The king commanded that a grand procession be prepared, to accompany Al-Ameen on a tour among the people, proclaiming the joy of his safe return and the recovery of Princess Tati, whose heart had been healed the moment she beheld him.
The people of the Doushim set about arranging a magnificent parade, spreading festivity throughout the land. Princess Tati hastened to the old woman, showering her with gratitude. For it was she who had whispered to her, in private, that Al-Ameen would not be harmed, that he would return safe and sound. Yet the princess had spent the days in worry, troubled by the dreadful tale the vizier had told.
Al-Ameen rode beside the king of the Doushim, circling the kingdom in triumph. And the king said to him:
"I had once commanded the vizier to train you in horsemanship and the arts of war for four years, at the end of which you would prove yourself by slaying the mightiest of lions and bringing forth its heart as a token of your valor. Then would you be wed to my daughter, the princess Tati. Yet you have begun by delivering to us the heart of the greatest lion. Thus, we shall hasten your marriage to her, and this celebration you see around you is the herald of your wedding."
Al-Ameen bowed his head and replied:
"O King, the noblest companion to courage is loyalty. I wish to be as faithful as I am brave."
"And what hinders you from that?" asked the king.
"There is a debt upon me that I must repay."
"We shall settle your debt," said the king.
"My liege, the debt I bear is not of gold."
"Then what is it?"
Al-Ameen answered:
"I have two companions who departed with me on this journey. They lost their way and became separated, and I am greatly troubled for them. It would not be loyal of me to bask in such happiness while my friends languish in misery."
The king marveled at his words and loved him all the more for his spirit of faithfulness.
"Take what you need, O Ameen," said he. "Tell me, how may I aid you?"
"I desire a steed to aid me on my travels, and a sharp sword to guard me from evil."
The king declared:
"Then take Al-Toutan, the noblest of steeds, dearest to me of all I possess. It shall carry you across plains and deserts. As for swords, the hall of warriors holds many—choose as you will. But I counsel you to take Al-Bettar."
Al-Ameen thanked the king, grasped the sword, and swung it right and left. The blade hissed through the air, its edge singing of its deadly sharpness. Then he ran to Al-Toutan, leapt upon its back, seized the reins, and spurred it forth. The steed pranced and galloped, turning this way and that. Al-Ameen tested its might and found it beyond compare. The king marveled at the youth's mastery and said to those around him:
"Never have my eyes seen a rider command his steed with such skill as I see Al-Ameen upon Al-Toutan."
The old woman, standing beside the king, spoke softly:
"My lord, such is the power of the People of Light, when they ride the Horses of Light."
Al-Ameen halted before the king, thanked him for his priceless gift, and received from him provisions of food and water. He bade the king and his courtiers a warm farewell. Then, before departing on his quest to find his two friends, he whispered:
"In the name of God, upon Him I rely."
And Al-Toutan leapt forward like an arrow, racing across the land in search of Hisham and Amer.
He traveled far, passing many of the Doushim, who waved and hailed him as he rode past. At length, as he neared the border of the kingdom, the vizier spoke to the king:
"I fear for Al-Ameen, husband of Princess Tati. The journey before him is perilous. I had wished to accompany him, to guard him from harm and keep him company, that I might return to you with assurance of his safety."
The king found this a wise suggestion and permitted the vizier to follow. The vizier hastened to prepare himself, while Al-Ameen rode on swiftly.
Then, from the sky, a bird swooped down, circling him with speed. At last it perched upon the head of Al-Toutan and delivered a message bound to its leg. Al-Ameen untied it and read:
"O Ameen, the king has decreed that I accompany you on your journey. If this message has reached you, wait for me until I arrive."
Al-Ameen dismounted to rest and awaited the vizier's coming, while Al-Toutan grazed upon the grass nearby.
The vizier, approaching on horseback, concealed himself behind the brush. Seizing the chance while Al-Toutan wandered, he crept silently, captured the steed, and led it into a nearby cave. There he bound it fast, securing its reins and tying its forelegs to hinder its movement. Then he hurried back to mount his horse and rode toward Al-Ameen.
When he reached him, he greeted him warmly:
"I feared I would not catch you, and thus lose your company."
Al-Ameen told him of the bird's message, marveling at the swiftness with which it had performed its task.
