Princess Hasina remained occupied with these thoughts. Sometimes she thought, There is no knowing what the fickle heavens hold for us. I should lie with him before some calamity overtakes us. Soon fear of Laqa would overcome her; the thought filled her with dread that upon learning the truth, Laqa might destroy both her and her lover.
Thus, Princess Hasina and Alam Shah remained occupied with each other with all the previous restraints. Whenever Hasina attended the court, Alam Shah accompanied her.
All these events were reported to Amir Hamza by his messengers and spies. The army commanders grieved at the news of the prodigious warrior, Alam Shah, renouncing the True Faith. King Saad said to them, “Prince Alam Shah is under a spell and not the master of his senses. If he attacks us, no one must injure or kill him.”
Everyone was greatly perturbed by this command. It made any encounter with Alam Shah perilous, allowing the attacker all the advantages and privileges and the defenders none. The whole camp was disturbed, and Amir Hamza continuously mourned his son.
Witnessing this sorry state of affairs in his camp, Amar Ayyar’s son, Chalak, decided he should put an end to them by killing Princess Hasina. In the meanwhile, Bakhtiarak also sent one of his tricksters, Tarar the Speedster, to capture Hamza so that Alam Shah could destroy the camp of the True Believers without hindrance.
TRICKSTER TARAR THE SPEEDSTER
Tarar the Speedster decorated himself with trickster’s devices and left. When he arrived near the camp of True Believers he disguised himself as an attendant and entered the camp with other retainers and officers of the camp. He positioned himself in a nook and when the king adjourned the court at a late hour and everyone rose, Tarar the Speedster hid himself under a throne.
When the king and all the commanders and officers returned to their resting places, Amir Hamza remained in the Pavilion of Suleiman. The vigil made rounds of the camp and the horn trilled at regular intervals. Muqbil Vafadar sat on night duty outside Amir Hamza’s pavilion armed with his bow and quiver. When Amir Hamza’s snores floated on the air, Tarar the Speedster threw moths made of a drug at the candles and tapers. They fell on the flames and the smoke from the drug spread in the pavilion. The attendants who pressed Amir Hamza’s legs fell unconscious. Tarar the Speedster now rolled out from under the throne and reached Amir Hamza’s bedside. He removed the sleep veil from Amir Hamza’s face with the help of a rod and, filling a tubular device with a drug, put one end into Amir Hamza’s nostrils. As he inhaled, Tarar blew from the other end to send the drug into Amir Hamza’s nostril. It overpowered his senses, he sneezed and fell unconscious.
Next, Tarar approached the entrance of the pavilion and called out to Muqbil in Amir Hamza’s voice.
Muqbil replied, “I am at your service,” and entered.
The moment he stepped in, with an egg of oblivion Tarar made him unconscious as well. He dragged Amir Hamza’s attendants by their feet onto the floor and spread his trickster’s mantle on the bed. After tying Amir Hamza with his snare rope and wrapping him in the trickster’s mantle, Tarar bundled him up and came out of the pavilion carrying him on his shoulders.
He made his way out of the camp under the cover of the tents. He ducked at any sign of danger and proceeded when it cleared. When he saw the soldiers of the vigil he flattened himself like a lizard against the ground; when they passed he moved forward, mimicking the walk of cats and dogs. In this manner, he made his way to the end of the camp from where he sped leaping and bounding to his destination.
On the way, it occurred to Tarar the Speedster that if he carried Amir Hamza to his camp the tricksters would secure his release. He arrived in a mountain pass and wondered if he should behead Amir Hamza and take his head to Laqa’s court instead. Then he thought, A trickster of the caliber of Amar Ayyar is still alive, who would surely avenge Hamza’s death on me. Hamza’s progeny and commanders as well would wreak havoc upon hearing the news. Moreover, Alam Shah is also present in the camp. His filial love might awaken at the sight of his father’s head and he might ask why I killed his father and demand vengeance. Then I would pay with my life.
In view of these considerations, Tarar put the bundled up form of Amir Hamza in a dark and narrow cave in the mountain pass and blocked the entrance with a stone.
