The Storyteller's Daughter (19 page)

In the still hour just before dawn, when all the world holds its breath, fearing that this may be the day when the sun fails in its promise to return once more, Shahrazad grew so weary that she lay down upon the cold stones of the tower—just as Shahrayar had done before her not so very long ago. And as she did, she relinquished her struggle, just as he had relinquished his heart. And as she did, a thing happened that she did not expect, for she saw what her heart contained for the very first time. And what she saw was this: She loved Shahrayar—heart and body, mind and soul.

She did this knowing full well that he might not love her. For now she also understood a thing she had not before: The words the first queen had uttered before her death had been a curse indeed, for they had spoken only that Shahrayar must find a woman who could know his heart truly and be unafraid to have her own heart known. Nothing had she said of love. But with her words she had placed the fear of love over Shahrayar’s head, even as she had kindled the desire for it in his heart. And in this she had shown that she knew her husband well. For he had come to fear nothing save the things she had planted within him: Not death or mischance, but betrayal and unrequited love.

When she understood this, Shahrazad understood the time of her destiny had truly come. So she got up and washed her face, tidied her garments as best she could, and went to stand once more upon the balcony, her blind eyes toward where the sun would come. For she did not doubt that it would reappear.

And so the second brother found her, will set, demeanor calm. And thus it was his heart that quailed as he led her down the long stairs to the great audience hall. His heart, not Shahrazad’s. All the way, the second brother searched his mind to find the flaw in the plans that had been laid, but could discover none. But neither could he shake the feeling that with every step he took, events were slipping by him like the current of a river, moving faster and faster until they were beyond his control.

“Where do you take me?” asked Shahrazad.

“To the great audience hall,” the second brother answered. And as he spoke, they arrived, the doors were thrown open, and they passed inside. Down the long length of the hall they walked, through a room thronged with as many people as had witnessed Shahrazad’s marriage to Shahrayar.

Long had the brothers argued over this, but in the end, the king’s will had won. For he wanted many eyes to see what was about to take place, to witness Shahrazad condemn herself and Shahrayar. In this way he hoped report might make him blameless in their deaths and proclaim this fact both far and wide. Both common people and courtiers had the king brought together so that all might perceive how great his power was.

“Let the prisoners be brought forth,” he commanded when Shahrazad had been led in and made to kneel before his throne.

At this, a great gong sounded, and all those who had been imprisoned since the king had come to power were led forth, including Shahrayar. But he had been kept in so dark and terrible a place that none who looked upon the prisoners recognized Shahrayar for who he was. At the sight of those who had been imprisoned, a murmur swelled up from among the ranks of observers in the hall, for many of the prisoners stumbled, as if their limbs had lost the sense of movement. Matted, filthy hair hung down over their faces, masking their features. At the early morning light streaming into the hall, some cried out and covered their eyes. Much as they longed to see the sun, they could not do it. They had been kept in the dark too long.

The king waited until the prisoners had halted and the hall had grown silent before he spoke once more.

“Look well on what befalls all who would stand against me,” he said. “Lest their fate be yours. Let the lady Shahrazad rise and stand before the prisoners.”

At this, another murmur of wonder arose from the prisoners themselves, for none knew why they had been brought, let alone that their fate might involve Shahrazad.  The mention of her name provoked such turmoil in Shahrayar’s breast that he took his hands down from his face so that he might see her, though his eyes could hardly bear the light.

“Hear now the trial that you must face,” the usurper told Shahrazad. “It has come to our ears that you are steeped in magic, and I will not suffer a sorceress to live among us. For your life, there can be no reprieve. Whatever follows, you must die. But I will give you a chance to do a great good before you breathe no more.”

Here he paused. All knew this much already, except for the prisoners, who were hearing it for the very first time.

“If, neither by word nor touch nor any other sign, you can find your husband among these prisoners, I will spare his life, though he must live out the remainder of his days in exile.”