The vizier said:
"This is the Jundab, a bird of great service to us in delivering urgent messages. It shall return from time to time with tidings from the king, and carry ours back to him. Come then, let us continue."
Al-Ameen rose to seek Al-Toutan, but could not find him. The vizier joined him in the search. They wandered long, until Al-Ameen despaired, sitting down with bowed head, sorrowful at the loss of his precious steed. The vizier feigned grief beside him...
The vizier turned to Al-Ameen and said:
"Come, let us continue the journey upon my steed. He is strong and swift."
But Al-Ameen replied:
"I would rather return to the king and tell him of the loss of Al-Toutan."
"Do not," the vizier urged.
"And why not?"
"Because the king would be angered, believing you unworthy of guarding the gifts of kings."
"But I would speak the truth of what befell."
"The king of the Doushim deems it an evil omen when one loses his gifts. My counsel is that we continue seeking your friends. Perhaps we shall find Al-Toutan along the way—or devise some reason to present before the king, one that will spare his wrath."
Al-Ameen consented, mounted behind the vizier, and together they rode on.
The vizier's heart swelled with triumph at having deprived Al-Ameen of Al-Toutan. He now schemed how to strip him of the sword Al-Bettar. So deep was he in his plotting that he did not at first hear Al-Ameen's voice.
"Vizier, do you hear me?"
"Yes—what did you say?"
"I was asking which road we shall take."
"Forgive me, I was absorbed in the same thought. Look—before us lie two paths. To the right, the road is strewn with hardships and perils, and I deem it blocked, leading to nothing we seek. To the left lies the northern road: broad, smooth, and open in every direction. I say we take it."
"You seem well-versed in the ways of the land," said Al-Ameen.
"Indeed. The king has often charged me with missions through the most arduous routes. I have gained much experience. Thus, I favor the northern path."
"As you will. You shall find me a steadfast companion, ready to face hardship."
The vizier was pleased by Al-Ameen's agreement—it was precisely what he desired. Urging the horse to its greatest speed, they galloped into the northern road.
Above them, a great bird, called the 'Urqāb, soared in wide circles. It followed them until they came upon a vast lake. The vizier dismounted, set his sword upon the ground, and plunged into the water to drink. Emerging, he took up his sword once more and, returning to his steed, said:
"Taste this water, Ameen—it is cool and sweet."
Al-Ameen approached, laid down his sword as the vizier had done, and entered the lake. In that moment, the vizier signaled the 'Urqāb. The bird swooped down, seized the sword in its beak, and ascended into the air. The vizier feigned cries of alarm. Al-Ameen rushed from the water and saw the bird carry his sword above the lake, then drop it into the depths, where it vanished.
Al-Ameen, distressed, turned to the vizier:
"Is there any way to recover it?"
But neither of them could swim. The vizier shook his head.
"Alas, this lake is unfathomable. There is no hope. Misfortune is upon you, for you have lost both the king's steed and now his sword as well."
Al-Ameen sat upon the ground, reflecting on what had passed.
"If ever I find Al-Toutan or Al-Bettar again, I shall never let go of their reins or hilt. This is a hard lesson, yet one I pray shall serve me well in what lies ahead."
They mounted once more and continued their way, the vizier inwardly rejoicing. For now Al-Ameen was stripped of all defense.
As they rode, the great bird descended, flying alongside them. Al-Ameen marveled, but the vizier assured him,
"It is common for these birds to gather when I visit this land."
Soon another bird appeared, flying on the other side of the horse. Then more came, one after another, until they flew in two perfect ranks, as though Al-Ameen and the vizier rode escorted by an army of winged guards.
At last a great palace rose before them. At its gates the vizier commanded Al-Ameen to dismount. In a harsh voice, filled with malice, he said:
"Wait here until I bid you enter."
He gestured to the guards, who surrounded Al-Ameen. Then the vizier entered the hall, where soldiers saluted him as he passed. Seated upon a throne at the head of the chamber, he ordered:
"Bring in Al-Ameen."
The guards dragged him in and stood him upon the carpet of judgment. The vizier summoned the executioner and turned to Al-Ameen:
"Now, we shall be rid of you. You have overstepped your place, robbed me of my rights, and ruined my life."
"I know not why you accuse me of what I have never willed nor done," Al-Ameen answered.
