IT was in the closest semblance to privacy possible that Princess Ananya was presented with the contents of the fiercely guarded casket.

That semblance included five of her personal guards and her chief enchantress, the merchant Ha.s.sim as bond for his fellow travelers, the n.o.ble Lady Bhanuni, and the lady's three guards, one of whom bore the small casket literally manacled to his arms by stout iron chains. The meeting for this personal presentation had also been arranged to take place after sunset. The guard with the casket knelt and bowed his head, lifting the metal lockbox in presentation. Lady Bhanuni offered Her Highness the key and a list of instructions on its contents.

"The item within this casket is an enchanted item, Your Highness," the n.o.blewoman offered, bowing deeply. "It is, by its enchanted nature, the most precious possession His Highness could possibly offer to you. Aside from his very self, of course. The nature of the enchantment cannot harm you, and as a rea.s.surance it cannot, I have volunteered to kneel under a drawn sword while you receive it. Should it harm you in any way, my head is willingly forfeit."

"And your head, of all the heads in the Eastern lands, is forfeit because . . . ?" Princess Ananya asked, looking between the key in her hand and the lovely middle-aged woman lowering herself gracefully to her knees.

Lady Bhanuni lifted her head and smiled. "Because I am the mistress of the chambers for His Highness, and I am also here to give explanations and rea.s.surances for any questions you may have about my liege's abilities in matters of love and marriage. The proposed merger of two kingdoms is a matter for rulers and their advisors to discern, but the merger of two people is a different matter."

"I would rather you explained a bit more about this enchantment," the chief enchantress interjected as Princess Ananya blushed. "What does it do?" would rather you explained a bit more about this enchantment," the chief enchantress interjected as Princess Ananya blushed. "What does it do?"

"It, erm, links links His Highness to this prized possession. The nature of the enchantment is to key it to the touch of one hand alone, the first hand to touch it since the moment it was enchanted. And once it is keyed, it is enspelled to His Highness to this prized possession. The nature of the enchantment is to key it to the touch of one hand alone, the first hand to touch it since the moment it was enchanted. And once it is keyed, it is enspelled to animate animate the object when that hand alone is touching it," the mistress of the chambers explained. "It has been declared a death sentence by Eastern law for any hand but yours to be the first one to touch the item His Highness has sent. It is also realized that this is not the kingdom of the East, but it is hoped that you will give due consideration and honor to Prince Kavi's wishes in this matter." the object when that hand alone is touching it," the mistress of the chambers explained. "It has been declared a death sentence by Eastern law for any hand but yours to be the first one to touch the item His Highness has sent. It is also realized that this is not the kingdom of the East, but it is hoped that you will give due consideration and honor to Prince Kavi's wishes in this matter."

"We would not insult a gift of such esteem by ignoring His Highness's requested precautions, though I do not think you will need to bow your head to a drawn sword," Ananya returned politely. She lifted the key, then nodded at the wizardess at her side. "My chief enchantress will keep an eye upon this Eastern magic, of course, but I will put my trust in Prince Kavi's words, and in his desire for this alliance."

Lady Bhanuni chuckled, making Her Highness aware of her choice of words. Blushing a little, Ananya unlocked the casket still being held aloft by the Eastern soldier. She lifted the lid, peered at the contents . . . and blushed a lot. Dropping the lid, she covered her face with her hands for a moment, trying to cool the heat burning in her cheeks, then lowered them slowly. Princess Ananya had to be sure she had seen what she thought she had seen, so she lifted the lid a second time.

The contents were the same at a second glance as they had been at the first: nestled in soft red and gold brocade-some of the very same red and gold brocade she had sent to Wali Daad, who had apparently pa.s.sed it along to the Prince of the East-was a golden phallus. Every ripple, every wrinkle, every vein had been carefully crafted, making it the most realistic metal p.e.n.i.s she had ever seen. From the dimpled slit at the tip to the bulbous b.o.l.l.o.c.ks of its sack, it was a proud curve of crafted manhood.

