought details of Arzhang’s death. After he learned all the facts and particulars, Afrasiyab bit the back of his hand with teeth of distress.
Heyrat said to him, “Your Excellency, I can no longer remain a silent witness. I ask for leave to punish the mutineers myself.” Afrasiyab replied, “Your departure would still be unsuitable. You should, instead, go to the Apple Garden with the nobles. I am headed for the region of Zulmat. We will decide on a suitable course of action upon my return.”
Then Afrasiyab mounted his throne and sixty-four thousand drums from the skies announced his departure. Magic fairies played musical instruments and danced on boreal thrones. They carried vermiculated pitchers filled with rose water, keora water, and essence of orange blossoms on their hips. They squirted each other with loaded sprays of these fragrances and juggled balls of light. Afrasiyab’s four ministers took their positions on the four corners of his throne and fanned him with fly-whisks of phoenix feathers. A crimson cloud materialized to shadow the emperor’s throne and rained pearl droplets. Afrasiyab’s throne floated away like the wind. As it whizzed past, magic trees, birds and humans cried out in veneration, “All glory to Afrasiyab! All praise to Afrasiyab!”
Soon Afrasiyab was lost from sight as he disappeared into Zulmat the Dark. No one saw how or from where the Emperor of Hoshruba entered that mysterious region.
SORCERESS BAHAR OF SPRING-QUARTER
After Afrasiyab’s departure Empress Heyrat mounted her magic peacock and went to the Apple Garden with her nobles and ministers in train. She ascended the throne and all her courtiers and sorcerers took their allocated stations. A dance recital started and cupbearers as beautiful as the moon began passing around cups of red wine.
They were thus occupied when, suddenly, a cool and pleasant breeze picked up. The sky became overcast. The trees swayed, intoxicated with the fervor of spring, and every flower bud in the Apple Garden broke into full bloom. The magic birds flew into the garden and chirped before Heyrat, “O Empress of the World, your younger sister, Princess Bahar, is approaching.” Heyrat said, “Now I know why it suddenly seemed as if the spring quarter was upon us. A welcoming party should go out and conduct her here with great honor.”
High-ranking sorcerers went in a procession to greet Princess Bahar.
The garden of Princess Bahar’s beauty was nurtured by the munificent showers of Nature’s Gardener. She was a virgin and her figure was like a beautiful cypress in the pasture of life. She resided in the City of Mount Solace and seldom attended the court. Emperor Afrasiyab, who was smitten and besotted with her, had sought union with her on several occasions. However, Bahar always resisted the emperor’s advances out of respect for her sister. Many renowned sorcerers pined equally for Bahar’s love but their knowing of Afrasiyab’s fondness for her kept them from asking for her hand in marriage. Heyrat also knew of Afrasiyab’s feelings and she ardently wished to drive Bahar from Hoshruba. However, to her sister’s face and in public, Heyrat kept up the pretence of great fondness for Bahar.
When Princess Bahar entered the Apple Garden everyone rose in her honor. Heyrat embraced her, asked about her welfare, and seated Bahar beside her on the throne. At a sign from Heyrat the cupbearer offered goblets of wine and they started drinking.
Bahar had come to discuss the deaths of the sorcerers and the recent turmoil in the tilism. After the wine warmed and relaxed her, she asked Heyrat, “Tell me sister, what is this commotion that has broken the peace of our tilism?” Heyrat replied, “I don’t know where to begin! All I know is that whore Mahrukh Magic-Eye has invited a great calamity on her head. She has joined the rebels, is stirring a revolt, and has killed many of the emperor’s servants. Now I will march against Mahrukh, arrest her, and visit her with retribution worse than anyone has suffered in the history of the tilism.”
Princess Bahar took offense at these words because Princess Mahrukh was related to them. She said, “Sister, what you say is most unjust. We have blood ties to Mahrukh Magic-Eye and Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe that cannot be disregarded. You cannot strike a body of water with a stick and divide it! How dare you claim that you will publicly humiliate and kill her! Mahrukh is no less powerful than you or I. Of course, she is no match for the emperor, the immortal sorcerers, the Seven Monsters of the Grotto, or the dwellers of the River of Seven Colors and the Blue River. However, in all respects she is on a par with each of the emperor’s four ministers and with the two of us. I have heard that Mahrukh’s magic dragon very nearly swallowed Faulad Drug-Glutton. If the magic slaves had not rescued him, it would have been impossible for Faulad to return alive from the arena. How could you speak about a grand sorceress of the tilism like Mahrukh in such terms?”
Heyrat turned crimson with rage at Bahar’s speech and said, “O strumpet, you sing adulations of Mahrukh before my courtiers and attempt to frighten them? You must also be in cahoots with the rebels. That is why you take their side.”
Heyrat now addressed her courtiers, saying, “When my own sister is colluding against me how can I expect others to remain loyal! Does water flow thicker than blood? Hear her praising Mahrukh Magic-Eye to my face! Regardless of any blood ties between us, Mahrukh Magic-Eye is now my enemy. Should I seat her above my head when justice demands that she should be humiliated and crushed underfoot?”