"You are to marry Princess Tati."
Al-Ameen realized the vizier's true intent.
"Does this anger you or gladden you? The king himself told me the whole kingdom rejoiced at this union."
"It was I who was meant to wed her! Your coming brought me naught but ruin. The king favored you above me, granting you what was mine."
"I never sought her hand. It was the king who willed it."
"Then I shall slay you. With you gone, I will wed the princess and inherit the throne upon the king's death."
"And what if the king outlives you?" asked Al-Ameen.
"That is my concern. I know well how to reach my ends."
Even as he spoke, the Jundab—the swift messenger bird—entered with a letter from the king. The vizier unfolded it and read:
From the King of the Doushim to his Vizier:Princess Tati has fallen ill after Al-Ameen's departure. Send him back to us, that she may be restored. Let him resume his quest only after.
The vizier's fury grew greater at this sign of the princess's devotion to Al-Ameen. He folded the letter and turned to him:
"You claim you never sought her hand, that it was the king's will?"
"Yes, and I spoke the truth."
"Then write it down, and I shall release you."
"I will write only the truth."
The vizier handed him pen and paper. Al-Ameen wrote:
The vizier has asked me to affirm that the King of the Doushim himself desired my marriage to his daughter, Princess Tati, and that I did not seek it of my own accord.
The vizier seized the note, then composed another letter of his own:
From the Vizier to the King of the Doushim:When I joined Al-Ameen, I found him ungrateful and dishonorable. He abandoned Al-Toutan, declaring he had no need of it. He cast away Al-Bettar into the lake. He spoke words that revealed his desire to flee and escape us. He even confessed that he cared not for marriage to the princess, but agreed only to please you, until a chance came to break free.Enclosed is a statement in his own hand to prove it. I urge you, sire, reveal his treachery to the princess that she may recover from her sickness. I keep him here, awaiting your judgment, yet I see no remedy but death.
The vizier sealed both letters and gave them to the Jundab, who soared back to the king. Meanwhile, Al-Ameen remained guarded, surrounded by soldiers, awaiting his fate.
After bidding farewell to Amin, Princess Tati sat sorrowfully in her chamber, grieving his absence. And in the moment after the Toutan departed from her, a great anxiety overcame her, for reasons she could not understand. This unease stayed with her for a long time until the Sword of Valor was cast into the lake. Then a constriction unlike any she had ever known seized her, and she began to weep without knowing why, and she remained thus for a long while. Then the princess summoned the old woman and complained of her state. The old woman looked into her eyes and said:
"Send forth the hoopoe, and he will bring you the certain news and ease your mind."
Princess Tati owned a beautiful hoopoe, which she cared for daily and played with, and the bird greatly rejoiced in her affection.
So Tati went out to the garden and called the hoopoe, then said to him:"I beg you, go swiftly and bring me news of Amin, for my worry for him is immense. Do not delay, for I have become frail and ill."
When the hoopoe heard the princess's words, he was moved by her plight and at once flew off to seek tidings, to bring her what would calm her heart, soothe her fear, and ease her sorrow.
While the hoopoe roamed here and there in search of news, the grasshopper had already reached the king and delivered the minister's letter.
When the king read it, astonishment seized him; he sprang to his feet, his face showing anger and his eyes confusion. He grieved deeply at what Amin had written with his own hand, regarding it as a grave insult, and he thought that Amin had deceived him. And here was the minister, whom he trusted, confirming in his message Amin's betrayal and his ingratitude. Then the king wrote a letter to the minister, saying:
"I have received news of the treacherous Amin. Once you receive this letter, hasten to cut off his head and bring it to me."
The king handed the letter to the grasshopper, who took it and flew off to deliver it to the minister. And as the grasshopper departed, the hoopoe was returning to the princess when he encountered him on the way. The hoopoe said to the grasshopper:
"Where are you going, O grasshopper?"
"I am going to the minister with a letter from the king."
"Perhaps you carry good news…"
"The king has commanded the beheading of Amin, for he has betrayed and deceived."
No sooner had the hoopoe heard this than he rushed to the princess and entered her chamber, urging her quickly, saying:
"O Princess, save Amin!"
"What news?"