"Er . . . and . . . I'm . . . supposed to pick this up?" she managed to ask politely, finding her voice.

"Yes, Your Highness. Once you do, it will respond to no other touch. His Highness requests that if you refuse this gift, it must be locked and returned to him utterly untouched by any other hand, for he offers this enchanted opportunity solely to you." Lady Bhanuni paused, then smiled again, though this time the smile was more puzzled than warm. "He did not say exactly why, but he did mention something about the two of you having similar tastes in many subjects, including . . . bedtime stories. I am afraid I did not understand his meaning, and he did not explain."

Blushing again, Ananya nodded. "I do understand myself, and that is enough; you need not ask why. I do accept this gift," she stated, reaching into the casket and curling her fingers around the metal, which warmed rapidly, "and thank His Highness for the great trust he displays in offering it. I shall do . . . Oh! It moved!"

Lady Bhanuni smiled. "As I said, it is enchanted." She gestured and the soldier holding the casket lowered it, offering it to the mistress of the chambers. Reaching in, the older woman plucked out the phallus. "You can see for yourself how in my hands it is nothing more than a bit of sculpted metal."

Knocking it on the side of the casket made both the iron and the gold clank clank loudly as they were struck together. All of the men in the room winced in sympathy. Unfazed, the mistress of the chambers held out the phallus to Princess Ananya, continuing her explanations. loudly as they were struck together. All of the men in the room winced in sympathy. Unfazed, the mistress of the chambers held out the phallus to Princess Ananya, continuing her explanations.

"Even when we both touch it . . . see?" she said as Ananya reached for the proffered phallus. "It is still nothing more than metal. But the moment I let go . . . it becomes as one with its progenitor-you cannot harm him by it, of course, not even if you were to place it upon an anvil and strike it with a hammer under the force of your own hands," Lady Bhanuni added in caution, "but every touch that inspires pleasure and pa.s.sion will be transmitted to him. And every response he feels through your pleasurable touches shall be displayed in return for you.

"To this end, it is strongly strongly requested by His Highness that you refrain from touching it at any point during the hours of daylight. He does have a kingdom to run, and it would not be good to startle him when you did not know he was, oh, descending a long flight of stairs, perhaps. Or sitting in judgment on a pet.i.tion brought to him by his people." requested by His Highness that you refrain from touching it at any point during the hours of daylight. He does have a kingdom to run, and it would not be good to startle him when you did not know he was, oh, descending a long flight of stairs, perhaps. Or sitting in judgment on a pet.i.tion brought to him by his people."

"Of course, of course," Princess Ananya hastily agreed, still a bit embarra.s.sed by this presentation.

She wasn't an innocent; members of the royal house were instructed in pa.s.sion as thoroughly as they were instructed in geography or riding. Her embarra.s.sment was more on Prince Kavi's behalf, to have had his manhood displayed before her watchful guards and her magical advisor, even if only through a metallic proxy. Treating it gently, she set it back into its padded casket and closed the lid. One of the other soldiers came forward with a second key, which he used to unlock the first soldier's shackles.

Ananya gestured at the box as it was set at her feet. "This is indeed a gift beyond all . . . beyond all imagining imagining. I find myself overwhelmed by His Highness's generosity and his, er, thoughtfulness."

She hesitated, then looked at her chief enchantress, who leaned in and whispered in her ear. Nodding, Ananya addressed the others.

"You may all go-and a suitable reply shall be formulated for you to return with to His Highness on our behalf, n.o.ble merchant," she told Ha.s.sim. "In the meantime, you are invited to once again enjoy all the delights of our palace. The same hospitality shall be extended for you as well, good soldiers of the East. Lady Bhanuni . . . if it would not be too much trouble, would you care to stay and answer a few more questions for me? I realize it is late, and you have traveled a long way to get here."

