These things made his home a popular resting point for many a caravan, though there wasn't much of anything else here to entice people to settle this far from a town. No orchards, no gardens, just the river, the gra.s.s, the house, and the well. But he had enough customers to pay for his simple needs, and enough left over to tuck his unspent pennies into the cache in the floor.

Which would not shut.

"Too many pennies," Wali Daad muttered aloud. "I have too many pennies. I don't even need them! I just kept putting them in there because that was what Mother and Father would do. What am I to do with them?"

He tried closing the door one more time, but it jutted up a tiny bit, enough to be noticeable. It wasn't that he needed the money, but he didn't want some pa.s.sing traveler to notice the uneven floorboards and think to attack and rob him. He liked his simple life, but he was no fool. Sighing, Wali Daad took out the coins he had just put in, plus a few more, and closed the trapdoor. Once it was flush with the floor, he dragged the table back into place, rearranged the chairs just so, and took the coins over to the barrel of rice. Lifting the lid, he dropped the pennies onto the grains, sighed at the copper brown blotches they made on the tan and white kernels, and sealed the barrel again.

Something had to be done with his money. Something good, Something good, Wali Daad thought. Wali Daad thought. Something . . . well, not something for me, but something for someone else. The only questions are what should I do, and for whom? Something . . . well, not something for me, but something for someone else. The only questions are what should I do, and for whom? Wali Daad stared around his simple home, with its simple needs, and couldn't think of a thing. Wali Daad stared around his simple home, with its simple needs, and couldn't think of a thing.

Noise in the distance made him discard his thought. Noise meant travelers, and travelers usually meant a need for water and hay. Sighing again, the gra.s.s cutter stepped outside. Coming up the road from the West Kingdom was a caravan of twenty horses and fifty camels. Their leader was a man with a blue-dyed turban wrapped around his head and a green and white striped aba, the loose but comfortable traveling robe of the Westerners.

"Ah! Ha.s.sim! Ha.s.sim! Ha.s.sim! Welcome back, Ha.s.sim!" Clapping his hands together in delight, Wali Daad lifted and shook them over his head in acknowledgment that he saw his Northern-born merchant friend coming, then hurried to fetch his wheelbarrow and head for the hay shed. He loaded up his barrow with several bundles of gra.s.s, then brought them out to the long wooden troughs that served his caravan customers as mangers. By the time he had brought half a dozen loads of gra.s.s to the troughs, the caravan handlers had already sorted out their charges and were pulling water up from the well, pouring it by the bucketful into the long stone troughs for both man and beast to have a drink. Welcome back, Ha.s.sim!" Clapping his hands together in delight, Wali Daad lifted and shook them over his head in acknowledgment that he saw his Northern-born merchant friend coming, then hurried to fetch his wheelbarrow and head for the hay shed. He loaded up his barrow with several bundles of gra.s.s, then brought them out to the long wooden troughs that served his caravan customers as mangers. By the time he had brought half a dozen loads of gra.s.s to the troughs, the caravan handlers had already sorted out their charges and were pulling water up from the well, pouring it by the bucketful into the long stone troughs for both man and beast to have a drink.

"Good evening, Wali Daad, and good fortune to you!" Ha.s.sim called out, hurrying to clasp arms with the gra.s.s cutter.

His robes weren't plain linen, but fine cotton from the Eastern lands, which were further trimmed with bits of silk from the Western ones, proof of how his merchanting travels had allowed him to prosper. He had bracelets on his wrists and brooches on his riding boots, and a necklace of rare red coral strung around his throat. Even his beard was waxed and perfumed, forming a curly point as was currently popular in the Eastern lands. But for all of his finery, Ha.s.sim greeted the simply clad Wali Daad as an equal and a friend, for he had long been a merchant who visited the gra.s.s cutter's resting point.

"Good fortune indeed," Wali Daad agreed as they clasped forearms, thinking briefly of his collection of too many pennies, "and better fortune still to you! Come, drink, eat, and feed your animals my finest, fresh-culled gra.s.s!"

"A delight, as always," the merchant master replied, grinning at his old friend. "No journey from west to east or from east to west is ever complete without a visit to your house. How have you been, this last month and a half?"

