“Suleiman’s back?” Su’ah’s eyes ratcheted to her forehead.
Ara smiled. “Yes, he is back.” A weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Suleiman was human again. The palace was safe. Father was unharmed. All was back to normal.
Normal? Ara frowned, puzzled. Why did that bother her? Granada was a wonderful place to live, and the Alhambra the most beautiful of the beautiful. But Tahirah was leaving, and Ara didn’t know if she would ever return.
Maybe Tahirah would stay. Father had invited her, after all. She couldn’t imagine life with Tahirah gone.
At a muffled squeak from Layla, Ara turned to see a shimmer of light dance across the carpet. Su’ah gasped and sat down on the bed as the light congealed into the outline of a lion. Before their eyes, Ara’s lion slowly materialized on the red and blue carpet. Golden stars twinkled and disappeared as he solidified. Su’ah looked near to fainting, her hand on her heart.
Layla scrambled out of bed to comfort her. But Ara leapt up and threw her arms around the huge tawny beast.
“I knew you’d come back.” She buried her face in the thick mane.
The lion purred.
Ara sat upright. “What happened last night after we left? Are Suleiman and Tahirah and Father truly all right?”
The lion stretched his huge paws out until they touched Su’ah’s loom. “Suleiman identified his last lessons, stubbornness and resourcefulness. They proved useful, did they not?” He bared his teeth in a cat-like grin. “He and the sultan spoke long into the night. Suleiman finally agreed to take on the wazir’s cloak. Your father has a few bruises from routing his enemies.” He snorted, and his teeth gleamed in a grin. “The Castilians now need to barter with him for the men they lost when your father captured them last night.”
Ara nodded, “And Tahirah?”
He snorted. “She is a Sufi, restless and always on the path to spiritual awareness. Their roads are paved, not in glory, but in duty.”
He collected himself and rose, towering over her. “You are the one I call on now.”
“Me?” Ara exclaimed, thinking she must have heard wrongly.
“The power of Granada fades and that of the Christians grows. Mohammad’s tolerance of different religions is used against us. Our sultans, like your father, have been wise and kind rulers, but it is not enough. Though we have grown rich in mathematics and science, even that will not defend the walls of the Alhambra. We are not welcome here. We will be forced out eventually, back to the deserts and plains of my kind. So now it’s up to us, you and me.”
“What do you mean?”
“You and I are bonded, child. Our fates woven together from your birth.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. For each generation in the Alhambra, one child and one lion are joined. I am the last of the lions to choose a life bond.”
She sat back on her heels, startled. The lion was truly hers, connected by magic. “You chose? Father has many children. Why did you choose me?”
“In each generation there is a trait that has been necessary for the survival of Granada. A trait that is foremost in the human they bond to. In the past, my brothers’ qualities have been in much need. Justice and Wisdom have linked many times, Courage and Vigilance also. My brother Reason bonded with your father. But my nature has never been needed.” He sniffed at the flowers sitting in a vase. “Until this generation and you.”
Ara shook her head slightly, though she waited for him to continue.
Purring again, the lion licked her with his rough tongue. “You are the beginning of the end. A start of a new time. Our ways are being threatened by those with a narrowness of spirit—those with a disdain for learning, and those who fear change. Not only among the Christians but also among our own people.”
“But I’m just a girl.”
“Yes, but a curious one. And curious girls grow into women of wisdom. The lion roars, but the lioness rules. You embrace change, yet respect our culture. Let learning and peace remain part of who you are.” Silver motes danced around him as he started fading once again. “Remember.”
“What is your name?” Ara called after him, desperate. “You never told me your name.”
He grinned. “My name is Curiosity. And you, my curious friend, and those like you, are the hope for our future.”