All of the others, save for one Western guard, bowed themselves out of the private salon serving as their audience chamber. Lady Bhanuni remained on her knees, ignoring the lingering bodyguard. "I would be honored, Your Highness. His Highness has been increasingly interested in your overtures of courtship, and-"

"My overtures of courtship?" Ananya raised her voice, catching the others as the last of them filed out of the room. "Merchant Ha.s.sim! Come back in here!" overtures of courtship?" Ananya raised her voice, catching the others as the last of them filed out of the room. "Merchant Ha.s.sim! Come back in here!"

The merchant came back promptly at her sharp command, along with another one of the Western bodyguards as an escort. He bowed his way up to her and knelt. "Yes, Your Highness? You wish something of me?"

"Did you, or did you not, bring these these bracelets to me on behalf of Prince Kavi?" Ananya asked, lifting her wrists. bracelets to me on behalf of Prince Kavi?" Ananya asked, lifting her wrists.

Ha.s.sim blushed, scratched briefly at his beard, and finally shrugged. "Not exactly, Your Highness . . ."

"Not exactly?" Princess Ananya repeated, arching one dark brow. "What does that mean? Were these bracelets not made by Prince Kavi's own royal jeweler, as you have claimed?"

Ha.s.sim bowed his head, choosing his words carefully. "I brought them to you, as I said, at the behest of Wali Daad. He decided in his wisdom that you deserved them, and he requested they be made by the finest jewel crafter I knew . . . which happened to be the artisan Pramesh, who was appointed royal jewel crafter to the Prince of the East just over two years ago."

"So these came from Wali Daad, and no other. Not Not in any way or shape from His Highness of the East. And the silks and brocades and the cloth-of-gold I sent back to him?" she asked, flipping open the lid of the casket at her feet. Ha.s.sim glanced at the contents of the box out of reflex, then quickly looked away, flushing. "This very same gold-woven silk was among the bolts I sent back with you to this Wali Daad as a thank-you gift for the generosity and thoughtfulness of these bracelets I wear. How did this cloth come to be in the possession of the Prince of the East?" in any way or shape from His Highness of the East. And the silks and brocades and the cloth-of-gold I sent back to him?" she asked, flipping open the lid of the casket at her feet. Ha.s.sim glanced at the contents of the box out of reflex, then quickly looked away, flushing. "This very same gold-woven silk was among the bolts I sent back with you to this Wali Daad as a thank-you gift for the generosity and thoughtfulness of these bracelets I wear. How did this cloth come to be in the possession of the Prince of the East?"

Ha.s.sim shrugged. "Wali Daad decreed they were too fine for himself to wear, and selected Prince Kavi as the most suitable recipient. Just as he felt you should be adorned so that your outsides match your insides, he thought such fine cloth should adorn such a fine man."

"And the horses?" she asked.

"They were a gift from Prince Kavi to Wali Daad as a thank-you for his generosity for sending such fine fabrics to him," Ha.s.sim admitted.

"But were they a gift meant for Wali Daad or a gift meant for me?" Ananya quizzed him.

"They were a gift meant for Wali Daad," Ha.s.sim confessed. "But in his wisdom-"

Ananya held up her palms, cutting him off mid-explanation. "Yes, yes; I am beginning to see his machinations. It is not His Highness who started this offer of negotiations between our two lands and this . . . this courtship courtship between our two selves, but this Wali Daad who instigated it instead. This is between our two selves, but this Wali Daad who instigated it instead. This is his his courtship decision and not His Highness's idea." courtship decision and not His Highness's idea."

Ha.s.sim, very nervous inside, daringly offered her a smile. "Well, yes, Your Highness. But isn't it a most wonderful idea? There have been no wars between the East and the West for three generations. Just a long span of peace intermixed with some prosperity. Yet there haven't been many changes in the treaties of the two lands to make the peoples of both realms move closer toward friendship and understanding. And there Wali Daad sat, straddling the crossroads of the border, thinking nothing of himself and only of bringing delight and happiness to all others.