The hoopoe hastily told her of the Toutan, and of the minister hiding him in the cave, binding him, stripping Amin of his sword, ordering the crow-bird to cast it into the lake, the minister's letter to the king, and the king's letter to the minister.
The princess was stricken and rose at once, hurrying to her father the king, and commanded the hoopoe to tell him the news.
The king was even more astonished…
But she left her father and mounted her steed, and said to the hoopoe:"Guide me to the Toutan, for he runs like the wind."
The princess followed the hoopoe until he led her to the cave where the Toutan was bound. She loosed his bonds, mounted his back, and said to the hoopoe:"Hurry and guide me, that we may reach Amin."
The Toutan sped off with her, racing the wind. And after Princess Tati had departed in such haste, the king dispatched another grasshopper to overtake the first before he reached the minister, saying:
"Catch the grasshopper who bears my letter to the minister, and delay him or prevent him from delivering it until I arrive." Then he ordered a company of strong knights to ride out after him, while he himself pursued Princess Tati.
The second grasshopper flew, striving with exhausting effort to catch the first. But much time had already passed, and when he reached him, the first was just about to enter the palace. He called to him, but the first grasshopper pressed on, intent only on fulfilling his mission, heedless of anything else. He neither listened nor understood, so occupied was he with delivering the letter.
When the second grasshopper despaired of persuading him not to deliver the message, he attacked him to hinder his movement. A fierce struggle broke out between them, but in the end the first escaped and went on to the minister, delivered the letter, and collapsed beside him from exhaustion. The second had been struck a heavy blow on the head by the first, leaving him unconscious and failing to prevent the letter from reaching the minister.
The minister broke the king's seal and read the letter. Joy of triumph shone upon him, his chest swelled with pride at the success of his plot. He cast upon Amin a look of victory, rose from his seat, and walked toward him with steps full of arrogance and conceit. His mind wandered to thoughts of the princess, of marrying her, and then the throne, imagining he would seize the kingdom itself once he devised a means to rid himself of the king.
He spoke not a word to Amin, nor even addressed him, in order to heighten his haughtiness, showing him only contempt and disdain. Then he said to the executioner in a commanding tone, brimming with confidence:
"Executioner!"
"Yes, my lord," replied the man.
"Cut off his head."
The executioner straightened, forced Amin to kneel, and was about to raise the sword to strike off his head, when Princess Tati burst through the door riding the Toutan. The beast charged the executioner, hurling him to the ground and sending his sword flying away.
The minister recoiled in shock at this unforeseen turn. Tati dismounted, seized the sword, and went quickly to Amin, who was on his knees, and loosed the bonds from his hands.
At that moment, King Dushim entered, surrounded by his knights, still mounted upon his steed. Amin approached him and greeted him, saying:"Peace be upon you, O King."
"And upon you be peace," the king replied.
Before Amin could speak, the minister's face had turned pale with fear.
The king said to the hoopoe:"Tell us what has happened."
The hoopoe recounted all the news he had gathered, while Amin listened in astonishment at what had been hidden from him of the minister's schemes.
When the hoopoe had finished, the king ordered the crow-bird to be summoned. It was brought, and the king commanded it to tell how the Sword of Valor had been taken. The crow-bird declared that the minister had ordered him to snatch the sword and throw it into the lake while Amin was drinking.
All the while Amin grew more amazed, while the minister sank deeper into collapse and pallor.
Then the king turned to Amin, asking what had passed between him and the minister. Amin recounted to the king in detail their conversations, and spoke too of his first journey, when the minister demanded he descend to wrestle lions in his earliest training in chivalry.
Now that the truth was clear and the minister's deceit, treachery, and disobedience exposed, the minister fell prostrate at the king's feet, pleading for mercy and kissing the ground before him.
But the king said:"You resolved upon a heinous crime and were about to commit it, and nothing stopped you but our arrival. You betrayed your companion in this journey, you lied to me, and you falsely accused Amin of what he had not done."
Then he summoned the executioner. Princess Tati handed him the sword that had been meant to sever Amin's head.
The king commanded the minister's execution as punishment for his deeds.
The sword flashed like lightning, and the wicked minister was struck down.
Amin looked upon all that unfolded around him, repeating to himself:
"He who draws the sword of tyranny shall be slain by it…He who draws the sword of tyranny shall be slain by it."