At this, many assembled within the hall cried out in joy. But Shahrazad was not among them.
Liar!
she thought, for since coming into the chamber, she had discovered an amazing thing: Having learned to see her own heart truly, she could now see other men’s as well. And so she saw the blackness of the usurper’s heart and knew he would not keep his word.

I
am like the water bearer’s daughter,
Shahrazad thought. And as she realized this, she almost laughed aloud. Had not the water bearer’s daughter triumphed in the end, though she had faced an impossible trial? I
thought the story was for Shahrayar. But now I see that I was wrong. It was for me, that I might remember to have both purity of heart and strength of mind.

“What say you, Lady?’ the king asked. “Are you content to undergo this trial?’

“No, I am not content,” Shahrazad answered. “For who can be content to undergo a tyrant’s trial? But I will submit, for I greatly desire to spare my husbands life.”

“You must find him first,” the king reminded her. “Let us see what your blind eyes can do.” And then he laughed, and the sound was cruel.

So Shahrazad began her trial. Three times she paced before the line of prisoners seeking to know what was in each man’s heart. In this way she saw much that gave her hope. In only one heart did she find a thing that brought her grief. And so at last, her footsteps halted before the man who stood in the very center, the others stretching around beyond him in equal measure on both sides. Even so was Shahrayar still balanced between light and dark.

“This man is Shahrayar, my husband, and true king of this land,” she said, and her voice was the only sound in the great hall. Tears began to stream down her face, unchecked.

“Let your second queen now break the curse the first laid upon you in bitterness and anger,” she went on. “I have seen your heart, and I know it does not love me. But I will do what I must and so be unafraid to have my own heart known. Look upon me then, and see what my heart holds for you. Only then will the curse be broken.”

At these words, Shahrayar began to tremble, a thing that caused him shame, for he did not yet see this for what it was: Hope, rising up. His heart, yearning to break free.

“I am afraid,” he said in a voice for her ears only. “I am afraid to look, Shahrazad.”

“And I am afraid to let you see,’’ she answered, her voice low.  “But if you don’t, then she has won, and her brothers with her. Is that what you want? Remember the tale I told you when the sun shone upon us, and take heart.”

At this, Shahrayar became more steady, for he thought he caught a glimpse of the direction that she was going.

“I will,” he said. And he did a thing that only Shahrazad understood. He closed his eyes. For suddenly he remembered the way in which the water bearer’s daughter had given herself over to the sea to find her treasure. Even so, he gave himself over to thoughts of Shahrazad. With his eyes closed, he could no longer see her as she stood before him. And so he looked to find her within himself.

A thousand images seemed to fill him, all of them dazzling. There was no deceit or darkness in her. She was filled with light. She could not have betrayed him as he had feared. And so realizing, Shahrayar suddenly perceived the thing that he had hidden from himself for so long: his heart. For it was from this place that all his beautiful visions came. It was no longer stone, but flesh and blood. And realizing this, he was no longer afraid to gaze into the heart of Shahrazad. He opened his eyes. Straight into her heart, he looked. And there he found himself. For he dwelt in her heart as she in his.

But even as joy filled him like clear water poured into a crystal flask, Shahrayar knew a great fear also. For he remembered Shahrazad’s words. She had looked into his heart but not found love. And so he reached for her, taking her hands in his, not noticing the way the people all around them cried out.

“You think you have seen my heart, but that cannot be, for I have only just discovered what it holds. Look again, Shahrazad. Then tell me what you see.”

And she looked, and answered, “Love.”

At this, a great ray of sun burst into the hall and illuminated her face. Shahrazad cried out and covered her eyes. Suddenly realizing what had happened, Shahrayar gave a great shout and took her into his arms. Only then did he perceive that a great commotion raged all about them.

“Seize them!” the usurper was shouting from his throne. “They have broken rules of the trial! Neither by word nor touch could Shahrazad find out her husband. Let them be seized and put to death at once!

But now a thing happened that none expected. Most of the rest of the prisoners cast off their filthy robes to reveal themselves ready for battle, for they were armed. Swiftly, they formed a protective circle around Shahrayar and Shahrazad.