"He saw the possibility of bringing you delight and happiness, Your Highness, as a reward for all the good you have done, and he seized upon the opportunity it presented," the merchant added coaxingly as she listened to him. "It is he who saw the possibility of pa.s.sing along further delight and happiness to His Highness as a more worthy recipient of your generosity . . . only to find the admirations and delights blossoming further like a flower under the spring sun. Is it such a terrible thing he has done, in pa.s.sing along these things between yourself and the Prince of the East? Or is it a good thing which even the G.o.ds in Heaven would praise and honor?"

"Not to mention, in the meantime, he has made himself a fortune off our generous replies," Ananya muttered darkly.

"Oh, no! He has not kept a single penny of any of it," Ha.s.sim quickly rea.s.sured her. "Not in all of these exchanges he has facilitated. In fact, he gave up his own pennies to have those bracelets made, a veritable fortune willingly traded away for nothing more and nothing less than the satisfaction of knowing he honored a person as worthy of it as yourself."

"Well, what of yourself? Have you not kept any of it?" Princess Ananya asked, eyeing him warily.

Ha.s.sim flushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Well . . . none of the fabrics, and none of the horses, and none of the spices and such . . . but I did keep the original camel you gifted to him, the one which bore the original shipment of cloth. At Wali Daad's insistence."

"The camel," she repeated. She spotted the smile on the face of Lady Bhanuni, half-forgotten to the side. Ananya began to see not just the absurdity of this situation, but its humor as well.

"Yes. Because I am a merchant, and it is is a camel," Ha.s.sim said, shrugging. "And because Wali Daad insisted I should take it. But all else has gone into the making of your bracelets, and the transporting of the cloth, and the herding of the horses, and the . . . the rest of it. So on and so forth. Erm . . . if you are offended, Your Highness, I a camel," Ha.s.sim said, shrugging. "And because Wali Daad insisted I should take it. But all else has gone into the making of your bracelets, and the transporting of the cloth, and the herding of the horses, and the . . . the rest of it. So on and so forth. Erm . . . if you are offended, Your Highness, I could could give you the camel back, I suppose?" give you the camel back, I suppose?"

Unable to help herself, Ananya sat back in her chair and chuckled. It became a laugh, which she half-m.u.f.fled as she turned her head and rested it in her palm, elbow propped on the armrest of her makeshift throne. "A camel . . . And a wise man who saw the wisdom in leading His Highness and me by the flattered nose to an arranged marriage."

Relieved by the way it looked like he wasn't going to be beheaded, Ha.s.sim daringly said, "If I may be so bold, Your Highness, Wali Daad merely opened the path to the possibility possibility of a marriage, just as I merely carried out his requests, as a good friend should. The two of of a marriage, just as I merely carried out his requests, as a good friend should. The two of you you decided it was a path worth walking upon. You are both wise, benevolent rulers who wish only what is best for your people, as well as yourselves. You decided to do this much more on your own." decided it was a path worth walking upon. You are both wise, benevolent rulers who wish only what is best for your people, as well as yourselves. You decided to do this much more on your own."

Princess Ananya chuckled again, unable to refute his honest a.s.sessment. "That we did, good merchant . . . that we did. You may go. And you may still enjoy the delights of my palace. Sleep well, Ha.s.sim. You have earned it."

A flick of her pearl-and-gold-clad wrist banished him and his escort from her presence. Ananya sighed and stooped. Scooping up the casket, she rose and offered her hand to the kneeling mistress of the chambers. The bodyguard, a stoutly muscled woman handpicked and trained from early youth to be able to guard a member of the Western royal family, came to attention and followed them out as Her Highness led the way.

"Come, milady," she said. "You and I shall retire to my private chambers, where you shall instruct me in all the touches His Highness likes best. And though I do not think my chief enchantress has the skill to replicate anything of an equivalent nature, I will send my master of the chambers back with you when it is time for you to return, so that he may rea.s.sure His Highness that I have had equal instruction in such matters myself."

Lady Bhanuni chuckled. "Trust me, Your Highness. If I am to teach you all that I know, His Highness will know exactly how skillful you are. Remember, if I I touch it, he will feel nothing at all. The same will not be true for you. He will feel everything you do . . . which is why I am here to help instruct you." touch it, he will feel nothing at all. The same will not be true for you. He will feel everything you do . . . which is why I am here to help instruct you."