"Quite good; the sun has not been too hot, the rain has not been too heavy . . ." By chance, Wali Daad's gaze fell upon one of his friend's bracelets. It was crafted from bronze with inlays of silver, and quite lovely. Tucking his arm around the merchant's shoulders, Wali Daad guided him toward the cottage. "Ha.s.sim, my dear friend . . . I have a request to make of you. Would you accept the hospitality of my humble home, and hear of my problem?"

"It would be my honor to listen, and my privilege if there is anything I can do to help you," Ha.s.sim agreed readily. Pausing just long enough to give his caravan handlers their instructions, Ha.s.sim left them to feed and water their beasts. Accompanying Wali Daad into his home, he accepted the mug of water Wali Daad offered, and the bit of bread with a little pot of ghi ghi for dipping. Once the matter of hospitality had been attended to, Ha.s.sim spoke again. "So, my old friend. What troubles you?" for dipping. Once the matter of hospitality had been attended to, Ha.s.sim spoke again. "So, my old friend. What troubles you?"

"You are an honest merchant, my friend. Every caravan master from the East to the West, and even to the mountains in the North, speaks of how honest and honorable you are. I consider myself privileged to be considered your friend," Wali Daad stated.

"And that you are," Ha.s.sim agreed, bowing his turbaned head. "Your praise humbles me, coming from a man as honorable and wise as yourself. How can I a.s.sist you?"

"It is because of your honesty that I wish to ask a great favor of you," Wali Daad stated.

"Name it, and if it is in my power, I shall do it," Ha.s.sim agreed immediately. "What is this favor?"

Wali Daad rose and approached his rice barrel. Opening the lid, he reached inside and extracted the pennies he had dropped in there earlier. "It is a simple thing. You see, I have too many pennies."

Ha.s.sim eyed the eight or nine small coins in the older man's work-callused hand and blinked. "I'm not sure I understand."

"I have a hiding place," Wali Daad explained, returning to his seat at the table. "And I have too many pennies to fit into it. These are the ones that would not fit. I live a simple life, with simple needs, and simple expenses. I do not need so many pennies as I have saved over the years, and I would like to do something with them. But I did not know what, until I saw you."

"What did you have in mind?" Ha.s.sim asked, intrigued.

"I would like you to take my pennies to a jeweler. The best of the ones you know," Wali Daad stated. "I want you to take my pennies to this jeweler and have him make the most beautiful bracelet he can, given the money he will receive-and for your trouble, I would like you to keep a hundred pennies for yourself," Wali Daad added. "Would you be willing to do this task for me, my friend?"

"I had thought when you first asked that I would be given a difficult task," Ha.s.sim said, chuckling. "But this! This is an easy easy thing. There is a very fine jeweler I know in the East; in fact, he is the royal jeweler to Prince Kavi himself. As I am already headed eastward, your request is a simple enough matter. I will take your pennies to him, let him create whatever he may while I carry out my business, then pick it up again when it is time for me to come back. So! Tonight we shall count out your pennies and put them in my strongest coffers, and I shall treat you to the cooking of my best chef, and we shall pay for several more bundles of your best gra.s.s, to start replacing what you are about to spend. Or would you prefer to add them to your order?" thing. There is a very fine jeweler I know in the East; in fact, he is the royal jeweler to Prince Kavi himself. As I am already headed eastward, your request is a simple enough matter. I will take your pennies to him, let him create whatever he may while I carry out my business, then pick it up again when it is time for me to come back. So! Tonight we shall count out your pennies and put them in my strongest coffers, and I shall treat you to the cooking of my best chef, and we shall pay for several more bundles of your best gra.s.s, to start replacing what you are about to spend. Or would you prefer to add them to your order?"

Wali Daad chuckled and shook his head. "I should probably keep a few, in case my grinding stone should break, or I should need a new fishing hook, or one of my scythes should break. But only a few, as my needs are simple, and my life is quite happy for it."

"Then we shall save out a few, and tomorrow I shall take the rest of your too many pennies with me to the Kingdom of the East, along with your request for the finest bracelet the jeweler Pramesh can possibly make. Are we agreed?" Ha.s.sim asked, holding out his palm.

"We are agreed," Wali Daad said, clasping hands with his merchant friend. "Come, let us move the table," he added quietly, "and I shall show you my problem of too many pennies."

Ha.s.sim raised his brows, but obligingly moved his chair out of the way and helped shift the modest table. His brows rose a second time when Wali Daad lifted up a section of floor . . . and rose so high they all but disappeared under the edge of his turban the moment he saw the large opening stuffed full of copper coins. "I see see . . . You . . . You do do have too many pennies, my friend. I shall have a struggle to find enough room in my coffers to carry even half of this wealth." have too many pennies, my friend. I shall have a struggle to find enough room in my coffers to carry even half of this wealth."