He returned and gave Bakhtiarak a complete account of how he had imprisoned Hamza in a place where he would die from hunger and starvation. Bakhtiarak said, “You did well in not bringing Hamza here. The tricksters would have freed him in no time.”
In the morning, the news of Amir Hamza’s kidnapping caused a great uproar in the camp of the True Believers. King Saad dispatched the tricksters Abul Fatah and Samak to search for Amir Hamza and bring news of him.
Bakhtiarak now visited Hasina and said to her, “Now you will be able to achieve your end. You may go ahead and pit Alam Shah against Hamza’s camp to slay them with his hand. Hamza has been kidnapped at my orders.” Hasina said, “Very well, order the drums of war to be struck.” Next, Hasina said to Alam Shah, “If you wish to lie with me you must now fulfil your promise and bring me your father’s head.”
Alam Shah replied, “Blow the bugles of war. I will cut Hamza to pieces.”
Having secured Alam Shah’s pledge in this matter, Bakhtiarak headed for Laqa’s court, where he gave him a complete account and asked for the drums to be struck in Alam Shah’s name. Upon his orders, Laqa’s minions left to issue the call to war.
SORCERER HOSHIAR THE CUNNING
While these preparations are underway, let us hear of Amar Ayyar.
As Empress Heyrat made her plans to battle Mahrukh Magic-Eye, Afrasiyab dispatched the sorcerer Hoshiar the Cunning to arrest Mahrukh and all her supporters and give them into Empress Heyrat’s custody.
Afrasiyab gave Hoshiar two carafes filled with magic water, one of which caused loss of consciousness while the other dispelled it. Afrasiyab said to him, “Mix the water that causes loss of consciousness with a large quantity of regular water and sprinkle it around your camp to create a protective ring. Any trickster who crosses it will fall unconscious. When you go into combat, splash the water on your adversary and it will make him lose his senses too. In this manner, you will capture the rebels’ entire camp. When the tricksters attack, you must arrest them similarly.”
Hoshiar returned to his house with the magic water and ordered the sorcerers under his command to prepare to march. When the powerful sorceress Mugheela, who was Hoshiar’s mother, learned that her son was leaving on a campaign, she made preparations to secretly accompany him. After completing his arrangements, Hoshiar returned to Afrasiyab. The emperor gave him the robe of departure. Hoshiar mounted a magic dragon and left with his twelve thousand sorcerers riding magical birds and beasts, ringing gongs and blowing bugles.
The sorceress Mugheela grew magic wings and followed them but remained hidden from all.
When Hoshiar arrived near Heyrat’s camp she sent a welcoming party to receive him. Her commanders conducted Hoshiar into her presence while his army bivouacked and set up pavilions and tents beside Heyrat’s camp.
Hoshiar gave Empress Heyrat a detailed account of his mission and said, “Please order the drums of war to be beaten. Tomorrow I will destroy the rebels’ whole army.” Heyrat acquiesced to his request and her commanders struck the clarion.
The magic birds flew into Queen Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe’s court. With raised beaks they sang her adulations and praises in chaste words and eloquent terms and announced, “The Sorcerer Hoshiar has arrived at Afrasiyab’s order. Heyrat has issued the call to war with the intention of combat and carnage. Now you may decide what you please.” After communicating these words the magic birds flew away.
Mahjabeen said to Mahrukh Magic-Eye, “You too, must answer her call to battle and start preparation this evening.” Mahrukh replied, “Very well.” She sent for the commanders of the army, issued orders to give the call to war, and before long the whole camp received the news.
In the evening,
when the throne of dusk was laid on the blue skies and the Emperor of Afternoon104 hid his face and escaped into the dominions of the west, the clarion was sounded from Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp and the drums of war were beaten as thunderously and terribly as the blast of the Last Trumpet. The arena rang with a call to the True Believers to prepare for war.
The illustrious sorcerers, the Jamsheds of the times, the equals of Sameri, all began to invoke their magic. The warriors inspected the readiness of their arms. Queen Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe adjourned the court and entered her private pavilion. All the tricksters, including Amar Ayyar, departed for the wilderness and hid themselves in hilly passes.