Appendices
Glossary of Terms
Al-Andaluse, name of Islamic Spain pre-1500
Alhambra, The Red Palace. The palace of the Nazrid Kings in the Country of Granada
Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah
Allah, God
Aragon, a country north of Granada, now part of Spain
Baklava, an Arabic dessert made with nuts and honey wrapped up in a flaky dough
Bedouin, a nomadic tribe of Arabs from northern Africa
Berbers, a tribe of people from northern Africa. The only blue-eyed race of Africans
Bismillah, in the name of God
Black Death, a plague that wiped out almost a quarter of the European world around 1350
Caftan, a long tunic
Caravan, a company of merchants traveling together
Castile, a country north of Granada, now part of Spain
Childbed fever, an infection of the reproductive system following childbirth
Concubine, a status of women in the harem, not married to the sultan, who also bear his children
Court of the Lions, a courtyard in the Palace of the Court of the Lions, surrounded by rooms on every side. Twelve lions support a central fountain. The original centerpiece of the fountain is no longer there. It was removed in the 1500’s.
Crusades, multiple wars fought between the Christians and the Arabs over the holy lands
Emir, Arab prince, governor or commander
Ewer, a pitcher or container for liquids
Eunuch, a neutered male who worked in the harems
Five pillars of Islam: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving and the remembrance of God
Generalife, the summer palace of the Alhambra
Gilded Court, a courtyard in the Palace of the Myrtles
Granada, the name of the Islamic country in southern Spain between 800 and 1492. It was also the name of the capital city in the Kingdom of Granada
Hall of the Abencerrajes, room off the south side of the Court of the Lions
Hall of the Ambassadors, the throne room in the Palace of the Myrtles where the sultan received important visitors
Hall of the Kings, room on the eastern side of the Court of the Lions
Hall of the Two Sisters, room on the north side of the Court of the Lions
Harem, a protected place where the women and children lived. A cloistered environment
Hijab, veil worn by Muslim women outside of their private lodging out of modesty
Infidels, nonbelievers of the Islamic religion
Inshallah, if Allah wills
Islamic Spain, that part of Spain that was under Islamic control before 1492
Jerusalem, the holy city for three religions, Islam, Judaism and Christianity
Justice Gate, one of the four main gates of the Alhambra
Khanqa, a Sufi hospice
Mirador de Lindaraja, a room in the Alhambra (mirror of the Lindaraja) off the Hall of Two Sisters
Mohammad, the spiritual founder of the Islamic religion
Mosque, religious building for Muslims
Muezzin, the person who gives the call to prayer
Navarre, a country in Spain near the French border during the 1400’s
Nazrid, name of the family of rulers that controlled Granada during the early middle ages
Palace of the Lions, one of the palaces in the Alhambra. One hundred and twenty-four peristyles are in the courtyard
Palace of the Myrtles, one of the palaces in the Alhambra, joined together with the Palace of the Lions after the expulsion of the Muslims in 1492
Palace of the Partal, a group of buildings in the Alhambra where guests were frequently
housed
Patio de la Acequia, a beautiful courtyard in the Generalife
People of the Book, Christians
Peristyles, tall narrow columns
Prayers and when they occur: Fajr, at dawn; Zuhr, noon; Asr, midafternoon; Maghrib after sunset and Isha, right before midnight
Raptor, a bird of prey
Red Palace, the English translation of the name Alhambra
Rumi, a famous Sufi Arabic poet of the eleventh century
Saracens, a north African tribe
Scheherazade, a famous heroine of Arabic stories
Sierra Nevada, the mountain range in the south of Spain
Sitti, a female title of respect
Sufi, a mystic religious order of Islam
Sultan, a Muslim ruler or monarch
Tasbih, a necklace worn and used similar to a rosary
The Book of the Thousand and One Nights, the book of stories told through the voice of Scheherazade. Aladdin and his lamp is one of the better-known stories from the book
Toledo, a city in Castilian Spain once under Islamic control
Ululating, a high wavering sound made with the voice and tongue to indicate joy or sorrow
Vega, the great plains of southern Spain
Wazir, the office of Minister or Advisor (as in a minister of government)
Glossary of Names
Abn al-Humam, Layla’s Father, Commander of the Army and brother of the sultan
Abd al-Rahmid, Wazir
Ara, a girl of the harem. Daughter of the sultan
Dananir, fourth wife of the sultan
Enrique, son of the Lady Theresa
Fatima, Zoriah’s grandmother. One of the women living in the harem
Hasan, a young boy who lives in the harem
Lady Anna, visiting woman from the north of Spain
Lady Catalina, visiting woman from the north of Spain
Lady Theresa, visiting woman from the north of Spain
Layla, Ara’s cousin
Maryam, Layla’s mother
Rabab, Ara’s Great Aunt, who also lives in the harem
Sara, young girl in the harem
Sister Helena, nun from the north of Spain
Sister Mary, nun from the north of Spain
Su’ah, a Saracen slave
Suleiman, a palace slave who has risen to the job of harem tutor
Sultan, Muhammad VII, father of Ara
Tahirah, famous Sufi mathemagician
Thana, second wife of the sultan’s brother, Abn al-Humam
Zoriah, head wife of the sultan
Stone Lions
Loyalty
Vigilance
Justice
Wisdom
Endurance
Reason
Strength
Prudence
Discipline
Courage
Patience
Curiosity
Symmetry Summary
Band symmetry: seven symmetries that form a one-dimensional pattern (a row or band) and seventeen wallpaper symmetries (two-dimensional) have been used in art and architecture for almost as long as people have created art and architecture.