"Well, I cannot keep it here any longer. I am left putting pennies into my rice, and I should not like to mistake coin for corn in my porridge on the wrong sleepy morning. This jeweler, Pramesh, will have a very fine commission headed his way," Wali Daad agreed, closing the trapdoor. "And I want every single penny I send with you to be spent on this bracelet he is to make. The finest bracelet my pennies could possibly buy."

"I will consult with him personally on the matter," Ha.s.sim promised, "and I shall not return until the bracelet is perfection itself."

THREE months later, when the summer sun blazed very hot and high in the sky, when the gra.s.s which had been so green just a season before was now yellow and brittle, Wali Daad spotted the green and white aba of his merchant friend at the head of the caravan coming up along the eastern road. The deep blue cloth coiled around Ha.s.sim's head had been replaced with a pale blue one, soaked with water as well as sweat in the effort to keep its wearer cool.

This time, Wali Daad hurried to lift buckets of water into the stone troughs first, for man and beast were undoubtedly parched. Though the river in the distance was low from the lack of rain, the well had been dug down deep and provided cool, clean water for his visitors to drink. This time, the caravan handlers unpacked their tents for much-needed shade as the very first thing, setting them up before the gra.s.s cutter had finished distributing dry but still green gra.s.s into the wooden troughs.

This time, when Ha.s.sim followed Wali Daad to his small cottage, the merchant was carrying a stout, iron-bound box. Once the door was shut and bread and water had been shared, Ha.s.sim centered the box on the table, unlocked it with a key from his pouch, and turned it to face his gra.s.s cutter friend.

"Here it is, my friend. You not only had a handful more pennies than you could fit into your hiding hole, you had a handful more pennies than a single horse could comfortably carry. So when I brought them all to Pramesh the jeweler, he made not one bracelet, but two two. As perfectly matched as he could make," Ha.s.sim related, nodding at the casket. "You will not find better outside of a royal palace, I'll wager."

When Wali Daad just sat there, Ha.s.sim gestured at the lid.

"Well? Go on! Open it and see what all your hard labor and careful savings have bought you. Every penny has been accounted for, I a.s.sure you. Even the hundred you would have given me has gone to buy this casket to help keep them further safe for you. Open it, and wear your new bracelets in good health and great fortune!"

Wali Daad lifted the lid and stared at the contents for a long, long moment. Then he smiled and shook his head slowly, carefully closing the lid again. "Your generosity and friendship warms me more than any hearth fire could during the coldest of monsoons, my friend. But I did not buy these bracelets for myself. I thank you deeply for the trouble you have gone to on my behalf . . . but I must task your generosity with one more request."

Puzzled, Ha.s.sim scratched the side of his waxed and pointed beard. "Another request? I would be pleased to fulfill it, if again it is within my power but . . . What request?"

"Bracelets of such incomparable beauty are not meant for a man like me. I live a simple life, and I am blessed with deep contentment by it, as you know," Wali Daad told his friend. "When I saw your bracelets on your last visit, I knew what I could do with my money . . . but it wasn't really my my money, for I had no use for it. Do you see?" money, for I had no use for it. Do you see?"

"Well, no . . . but you and I have different things in our lives which give us satisfaction. For you, it is living a simple life, watering and feeding the caravans who pa.s.s by your house day after day, year after year," Ha.s.sim said. "For me, it is bringing news and new items to distant lands, to delight, entertain, brighten, and ease the lives of others. I love to travel, and I love to make a good bargain. Though I would not care to live your life, I do respect it, for it brings you happiness. So if you say this is so, I shall believe it for you, though it is not something I would believe for myself."

Wali Daad bowed his head. "Thank you. As I said, since I did not need it, I felt the money was not mine, so how could bracelets made with that money also be mine? No, my friend . . . as you do do travel so extensively, and meet so many people, what I need now from you is a name. In specific, the name of a woman of incomparable intellect and virtue, a woman of great wisdom and compa.s.sion. A woman as beautiful in her mind and soul as these bracelets clearly are." travel so extensively, and meet so many people, what I need now from you is a name. In specific, the name of a woman of incomparable intellect and virtue, a woman of great wisdom and compa.s.sion. A woman as beautiful in her mind and soul as these bracelets clearly are."