Prince Asad inspected the preparedness of his men. Mahrukh Magic-Eye, Surkh Mu, Nafarman, Shakeel and Bahar each invoked rare and powerful spells, knowing they would have to face Empress Heyrat on the battlefield. They made magic slave girls and gold-feathered magic peacocks, readied ancient spells from the times of Sameri, promised sacrifices of the foe to magic spirits and secured pledges from them to come to their aid when summoned. The whole night was spent in these preparations.
The carpet-keeper of fate threw an azure spread on the golden throne of heaven and the Lord of the Day105 entered the World’s Hall of Audience.106 The lions of the forest of valor, the valiant lords of fields of carnage, renowned sorcerers and noble commanders started for the arena. The sorcerer commanders rode magic thrones and beasts. A special suit of armor and choice weapons adorned Prince Asad’s strong and powerful body for the impending combat with Heyrat’s army.
Ringed by her army, Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe rode her throne to the battlefield with great majesty.
From the station of audience to the battlefield, there was an unending display of Mahjabeen’s paraphernalia of grandeur and luxury. Row after row of war elephants and camels stood covered with golden saddles, with the champion warriors and standard-bearers of the army in seat. The star-studded sheets that covered the elephants made the starry skies envious. Several thousand Arabs scattered gold and silver coins in an offering to ward off the evil eye from their sovereign. They were followed by the kettledrums mounted on elephants and camels. The drummers clad in gold and silver brocade dresses sang the tunes of lalit, bherveen, and bhibhas.107 The criers marched alongside, inciting and stirring warriors to combat with their exhortations.
All of a sudden, Empress Heyrat’s procession materialized on the horizon. Those assembled saw thousands of enamelled palaces come flying in the air while sixty-four thousand magic bugles heralded their approach. Sorcerers and sorceresses clad in fine clothes flew beside them and began pouring into the arena. They sported bracelets of pearl and coral and wore hoops and earrings. Mounted on gold-feathered magic peacocks, the sorceresses were clad in saris worked with precious jewels. Carpets of gold cloth were spread in the enamel palace in which Empress Heyrat sat, and hundreds of thousands of sorcerers stood alert behind her. Clapper-drums and bugles played in the assembly, and a dance recital was in progress.
All the pomp and grandeur of Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe’s procession waned before Empress Heyrat’s splendorous entourage.
At sorcerer Hoshiar’s order, the sorcerers dropped lightning bolts on the arena to burn up the shrubbery and trees. A magic cloud rained and settled all the dust and dirt. The proclaimers of war made announcements and the criers shouted their declarations. They sang the denunciation of the ephemeral world and reminded the warriors that only the brave were remembered for their deeds after they were gone.
After they withdrew, the left and the right flanks and the advance guard and the center of the army were formed.
The sorcerer Hoshiar entered the arena with Empress Heyrat’s leave and sought combat after displaying the marvels of his magic. Princess Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane flew her magic dragon into the arena to answer his challenge.
Hoshiar shot an arrow at Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane. She recited a counterspell and a magic claw carrying a dagger appeared in the arrow’s path and cut it in two in mid flight. Surkh Mu now untied her hair. Thousands of stars rolled out of her hair and flew to the sky from where they fell like a comet shower on Hoshiar’s forces, killing thousands. Enraged, Hoshiar took out the flask of the magic water that caused loss of consciousness and mixed it with the water in a waterskin. He poured the entire contents of the waterskin onto a bale of cotton and recited a spell.
The bale of cotton flew up into the sky like a cloud. It covered Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe’s camp and rained down. Anyone on whom even a single raindrop fell lost consciousness. Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane, who stood in the arena, was the first victim of the magic raindrops that now rained in a cascade. Bahar, Mahrukh Magic-Eye and some other illustrious sorcerers raised magic canopies over their heads but the magic raindrops pierced these canopies and they all fell unconscious. The camp was thrown into disarray and Mahrukh’s army took to its heels.
Prince Asad took the reins of his horse with the intention of laying down his life in battle but he too, lost his senses when a raindrop fell on him. His army escaped and took refuge in the mountains, the deserts, and the wilderness. The renowned sorcerers who commandeered the armies and did not flee were rendered unconscious. They were pinioned at Hoshiar’s orders, who then instructed his men to announce the end of the battle.