Blushing, Princess Ananya carefully carried the casket to her rooms.

THE first touch came as he was enjoying a performance in the palace theater. The feel of warm, soft fingers encircling his shaft startled him. They shifted and squeezed a little, and it felt so real, he couldn't help but glance down. No one had a hand in his lap, though he could still feel the sensation. The phantom touches paused for a few moments, then came back as the invisible hand held him once again, then finally stopped.

Blinking, Prince Kavi returned his attention to the words and actions of the actors on the platform. Thankfully, they were in the final act of the drama. Unfortunately, they were only partway into it. No sooner had the second of three scenes begun than he felt the phantom touch of a woman's hand again. At first it was just a grasping sensation, almost like she was carrying him. Then he felt her circling his shaft with her fingertips, exploring his skin. She stroked his glans and trailed her fingers down to his sack, gently weighing each of the soft globes tucked within.

Her random explorations aroused him. He felt her sliding his foreskin back from the tip of his rod, and wondered if it really was being physically slid back. Another glance at his trousers showed his flesh beginning to strain against the brocaded fabric. Realization struck; he nudged his grand vizier, whispering for the older man to pa.s.s the word that he wanted to speak with his chief wizard.

Rising, the Northern-born man moved along the row of chairs in the royal viewing box and crouched in front of his liege, whispering, "You wished to see me, Your Highness?"

Leaning forward-grateful that he still could-Kavi whispered in his ear. "Your special spell is working very very well. Too well. Now you will do something about it." well. Too well. Now you will do something about it."

"I beg your pardon?" the chief wizard whispered back. "Do you wish me to end the enchantment, Your Highness?"

"No." The feel of the hand of Princess Ananya-given the instructions he had sent with his envoys, it could be no other-was too seductive to give up just yet. "I need you to cast an illusion upon my clothes so that I may stand up at the end of this play with my dignity still intact."

"Ah." Mouth curling up in amus.e.m.e.nt, the chief wizard bowed his head. "Of course, Your Highness. And tomorrow, I should have an amulet ready for you to wear which will keep the illusion going. Even if I have to work all night to enspell it."

"Thank you." Keeping his chin up, Kavi watched the play as the mage chanted quietly over his lap. A slight tingle was the only proof the magic had worked. The chief wizard bowed and returned quietly to his seat, leaving Prince Kavi to enjoy the rest of the play. Or at least the appearance he was enjoying the play.

It wasn't the daring flash of swordplay between the hero and the villain in the historical drama that made him suck in a sharp breath. It happened because he felt a soft pair of lips press themselves to his skin, followed by the lapping of a warm, damp tongue. A glance down at his trousers showed them in their normal, slightly loose fit, but he knew his shaft was engorged enough to rise from his lap. He could even feel the fabric straining with the pressure of his arousal. But most of all, he could feel her lips and her tongue, and the slightest, lightest sc.r.a.pe of her teeth.

The one thing that helped him keep his sanity was how sometimes his shaft would go numb to sensations, and other times it would be tapped and prodded and touched gently, without much in the way of pleasure . . . only to be followed shortly by more deliberately experimental touches. I do believe Lady Bhanuni is giving Her Highness . . . Ah! Exquisite instruction I do believe Lady Bhanuni is giving Her Highness . . . Ah! Exquisite instruction, he thought. Sweat seeped onto his brow, making him grateful there weren't any oil lamps lit beyond the ones focused on the stage. If I didn't have a public image to maintain, and didn't want to disappoint or insult the performers, I would leave . . . Oh, Heaven! Oh, Heaven help me . . . If I didn't have a public image to maintain, and didn't want to disappoint or insult the performers, I would leave . . . Oh, Heaven! Oh, Heaven help me . . .

She was sucking on his sack. His own had a thick dusting of dark hairs, but his phallus did not, allowing the soft, mobile lips of the Flower of the West to draw upon first one, then the other of his royal jewels without impediment. Oh, G.o.ddess . . . I finally see a reason to shave down there . . . OH! Oh, G.o.ddess . . . I finally see a reason to shave down there . . . OH!