Ha.s.sim blinked. He hadn't expected that question. While it is true that Wali Daad is an elderly man, of an age where most men are grand-fathers, While it is true that Wali Daad is an elderly man, of an age where most men are grand-fathers, he thought, he thought, I suppose even a man who lives a simple life could be interested in courting a woman . . . I suppose even a man who lives a simple life could be interested in courting a woman . . .

"Uh . . . the greatest woman who comes to my mind is the Princess Ananya, she who rules the West Kingdom. She is young-young enough to be your granddaughter-but her youth is tempered by a great maturity of mind, and a youthful wife is a good thing, if the man is still healthy. If your, er, sap can still rise to bedew her flower, I suppose suppose she, or a woman like her, could bear your . . . You are blushing?" she, or a woman like her, could bear your . . . You are blushing?"

Wali Daad quickly shook his head, lifting his hands for emphasis. "No! No, no . . . I am healthy, yes, but I do not wish to take a wife! What woman of great learning and wisdom would want to live as a mere gra.s.s cutter's wife? No, her knowledge and her compa.s.sion are best used where they are, serving the people she rules. I simply wish you to take these beautiful bracelets and give them to her as a gift. Tell her they come from an admirer for her wisdom and her worthiness, and that she should be adorned on her outside in a manner befitting her inside.

"I am a simple man," Wali Daad repeated, touching the unbleached linen covering his chest, faintly stained by years of wear and toil. "I wear simple clothes, for they are suitable to my life. But you are a fine merchant, and wear fine things to rea.s.sure people of your prosperity, which speaks in silent eloquence of the good deals you have to offer. How much more should a woman of incomparable virtue and enlightenment be adorned? Please, take these bracelets to Her Highness with my compliments and my purely spiritual spiritual admiration. I am too old and my life too content for anything more." admiration. I am too old and my life too content for anything more."

Nodding, not quite understanding but getting a glimpse of what his friend meant, Ha.s.sim turned the casket around, locked it again, and promised to take it to the capital of the West Kingdom, since that was conveniently where he was headed next.

BOWING low with every step, Ha.s.sim entered the audience chamber of Her Royal Highness Princess Ananya, Flower of the Land and Light of the West. Such obsequience was more than what protocol demanded, but he could not help himself. Next to the opulence and riches of this palace, the visual delights of the carvings and the paintings, the gilding and draperies, the aural delights of songbirds and sweetly placed string instruments, the olfactory nirvana of a thousand flowers in riotous bloom, he felt as if his life were as simple as Wali Daad's.

"Ha.s.sim the Trader, caravan master of the Northlands," the master of ceremonies announced, rapping his staff on one of the sections of pattern-tiled marble floor not covered in thick, ornately woven rugs. "Ha.s.sim comes before Your Highness with a gift of admiration and esteem."

Ha.s.sim, so busy bowing and bobbing, was startled by a soft, feminine chuckle as gentle as water babbling down a brook.

"Come and rise, good trader," the woman bid him. He lifted his head cautiously and found himself staring at a youngish woman clad in cloth of gold embroidered in bright hues and st.i.tched with precious jewels. Her dark hair was draped with creamy gold pearls, and her dark eyes gleamed with good humor. The curve of her lips was a graceful, friendly curve, like a hunter's bow that had been strung but not nocked with an arrow. "I would not have a traveler such as yourself lose his way in an excess of politeness, nor allow him to trip and injure himself. Lift your head and be the man you are, and honor me by it."

Blushing at her praise, embarra.s.sed by his overwhelmed awkwardness, Ha.s.sim straightened, gave one last hasty bow, and lifted the casket that had been tucked under his arm, presenting it to her.

"I . . . Your Highness is most gracious to receive a humble merchant such as myself. I come on behalf of Wali Daad, who wishes for me to present to you this gift of beauty, which until now I thought was incomparable. But now that I have met you in person, I know that it is is comparable, and I am afraid it now seems flawed . . ." Aware he was babbling-for while her nose was ever so slightly crooked, the warmth of her spirit made her look like a deva-angel to him-Ha.s.sim struggled to remember his message. "Wali Daad sends you this gift, which was made by the hands of Prince Kavi of the East Kingdom himself-I mean, by the comparable, and I am afraid it now seems flawed . . ." Aware he was babbling-for while her nose was ever so slightly crooked, the warmth of her spirit made her look like a deva-angel to him-Ha.s.sim struggled to remember his message. "Wali Daad sends you this gift, which was made by the hands of Prince Kavi of the East Kingdom himself-I mean, by the royal jeweler royal jeweler of Prince Kavi, by the jeweler Pramesh, he who crafts all the adornments of His Highness's court. It was made by His Highness's jeweler." of Prince Kavi, by the jeweler Pramesh, he who crafts all the adornments of His Highness's court. It was made by His Highness's jeweler."