Empress Heyrat returned to her court scattering gold pieces as a sacrifice to ward off the evil eye from Hoshiar. She ordered celebrations and her army unbuckled itself and rested.
Heyrat wrote the entire account of the battle to Afrasiyab and ordered the prisoners to be brought before her. They were all unconscious. Hoshiar put them under magic incarceration, stuck needles in their tongues, and sprinkled them with the magic water that restored them to consciousness. The prisoners opened their eyes and found themselves in that sorry state. They lowered their heads and did not speak.
Empress Heyrat said to Mahrukh Magic-Eye, “Did you forget this day would come?”
Mahrukh, whose tongue was pierced, could only answer by pointing heavenward with a gesture that God was her Lord and Master. She and her companions similarly offered terse replies to Heyrat’s comments in a manner that enraged the empress.
Heyrat thundered, “Raise the scaffolds! The Angel of Death will soon ply his trade; the life of not a single rebel shall be spared.” At her orders, executioners who excelled at skinning and sawing bodies presented themselves, the scaffolds rose, and the news was proclaimed in all parts of the tilism.
Heyrat ordered the sorcerer Hoshiar to incarcerate the rebels and set up a protective magic ring around the camp to keep the tricksters at bay.
Hoshiar led all rebel commanders to his pavilion and tied them to the posts. He said to his attendants, “Tell the water-carriers to fill their waterskins and bring them to me so that I may mix magic water with their contents. They may then sprinkle the water to make a protective ring around the camp. Go now, but leave one person on duty inside the pavilion.”
The attendants executed his orders and the water-carriers arrived at Hoshiar’s pavilion carrying waterskins. One after the other, they went before Hoshiar. He asked them to rub their bodies with a few drops of the restorative magic water as protection and mix the other kind that induced unconsciousness into their waterskins. The carriers then left to create the protective magic ring.
Now hear of the tricksters. After they witnessed the rout of their camp and the capture of their army commanders, they went into action to rescue them.
Qiran the Ethiope headed for Hoshiar’s camp dressed as an attendant and from afar noticed the water-carriers sprinkling liquid around the camp. Qiran felt some unease on seeing them at work at that unusual hour. He decided some evil was in the water, which must be avoided. He took another path into Hoshiar’s camp and saw a water-carrier coming his way. Qiran asked him, “Did you finish the work?” He answered, “It will be days before a protective magic ring can be made around such a large camp as Heyrat’s. It’s not something that can be done overnight.” Qiran now realized that he was right to avoid
the water-carriers and that any who crossed it would fall under its spell.
Qiran waited outside Hoshiar’s pavilion for an opportunity.
In the meanwhile, the attendant deputed inside the pavilion finished his two-hour shift and called out, “I have finished my shift. Another should replace me.” Qiran spoke up, “I waited to relieve you. You may go now as I am on duty.” After the attendant left, Qiran stepped inside and stood behind Hoshiar, fanning him with a kerchief.
In the meanwhile, Zargham and Jansoz also disguised themselves and headed for Hoshiar’s camp. However, they did not pay much attention to the water-carriers sprinkling the camp at that unusual hour. As a result, the moment they entered the ground marked by the magic water they fell unconscious.
Hoshiar had secretly deputed sorcerers inside the ring to alert him if they saw anyone fall unconscious. They carried Zargham and Jansoz before him. Hoshiar recited a spell and blew on the tricksters, which made their disguises evaporate. Seeing their changed faces, he realized they were tricksters. He said to himself, By the grace of Lord Sameri, I have two tricksters in my clutches. He tied them to the pavilion posts and resumed drinking, all the while he continued giving the magic water to the water-carriers.
By now, Amar also arrived near Hoshiar’s camp. Noticing the water-carriers, he turned and went in another direction. He came upon a water-carrier who sat eating in his small tent. Amar changed his disguise to a water-carrier’s and tied a waistcloth made of coarse red cotton, hung the water-carrier’s belt around his neck and tied a turban, one end of which he wrapped around his neck. Amar tied water bowls and fastened the belt, slung the waterskin over his shoulder and, holding it in the manner of an old hand, went and greeted the water-carrier.
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