A ripple of her fingers on his shaft, coupled with those lips, coaxed the milk of his loins up and out unexpectedly. Fingers clenching the armrests of his chair, throat locked tight against the need to shout, Kavi endured his climax in silence. He wanted to relax as the euphoria ebbed, but she was still touching touching him with her unseen hands, still keeping him aroused. him with her unseen hands, still keeping him aroused.

The play came to its end, but Prince Kavi didn't hear or see it. Only the applause of his court woke him to the fact that something had happened. Sweating, aware that he had to stand up and walk away, he glanced quickly at his lap before putting his hands together. Everything seemed seemed normal, thankfully. normal, thankfully.

That was good, because he felt more like he had been fitted with the bowsprit of a sailing ship. Rising, he managed to make a few comments about the play being good and being willing to see it again another time. Such as when he wasn't hypersensitive to the fact that Her Highness was now rubbing the tip of his phallus between her soft, wet, crinkly-haired netherlips.

Somehow, he got to his feet. Somehow, he walked serenely-if stiffly-out of the performance hall. Somehow, he made it all the way back to his private chambers, where a curt order and a flick of his hand dismissed everyone from his presence. And somehow, he walked all the way to his bed, which he couldn't really see, and dropped onto it. Faceup, of course, because there was no way in Heaven or h.e.l.l that he was going to break the spell-hidden shaft Her Highness was now enthusiastically sliding in and out of her slick, enchantment-distanced heat.

She was torturing him and didn't even know it. Unable to control her touches, to guide her and advise her, Kavi was rendered helpless by her enthusiastic exploration of whatever pleased her her. Because it pleased him too much, to the point where his body wanted release, but his brain longed too much for more of her unwitting torments.

Her thrusts became more rapid, more erratic. He felt her flesh constricting around his shaft, then felt the pulses of her pleasure as she shuddered. Only then did he, too, shudder, letting his body loose itself like an arrow from a bow. In the privacy of his quarters, Prince Kavi let himself tense and release without restraint, panting and groaning openly with satisfaction. As his own pleasure ebbed, he felt her tongue flicking along his shaft and draped an arm over his eyes.

Part of him wondered if he should call the creator of his enchanted phallus into his chambers to end the spell. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. After a moment, he realized that he was now being rubbed by her fingers and what felt like a warm, damp cloth. A few moments after that, blessed numbness came back as he felt her replace his phallus in its strongbox, leaving him with only the tangible, real sensation of his exhausted shaft nested on his belly, coc.o.o.ned in a pool of its own juices and the silk of the trousers clinging because of it.

Arm still draped over his eyes, Kavi wondered if he was insane, because the larger part of him didn't didn't want to end the enchantment. Mouth quirking at his own perverseness, he set his mind to the task of merging their two kingdoms quickly, so that he could merge their two bodies all the sooner-the rest of their two bodies, to be specific. want to end the enchantment. Mouth quirking at his own perverseness, he set his mind to the task of merging their two kingdoms quickly, so that he could merge their two bodies all the sooner-the rest of their two bodies, to be specific.

NEVER had Wali Daad seen so many couriers riding back and forth between the road to the East and the road to the West. For three months, couriers and messengers and officials of all sorts rode back and forth, carrying with them all number of proposed laws, ordinances, and suggestions for comingling the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the East and the West. And the word from the caravans that pa.s.sed back and forth said that the people of both nations were quite happy with the proposed merger.

A part of him was pleased he had started all of this, but the aging gra.s.s cutter was also kept very busy. The dry season was coming, and with so many more animals being sent back and forth by their riders and handlers, it was all he could do to keep up with the demands of each day and still store enough hay for the long wait for the rains of the next monsoon season.