Princess Ananya blinked. "It . . . was made by the jeweler who serves Prince Kavi of the East?"

"Yes," Ha.s.sim agreed, relieved he hadn't made too much a fool of himself.

"The name of the jeweler is Pramesh?" she asked.

"Yes, Your Highness," he confirmed.

"Then who is this Wali Daad?" Princess Ananya inquired.

"The wisest man I know," Ha.s.sim told her. Then he quickly bowed, in case his bluntness was offensive. He fumbled for the key to the casket and unlocked it as he spoke. "It was requested that these be given to the most wonderful woman in the world. A woman of high intellect and compa.s.sion, of n.o.ble virtue and great wisdom. We immediately thought of you, Your Highness-Wali Daad said that only a woman whose inner beauty exceeded all outer expectations could possibly be worthy of these bracelets, commissioned and crafted by the royal jeweler's own hands. Indeed, Prince Kavi himself could not have owned a more beautiful pair, and so he wanted you you to have them." to have them."

Opening the lid, he displayed the bracelets. Her Highness drew in a sharp, startled breath. Ha.s.sim blushed, but this time with pride, not fumbled embarra.s.sment. Even the guards and servants attending Her Highness stared wonderingly at the contents. Wrought from the finest filigree gold, the finger-length cuffs had been encrusted with tiny pearls, each no bigger than a lentil in size and all carefully matched in color so that they formed zigzagging bands of pale blue and pale pink, creamy gold and silvery gray. Each cuff mirrored the other, so that one could tell left from right, but such was the selection and the craftsmanship that it was the only discernible difference between the two bracelets.

"Ohhh . . . these are are beautiful," Princess Ananya whispered. Gently removing them from the silk-lined casket, she turned them over and over, examining them reverently. "You say His Highness wishes them to go to a woman as beautiful on the inside as these are on the outside?" beautiful," Princess Ananya whispered. Gently removing them from the silk-lined casket, she turned them over and over, examining them reverently. "You say His Highness wishes them to go to a woman as beautiful on the inside as these are on the outside?"

"Uh . . ." Not quite sure how to correct the ruler of a nation, Ha.s.sim shrugged helplessly. "After consulting with Wali Daad-who is the wisest man I know-he said they should go to a woman as beautiful on the inside as these gems are on the outside. Without any doubt, that woman is you, Your Highness. Your people sing your praises more about your compa.s.sion and your skillful management of this land than they do of your face. Having seen you for myself, I can say that you have the face of a deva on earth, yet it still cannot match all the good things for which you are renowned."

Gently caressing the pearls, Ananya smiled. She even blushed, her tanned cheeks taking on a charming rosy hue. "Such a beautiful compliment should not go unanswered . . . Chamberlain?"

"Yes, Your Highness?" a man clad in crimson silks asked, stepping forward from the side of the chamber and giving her a deep bow.

"Give this good merchant a camel to take back with him to his patron, a camel laden with the finest weavings of the West. Silks, brocades, and even a length of our best cloth-of-gold, all of it from the looms of our royal weavers. As a token of esteem for this wisest man in the world, that he should name me me the most beautiful woman solely for what lies within, not merely what is seen without. Good merchant, pa.s.s along my gift to this Wali Daad, along with my thanks to His Highness, and His Highness's jeweler, for the crafting of these bracelets," Princess Ananya added formally. "When I wear them, I shall think fondly of the men of the East, and the great skill and wisdom they possess." the most beautiful woman solely for what lies within, not merely what is seen without. Good merchant, pa.s.s along my gift to this Wali Daad, along with my thanks to His Highness, and His Highness's jeweler, for the crafting of these bracelets," Princess Ananya added formally. "When I wear them, I shall think fondly of the men of the East, and the great skill and wisdom they possess."