Recently, three-dimensional symmetry was discovered to be important in many areas of science; in particular, crystallography and particle science. This book is an introduction to band symmetry (one-dimensional symmetry).
There are seven possible band symmetries
1.Vertical Reflection
A symmetry family with a vertical reflection. There is no rotation and no horizontal reflection. Bilateral Symmetry is included in this group. Two of the vertical lines are shown here with arrows.
2. Horizontal Reflection
A symmetry family with a horizontal reflection. There is no rotation and no vertical reflection. The single horizontal line is shown above.
3. Double reflection
A symmetry family that has two reflections, one over a horizontal line and over a vertical line. It does rotate and it looks the same upside down as right side up. The single horizontal line plus two of many possible vertical lines of reflection are shown above.
4. Translation
An asymmetrical shape with no reflection and no rotation. It moves by translation or sliding. No vertical or horizontal lines are possible.
5. Rotation
An asymmetrical object that rotates around a point. There is no reflection. Three of the points of rotation are shown above with dots.
6. Glide reflection
An asymmetric object with a glide. No vertical mirror, does not rotate. The object glides (the triangle shows the first glide) and then reflects. The horizontal line is shown as a single glide.
7. Glide with a vertical mirror
A symmetric object (the vertical mirror) that glides. It also can be seen to rotate. The object reflects, creating the double triangle, then it glides (as shown by the double triangle) and then it reflects. The horizontal line is shown. This symmetry can also rotate. Two of the points of rotation are shown with dots.
And Four Motions
Reflection (mirror or flip), the image flips over a horizontal or vertical line
Rotation, the image turns around a fixed point
Translation (Slide), the image moves along the row one space
Glide reflection, the image moves along the row one space and then flips over a horizontal line
The Alhambra Palace
The Alhambra
Al Andalusia Circa 1390’s
About the Author
For many years, I supported myself as a systems analyst, but now I’ve focused myself as a dedicated dilettante of art.
I bake seriously and garden. Reading is my passion. I read fantasy (and any other written material put near me) and have walls of books in my house.
Not so long ago, my life centered around Morris and short sword dancing. I started writing around the time I ended my fifty bell dancing habit.
During the last fifteen years, I have belonged to SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and have been active within the group.
My golden retriever and my husband keep me active, hiking and roaming the hills.
Also by Gwen Dandridge
The Dragons' Chosen
The dragons came from beyond the Crystal Mountains, demanding a virgin sacrifice…and Princess Genevieve learns she's it when she's handed a golden token–the mark of the chosen. Genevieve accepts her fate. She must, in order to save her kingdom. But the journey to her final destiny is complicated by the arrival of Chris, a 1970s Berkeley co-ed. To Chris, the whole scenario reeks of deception. Where she comes from, corsets are for burning and virgins are hard to find. She's sure the dragons are out for more than innocent blood, but the only way to find out what they really want is to accompany Genevieve on her journey. Not what she had planned for her freshman year of college. Genevieve is duty-bound–unless Chris is right. Then her sacrifice would mean nothing. Other than woe to those who duped her...
Coming soon
The Jinn’s Jest
the second of The Stone Lions series
The Stone Lions Page 20