Indeed, he had taken to leaving a sign, scratched on a sc.r.a.p of wood with a nail, for people to help themselves to the hay he laid out in the troughs twice and three times a day, and to leave pennies in the jar under the sign. He had no choice; he needed to spend most of his time out in the fields, cutting and bundling the long stalks of gra.s.s, rather than trotting back and forth to tend to the various couriers. His visitors were generous, often leaving him more pennies than the hay was worth, but that was all right. Wali Daad had plenty of empty s.p.a.ce beneath his trapdoor.

It was late when he returned one day to his little thatched cottage, with the sun beginning to set in the west. Wali Daad found an exhausted horse nibbling tiredly at the hay left in one of the wooden troughs, with the mare's tack resting on the ground and no sign of her owner. Confused, the gra.s.s cutter pulled on the latch-string of his door, only to find his home already occupied by a very frazzled, shadowed, worried-looking Ha.s.sim.

Wali Daad immediately fetched his cups and the pitcher of well water waiting for him. "Please sit, my friend. It must be a very grave concern to have brought you all this way in such a great hurry. Is something wrong with your caravan?"

"No! No . . . Business is . . . business . . . Oh, Wali Daad, a terrible thing is about to happen! I ran away from Her Highness, and I suppose from His Highness, too-and they will be here here in just a day or two!" Ha.s.sim babbled, wringing his hands together. "Oh, Wali Daad, what are we going to do?" in just a day or two!" Ha.s.sim babbled, wringing his hands together. "Oh, Wali Daad, what are we going to do?"

Blinking, Wali Daad took his pacing friend by the elbow and guided him into a chair. "Please, sit. If I am to understand what has happened, you must calm yourself. Sit and drink. Eat, my friend," he added, fetching the loaf of bread waiting for his supper, along with some strips of dried fish and slices of dried fruit. "You must rest, then you will think more clearly."

"Yes . . . yes . . ." Seated, the merchant nibbled on the offered food, his brown eyes still a bit wide and a little unfocused. Only after Wali Daad had refilled his cup did he focus them again. "They want," he announced with a disturbing solemnity, "to hold the marriage . . . here. here."

Wali Daad blinked again, unsure he had heard his friend correctly. "Here? At the crossroads?"

"In the home of the inestimable Wali Daad," Ha.s.sim corrected gravely. "They are on their way here here, right now. I let it slip that you lived at the crossroads here at the border, but they think you live a little ways off, perhaps a little to the north." He flung up the hand not holding on to his cup in a wordless gesture of disbelief. "I was to guide Her Highness there-here-with all of her entourage, and then go east and meet up with His Highness and all of his his entourage, and bring them all to the home of the wisest man in the world, the great Wali Daad! They are expecting a man who lives in a mansion, and they wish to be married in your magnificent gardens!" entourage, and bring them all to the home of the wisest man in the world, the great Wali Daad! They are expecting a man who lives in a mansion, and they wish to be married in your magnificent gardens!"

"And so you ran away?" Wali Daad asked, wanting clarification on that point. He could barely think about the rest of his friend's news as it was.

"I escaped two nights ago on the road, just took my mare and left, riding as fast as I could to warn you. They want to meet you-they insist insist that they meet you," Ha.s.sim corrected himself, "and they want that they meet you," Ha.s.sim corrected himself, "and they want your your blessing upon the union of their two lands and the union of their two selves! Her Highness knows now that it was blessing upon the union of their two lands and the union of their two selves! Her Highness knows now that it was your your idea, not His Highness's idea, to send the bracelets one way and then the silks the other. idea, not His Highness's idea, to send the bracelets one way and then the silks the other.

"I do not know if she told His Highness or not, but the one thing I have not not revealed is that you are a gra.s.s cutter and that you live in a hut! Well, a cottage," he amended, dazed and distractible in his distress. "It does have a floor . . . I do not know what we are going to do, my friend. I honestly do not know!" revealed is that you are a gra.s.s cutter and that you live in a hut! Well, a cottage," he amended, dazed and distractible in his distress. "It does have a floor . . . I do not know what we are going to do, my friend. I honestly do not know!"