Bowing deeply, knowing when he was dismissed, Ha.s.sim bobbed his way back out of her audience chamber. I have been to the palace of the West, and I have seen the most beautiful woman in the world . . . and I shall live to tell the tale! I have been to the palace of the West, and I have seen the most beautiful woman in the world . . . and I shall live to tell the tale!

A thought crossed his mind as he straightened outside the chamber and let the guards who had escorted him into the hall of the princess now return him to the main courtyard. But . . . if Wali Daad did not want all of those pennies, and he did not want those beautiful bracelets . . . what will he think of a camel laden with the finest silks and brocades that are woven in the Western lands? But . . . if Wali Daad did not want all of those pennies, and he did not want those beautiful bracelets . . . what will he think of a camel laden with the finest silks and brocades that are woven in the Western lands?

WALI Daad stared at the camel. He stared at the bolts of fabric being unloaded by the caravan handlers, silks in more brightly dyed shades than a rainbow had hues, fancifully woven fabrics, and even a carefully folded length of cloth-of-gold. All of it contrasted against the st.u.r.dy linens and cottons worn by most of the caravan crew, who were busy with the task of watering and feeding their animals. The monsoon rains had come over a month ago, leaving today a cloudy day, but enough light shone through the clouds overhead to make that cloth-of-gold gleam.

Wali Daad stared in utter dismay, until his eyes stung from staring too much.

"What am I going to do with all of this this?" he finally demanded, his voice cracking as it had not done for the last five decades. "I thank you most deeply, friend Ha.s.sim, for delivering the bracelets along with my admiration . . . but what am I going to do with all of this this? Do you you want it?" want it?"

Ha.s.sim blushed. "As much as part of me would like to say yes . . . after having seen the palace of the West and all of its wonders, I feel I have far more in common with you and your simple life, Wali Daad. Such riches are not meant for me."

"It would be payment for your many troubles on my behalf these last several months," the gra.s.s cutter pointed out.

Ha.s.sim shook his head. "No. What I do for you, I do for friendship. I am content with that. And it has not been a trouble, nor really out of my way."

"Well, if I I do not want it, and do not want it, and you you do not want it . . ." Covering his chin with a callused hand, Wali Daad thought for a long moment. Finally, an idea struck him and he snapped his fingers. "Ha.s.sim, my friend, I have another request of you, if I may . . . ?" do not want it . . ." Covering his chin with a callused hand, Wali Daad thought for a long moment. Finally, an idea struck him and he snapped his fingers. "Ha.s.sim, my friend, I have another request of you, if I may . . . ?"

The merchant stifled a groan, guessing what he was about to be asked. "As before, if it is within my power, I will gladly do it for you, Wali Daad."

"This is another easy one, my good, well-traveled friend. What," Wali Daad asked, his sun-burnished face crinkling with humor, "is the name of the wisest, bravest, smartest man in the world? A man of such virtue and honor, his exterior should be swathed in the finest cloth of the West, which is renowned for the undeniable skill of its weavers?"

Ha.s.sim didn't bother to stifle his groan. He even chuckled a moment later. "That, my friend, is an easy request to fulfill . . . as I suspect will be your following request. The bravest, wisest, most spiritually exalted man in the world is Prince Kavi, ruler and champion of the East."

Wali Daad touched the tip of his nose with the edge of his finger, grinning at his friend. "You have guessed my mind, O wise merchant. Pack up the camel when you leave, and take its contents to His Royal Highness, Champion of the East, and whatever else he may be. You may keep the camel for yourself as payment for your troubles, if you like."

Ha.s.sim nodded. "I think I shall this time, as I did not keep the hundred pennies I turned into a casket for the bracelets. A hundred pennies is as nothing to a well-traveled caravan master such as myself, but a camel . . . well, a camel camel is worth its weight in gold!" is worth its weight in gold!"

Both men laughed, and the caravan handlers sighed and started reloading the bolts of precious cloth back onto the placidly chewing beast.

THIS time, the merchant wasn't quite as overwhelmed by the lushly painted and carved halls of the royal palace of the East. They were equal in their magnificence to the halls in the palace of the West, if different in the artworks and layout, but having seen one, Ha.s.sim was now prepared for the other. He still bowed deeply as he was brought into the receiving room of His Royal Highness Prince Kavi, Champion of the East and Defender of Justice.