Hearing these harsh words, Princess Bahar said, “I’ve had enough of this! You will hold your tongue! Loyalty and disloyalty will be proven in good time. I don’t wish to hear your drivel. I swear by my honor that if I hear your poisonous tongue wag against me ever again, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. It will put an end to all your royal and imperious airs.”
While they were having this altercation, Afrasiyab’s conveyance arrived from the region of Zulmat. His magnificent entourage and conveyance came to a stop and Afr
asiyab dismounted, playing with a perfumed golden ball and making pleasantries with the courtiers who rose in his honor, bowed their heads, and offered salutations.
When the emperor ascended the throne he noticed Princess Bahar stringing a garland of tears that issued ceaselessly from her eyes, like an oyster burbling forth shiny pearls. It seemed that the hands of beauty had decked the lovely face of this bride of spring with a veil of pearls. The rosy hue of her face revealed that her delicate emotions were in turmoil. Afrasiyab was upset upon seeing Bahar in this state and asked, “O envy of Zephyr’s garden, may no sorrow ever torment you. Tell me what grief has caused the flower of your heart to wilt?”
Bahar answered, “I have been called disloyal to the emperor! It is now my desire to visit Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp and unleash the winds of autumn on the blossoming garden of her fortunes. Her aiders and abettors may plead like nightingales but I will show them no mercy. The tree of every rebel’s soul will be cut down or lie uprooted in the Garden of Life. But, O Gardener of the Empire’s Garden, I will no longer have a seat at your feet. Like a flower’s perfume finally exits the garden, I too, must depart now from Hoshruba.”
When Afrasiyab heard these heartbreaking words from the mouth whose narrowness recalled the embouchement of flower buds, saw Bahar’s narcissus-like eyes fill up with dew drops of tears, regarded her lips, delicate as rose petals, quivering from passion and acrimonious speech, and noticed her loss of composure as she uttered these words, Afrasiyab chastised Heyrat, saying, “If you brand a person like Princess Bahar as disloyal can you escape a like charge yourself?” Heyrat replied, “I know all too well what lies behind your words. Your fake and hollow righteousness won’t deceive me even for a moment. I can recognize a man’s intentions in his eyes. Of course you would come to her defense.”
These cutting remarks were not lost on Bahar and discomfited her further but they silenced Afrasiyab because they addressed his guilt.
Bahar resolved in her heart to battle Mahrukh Magic-Eye and destroy her army, then go into exile. She humbly said these words, which fell in the garden of speech like a shower of rose petals: “Your Excellency will appoint one of your loyal commanders to fight the foe. I request that I should be granted this campaign.”
Afrasiyab realized that if he stopped Bahar now Heyrat would get a chance to say that he was protecting his beloved. He gave Bahar leave, saying, “Very well, you may take charge of the mission but you must not directly engage with the foe. Ask one of your commanders to destroy Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp. I will send you further assistance as well.”
Bahar replied, “To this day I have never sought anyone’s aid. Even if Your Excellency himself came to my assistance I would be mortified with shame and sever my neck with my own hands. Pray do not send anyone to help me.”
Afrasiyab answered, “Indeed, it would be unnecessary. You are brave and stalwart yourself.” He conferred a robe of departure on Princess Bahar, who mounted her conveyance and returned to Mount Solace with frowning and angry mien.
Afrasiyab was deeply grieved by Princess Bahar’s departure on that unhappy note. A day after her leaving, he also left in rancor and departed for Mount Quartz by himself.
After her arrival in Mount Solace, Bahar ordered the commander-in-chief of her army, Maykhar Rhino-Head, to muster her army. Bahar’s yellow pavilion was loaded onto a magic dragon and sixty thousand sorceresses and sorcerers decked with their magic equipment prepared to march.
The next morning, when the Sovereign of the Heavens appeared on the throne of sky with his parasol of golden rays, the magic bugle was sounded for the march and the army started on its journey.
Princess Bahar ascended her throne, bouquets of flowers were placed before her, a cloud shadowed the throne and a light, pleasant drizzle followed her conveyance. As her throne passed by, flowerbeds sprang up and the flowers bloomed in greeting. Her attendants held a golden canopy above her head. Magic fairies appeared in the air and squirted each other with paints while singing the songs of Holi.73 The sorceresses and sorcerers accompanying Bahar made sacrificial offerings of flowers of gold and silver to protect her from evil and displayed their magic works.
SORCERER MAYKHAR RHINO-HEAD
Maykhar Rhino-Head marched at the head of the forces riding a magic dragon; an army of sixty thousand sorcerers followed behind him. The army traveled in stretches of ten miles with great majesty. When they stopped to rest after completing a day’s journey from Mount Solace, Maykhar Rhino-Head said to Bahar, “If Your Excellency will give me leave I will advance with twelve thousand sorcerers and arrest Mahrukh’s soldiers. That way, when Your Honor arrives on the scene you will not be burdened with having to make arrangements for war and need only supervise the beheading of rebels and sending their heads to the emperor.” Bahar answered, “Very well! Go forth and defeat the enemy with the spell I have taught you.”