“Not while I still live,” one said.

And from the ranks of the observers in the hall a voice called out, “See! It is Shazaman!”

At this, a great cry of joy went up from the people, common folk and courtiers alike. For they perceived that Shazaman had come to his brother’s aid at last, and if he prevailed, all might be free of the tyrant’s yoke.

Still, things might have gone ill, for the hall was filled with many soldiers who were even now drawing their swords. But before blood could be shed, Shahrayar himself stepped forward.

“Hear me!” he said in a great ringing voice, and at the sound of it, the soldiers stayed their swords. “A great choice is in your hands,” Shahrayar said. “By your deeds will the heart of our nation arise once more or fall.

“Think! Look into your hearts as I have looked into mine. Will you live in darkness or in light? For which you will have depends on what is in your hearts as much as what is in the heart of the one who sits upon the throne. But this, I think you know already. Choose swiftly, then, strike hard, and make every stroke count.”

For a moment nothing happened, and it seemed to Shahrazad that the entire hall was filled with figures made of stone. Then two things happened, both at once. The leader of the soldiers stepped forward just as the usurper himself unsheathed his sword.

“The first one of you to make a move toward him in friendship, I will slay myself.”

“No!”

At the sound of Shahrazad’s voice, all turned to her in astonishment. The protective ring around her parted, and she moved to stand beside Shahrayar.

“Let no blood be shed,” she entreated. “For I can see into the hearts of all here as well as I can see into my own. Therefore I say to the usurper: It will do no good to fight, for you can never win. The hearts of the people belong to King Shahrayar.”

At this, a great shout went up: “Shahrayar! King Shahrayar!”

But the usurper was so far gone, no words of reason could reach him. “Brothers! To me!” he cried. Not one of them moved, for those loyal to Shazaman had them in their power. And so it was ‘Ajib who stepped forward, all alone. It had been his voice that first proclaimed Shazaman’s presence. It had been his plan that had smuggled Shazaman, the vizier, and those whom they most trusted into the palace to aid Shahrayar. For he had seen that a small force might prevail where a larger one would not.

“I am your brother,” said ‘Ajib.”Though I do not think you called to me. Hear now what I proclaim to all. I will serve you no longer. Instead I offer my sword to King Shahrayar. The true king and his heirs, now and forever will I serve, and may my deeds wash away the dishonor that has stained our house.”

“Traitor!” the usurper shouted. But when he would have sprung upon Ajib, Shazaman stepped forward and struck him down, placing his naked sword across his throat.

“Say what you wish, and I shall make it happen,” he told ‘Ajib. “I will be your brother, if you wish his life.”

“No, do not kill him,” ‘Ajib said. “For I think it will be worse for him if he stays alive. His own greed and jealousy will eat him up. But gladly will I take you for my brother, for these others I here disown.”

“Then you must take me for a brother also,” said Shahrayar. At this, ‘Ajib knelt at Shahrayar’s feet and wept, even as soldiers hauled his former brothers away.

“Forgive me!” he cried.

“There is nothing to forgive,” Shahrayar said.  “For it is already done. Come now, help to prepare our victory celebration. You know your way about the kitchens, I think?’

‘Ajib laughed as he rose to his feet.  “I  do. But first let us see about a bath for you, my lord.”

And in this way were Shahrayar and Shahrazad united in truest love and Shahrayar restored to his throne. And all without a single drop of blood being spilled upon that day, for of bloodshed there had been enough.

And so it was that Shahrayar came into his own again, a better and wiser man and therefore a better and wiser ruler than he had been before. For through his ordeal and his own trial, he had come to see the secrets of his own heart and thereby learned the way to look into the hearts of others. And also through the love he bore to Shahrazad did he learn this, for had it not been her heart that had showed him how it might be done?

For six full days celebration banquets went on throughout the kingdom, but in the great city that surrounded Shahrayar’s palace most of all. Each day new caravans arrived from Samarkand, laden with delicacies from both near and far. The best of these were distributed to the people, and the king grew daily in their love.