"Rise, good merchant," Prince Kavi ordered him before Ha.s.sim had finished kowtowing halfway across the hall. "You are no subject of mine, but a man of the North; you honor me with your bows, but they are not that necessary. Moreover, merchants share news and peace even as they share goods and coins with all the people they may encounter, and I would honor that side of your trade. Come, clasp hands with me!"

Flushing, Ha.s.sim clasped forearms with the prince, once again finding himself as tongue-tied as before. "Your Highness honors me. You are indeed as great a man as Her Highness . . . er, I mean as great a person person-I come on behalf of Wali Daad, the wisest man I know, who wishes to honor you for all of your magnificent internal qualities. The honors and virtues, the courage and compa.s.sion you hold within your heart are matched only by the wisdom and grace of Her Highness of the West."

"Your praises warm my ears, good merchant," Prince Kavi told him. "But come, you said you bring gifts?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Gesturing, Ha.s.sim motioned his five best caravan handlers forward. As he had done, they had dressed themselves in their finest robes, though their garments only made the rich bundles of fabric they brought look all the more exalted in comparison. "Wali Daad wishes to pa.s.s these fabrics along to you, which come straight from the looms of the royal weavers of Princess Ananya, Flower of the West. I bring you bolts of silk, yards of brocade, and even a length of cloth-of-gold. Wali Daad thinks that a man of such innate n.o.bility as yourself should dress his outside to match his inside, and can think of no one better to wear the finest weavings of the West than you."

Setting out the bolts, Ha.s.sim's caravaners draped the fabric over the low-backed chairs and cushions in the prince's receiving hall. Though the materials covering those cushions were already high in quality, they were from the looms of the Eastern Kingdom. The weavings of the Western lands were discernibly better.

"This is an incomparable wealth you bring me, Merchant Ha.s.sim," Prince Kavi said in praise. His dark brown eyes flicked from bolt to bolt. "A gift this fine is usually not given without expectation of a return."

"Wali Daad is not a man to ask for anything in return," Ha.s.sim a.s.serted, glad he was able to speak the truth with utter conviction. "He insists that these materials, the finest the royal weavers of Princess Ananya can produce, be brought to the wisest, most courageous, most just and capable leader in the world. Outside of Her Highness, of course, who is your equal in all ways. Knowing how much the two of you have in common, Wali Daad could think of no one better than you to be clothed in the softest silks and most intricate brocades woven in both lands. They are a gift given straight from her hands to my friend Wali Daad, and Wali Daad wishes for you in turn to benefit from them."

"He does, does he?" the prince mused.

"He insists your outsides should match your insides, Your Highness," Ha.s.sim a.s.serted. "Her Highness gave this cloth to Wali Daad to do with as he saw fit, and he saw fit to have me bring it straight to you. The only other person Wali Daad and I know who could possibly be worthy of such beauty would be Her Highness, but as they came as a gift from her hand, they could hardly be returned to her, now could they?" He shrugged eloquently.

Prince Kavi chuckled. "Indeed. A gift given with no expectation other than the honoring of one whom someone admires is indeed a true honoring. But though it comes with no expectation, I cannot let the generosity of this Wali Daad pa.s.s unanswered. You shall spend the night as a guest in my palace, and in the morning, I shall send twelve of my finest horses back with you, as a gift for this Wali Daad. A man so wise and so generous deserves equal praise and presentation. Come!" Prince Kavi added, gesturing at one of his attendants, "My valet will introduce you and your men to the delights of my bathhouse, with its steam room, its talented ma.s.seurs, and the sweetest scented anointing oils from the four corners of the world . . ."

"TWELVE horses."

"Yes, my friend."

"Twelve horses . . . for me. me."

"Yes, my friend."

"Ha.s.sim, I feed feed horses!" Wali Daad protested, throwing up his hands. "I do not horses!" Wali Daad protested, throwing up his hands. "I do not own own them! them! What What am I going to do with two magnificent, royally bred stallions and ten equally marvelous mares? Horses need exercising and tending and . . . and being put to work, either before a plow or beneath a saddle! What am am I going to do with two magnificent, royally bred stallions and ten equally marvelous mares? Horses need exercising and tending and . . . and being put to work, either before a plow or beneath a saddle! What am I I going to do with them? I cut gra.s.s all day!" going to do with them? I cut gra.s.s all day!"

Eyeing his men, who were grinning as they went about their tasks of watering and grooming the horses and camels of the caravan, Ha.s.sim coughed delicately into his hand. "Well . . . you could could always make another request . . ." always make another request . . ."