Maykhar Rhino-Head sped on his mission taking along twelve thousand sorcerers from his own personal force. He traveled with dispatch and arrived near the august camp of Mahrukh Magic-Eye where he set up his pavilion and struck the drums ordering his soldiers to bivouac.
As his men set up camp, Maykhar erected another pavilion adjacent to his own and sat down with his sorcery apparatus to invoke his magic. He made a ring with swine blood, stood on a sandalwood bench, and started reciting a spell. Then he bathed in swine blood himself and burned thorn apples, swallow wort, mustard and cotton seeds on flaming braziers to cast the spell.
The magic birds flew into the court after noticing Rhino-Head’s men set up camp. They eloquently sang the queen’s adulations and said, “Princess Bahar’s stalwart commander, Maykhar Rhino-Head, has arrived bent on mischief.”
Mahrukh said to Amar Ayyar, “Only God can protect us now. It is a disaster that Princess Bahar has been sent on the campaign against us. Let alone fight her, we are not even her commander’s equal!” Amar Ayyar replied, “God is the Protector. You must not fret about it.” While Mahrukh and Amar Ayyar were occupied in this conversation, the tricksters left the camp and headed for the wilderness.
Despite Amar’s words of comfort, the whole camp was thrown into a state of great agitation and turmoil at the news of Maykhar Rhino-Head’s arrival. While cowards deserted the ranks from lack of self-confidence, those who were brave and loyal became convinced that they would now meet their deaths.
SORCERESS SURKH MU WONDER-MANE
Amar was ready to head to the wilderness after comforting everyone when a cloud suddenly appeared in the sky and showered down thousands of stars. Princess Nafarman said to Mahrukh, “Your Excellency, it seems Princess Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane, the governor of the City of Scarlet Locks, is approaching.”
Mahrukh sent Nafarman and others with a welcoming party to conduct Princess Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane into the court. Amar delayed his departure to learn more about the new arrival.
A powerful sorceress and a great beauty, Princess Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane was held in high regard by Emperor Afrasiyab. She was both rich and powerful and had thirty thousand sorcerers under her command. She had come on the mission to convince Nafarman, her soul sister, to break with Amar Ayyar so that she might intercede for her with Afrasiyab and have her offense forgiven.
Nafarman went with the welcoming party and greeted and embraced Princess Surkh Mu. When Surkh Mu entered the court Mahrukh rose to greet her and offered her a golden throne. Surkh Mu saw Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe giving audience, the court in session, and Amar Ayyar sitting on a jewel-encrusted chair. Because Afrasiyab had already made known Amar Ayyar’s description within Hoshruba she recognized him without difficulty.
Surkh Mu laughed upon regarding Amar’s strange form and said to Nafarman, “My sister, it’s a pity that you revolted against the emperor and invited misfortune down on yourself.” Nafarman answered, “My sister, the star of Amar Ayyar’s glory is ascending. Afrasiyab will be killed and the tilism conquered. Those who side with Amar will survive and others will be destroyed. You too must join hand
s with us.”
Princess Surkh Mu laughed at Nafarman’s words and said, “What droll things you say! Where is the comparison between Emperor Afrasiyab and Amar Ayyar? How can you contrast the heavens with the Earth? Talk some sense! Tell me, what could Amar Ayyar do even if he killed sorcerers in the thousands? The armies of the Emperor of Hoshruba are without count and number. Imagine a city with hundreds of wells and each well filled with swarms of mosquitoes. Now imagine those swarms to be the armies of sorcerers at Emperor Afrasiyab’s command. If he were to release even a single swarm from a well, his armies would inundate the entire lands of the tilism. Who can fight the Emperor of Hoshruba? Even if I forced myself to believe that Amar Ayyar could surmount these impossible odds, how would he acquire the tilism key? Without the tilism key there’s no conquering the tilism. Afrasiyab himself does not know where the tilism key is hidden. Tell me, how would Amar ever find it?”
Nafarman answered, “The Almighty God, the Creator of Causes, will find a way for the tilism key to be found and for Hoshruba to be conquered. Are you not familiar with the saying:
“If the enemy is strong
The Protector is stronger still.”
Princess Surkh Mu replied, “Alas sister, it seems that you and I must now part ways. I shall never offer my allegiance to a lowly person like Amar Ayyar.”
While they were exchanging these words, Maykhar Rhino-Head completed the spell and made his offering to the magic spirits. Drenched in swine blood, he stood at the entrance of his pavilion, recited an incantation and blew it in the direction of Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp. Suddenly a cloud covered Mahrukh’s camp and a cold breeze picked up. Surkh Mu said to Nafarman, “Beware, this is a sign of approaching trouble.” She tried to fly away to escape the calamity but the cloud enveloped Mahrukh’s whole camp. A waft of cold air hit Surkh Mu’s face and she fell unconscious. When she came to after a few moments, she said to Nafarman, “Now I too, have been engulfed in this trouble because of my love for you.”
Hoshruba Page 26