Silence stretched between them. Outside, Wali Daad heard the mare nickering softly. He rose from his seat and patted his friend on the shoulder. "I will tend to your mare. You rest and continue to eat. Somehow, we will figure out what to do. If they truly want my blessing, then they will have it, if if they still want it once we have met . . . though they may only have my fields of half-mown hay for their wedding garden." they still want it once we have met . . . though they may only have my fields of half-mown hay for their wedding garden."

Ha.s.sim covered the gra.s.s cutter's hand with one of his own for a moment, then dropped his forehead into his palm. Leaving the merchant inside, Wali Daad filled a bucket with water and led the mare to his hay shed, already three-quarters full with dusty, sweet-smelling bundles of gra.s.s. He found an old currying brush and stroked the mare's hide, trying to think of what to do about the approaching wedding parties.

I am a simple man . . . I know nothing of pleasure gardens, nor did I ever think I should want to, he thought as he groomed the tired animal. he thought as he groomed the tired animal. And yet that is what these people are expecting to find. And yet that is what these people are expecting to find. Stars were beginning to glimmer in the darkening sky. Wali Daad looked up at the jewels they made, and prayed. Stars were beginning to glimmer in the darkening sky. Wali Daad looked up at the jewels they made, and prayed.

Heaven . . . all of Heaven . . . if there is any way to give these people what they want, show me the path to it and I will walk it for them. But I am a simple man. I cannot craft miracles like a G.o.d! All I can ask is that You open the hearts of these women and men so that they they see the beauty that I see whenever I wander through my home . . . and soften their hearts so that they do not take offense at being match-made and kingdom-wed by a lowly gra.s.s cutter. see the beauty that I see whenever I wander through my home . . . and soften their hearts so that they do not take offense at being match-made and kingdom-wed by a lowly gra.s.s cutter.

All I wanted was to do something nice nice, to give a gift to someone who deserved it, he thought wearily.

He gave the mare one last pat and made sure she had the bucket of water close at hand, before leaving her tied up for the night. Having fetched her tack on the way back to the house, Wali Daad carried it inside. He would offer Ha.s.sim his own pallet for the night, since his friend had ridden off without a bedroll, and Wali Daad would sleep on the floor. It would make him stiff, since he was in his late sixties, but not much more so than these long days of cutting enough hay already made him feel.

"MASTER Wali Daad . . . It is time for you to awaken, Master. Oh, Wali Daad . . ."

Snuggling deeper into the cloudlike softness of his bed, Wali Daad grumbled and tried to ignore the quiet, lilting voice bothering him. The touch of a soft, cool palm against his cheek snapped his eyes open . . . and the sight of the arm and body attached to that hand did more to banish the urge to sleep than lighting a fire under his chin would have. That hand, and that arm, belonged to the body of a slender woman wrapped in a bright blue and purple sari studded with more than enough silver to match the ornate jewelry woven into her neatly braided hair.

"Good morning, Master Wali Daad! You have awakened just in time," the young woman-well, in her late twenties, which was quite young compared to him-told him as he sat up. "Your bath has been readied and your clothing laid out. Once you are dressed and have dined on your breakfast, you will be ready to receive Their Highnesses's outriders."

Wali Daad was too busy staring at the opulent splendor of the chamber surrounding him to make much sense of her words. Carved marble had replaced the ordinary river stone of his cottage, and exotic woods now occupied the simple lumber beams which had once defined his home. Not to mention silk curtains, embroidered cushions, gilded paintings, and brightly colored bits of gla.s.s lining the five-five-windows to north. Five stained-gla.s.s windows showing a view of the crossroads from higher up than he had ever seen before, when he normally had just one, simple, wooden-shuttered opening down on a solitary, single floor.

"I . . . I do not understand. Where am I?" he asked as the young woman coaxed him out of bed by the hand, revealing how someone had clad him in soft, white silk garments instead of his age-stained, familiar linens. "What has happened to my home?"

The woman smiled, releasing his hand. Pressing her palms together, she bowed to him. "I am a deva, Wali Daad. Heaven has heard the prayer of your heart and granted you a home worthy of it."