Tales to Sheheradazee

[ewayneself]

Sheheradazee is Akbar's horse. When they ride alone, Akbar tells stories to the horse. This thread will collect them.


Sheheradazee, I tell you now a tale of Abizad, the camel thief. For the talk of the Hybsili and their love for daring acts brings it to mind.

For rich Sheikh Hilim, Abizad had long been like a rock in the sandal. Many were Sheikh's attempts to capture or kill Abizad, but always he escaped, like a fox from a snare.

But even the blind vulture will finally land on a carcass. And rich Sheikh Hilim's many henchmen finally caught clever Abizad.

The Sheikh very much desired to kill Abizad. But his thirst for riches was ever greater than his thirst for blood. And he knew very well Abizad's canny ways.

So the Shiekh made a deal with Abizad.

A day's ride to the south was Wadi K'lia, a beautiful oasis guarded by a terrible and powerful Djinni. This Djinni rarely appeared in his true form. But when he did, he wore a huge nose-ring of solid gold--a treasure like the camels on a thousand hills.

This treasure was the Sheikh's fondest desire, so he bid Abizad to fetch it for him, in return for his freedom.

It was deadly to step foot in the oasis, and nearly impossible to see the nosering, for the Djinni would appear as an animal, unrecognized, sneak into a man's tent, and kill him in the night, never showing his true form at all.

Twenty of the Sheikh's men were sent along, to keep Abizad from running away. They waited at the edge of the Oasis, while Abizad snuck into the shadey places.

First, the Djinni appeard to Abizad as a monkey, but Abizad was not fooled. Abizad spoke to him, saying: "You are not truly a monkey, for you are far to wise."

Then the Djinni appeared to Abizad as a snake. Again, Abizad saw through the disguise and spoke to the Djinni, saying: "You are not truly a snake, for you are far to handsome."

Then the Djinni appeared as a tortoise. Again, Abizad was not fooled. He spoke to the Djinni, saying: "You are not truly a turtle, for you are too clever."

Flattered by the words of Abizad, the Djinni deigned to appear in his true form. He appeared above the waters of the oasis, massive as a cloud, his hair like lightning, his voice like a whirlwind, his feet like a charging horde.

"Why do you come to my home, little man?", said the Djinni.

"Oh great and merciful one," he replied, trembling. "I come to take from you your nose-ring, for I must, or Sheikh Hilim will put me to my death!"

The Djinni considered this. He was no friend of the ridiculous Sheikh. If this little camel theif was as clever as he seemed, he should live to torment the Sheikh once more.

So the Djinni tested Abizad, saying:

Abizad, you may take my nosering back to the Sheikh, if you answer this riddle. If you do not answer it, I will kill you where you stand:

I have no arms.
I have many hands.
I have one head.
I have many bodies.
I have no mouths.
I have many lips.
What am I?

Abizad grinned. He answered the riddle immediately.

The Djinni kept his word, and soon Abizad stood before Sheikh Hilim with the huge nosering held in both hands.

The Sheikh was surprised, but happy to have the treasure. "How did you do it, Abizad?", he asked.

"I answered a riddle", Abizad repliled.

Then Abizad repeated the riddle to the Sheikh.

The Sheikh pondered a moment. "It is a tough riddle. What is the answer?"

Abizad said, "The answer is: a good harem."

The Sheikh said, "How did you guess?"

Abizad said, "The answer was fresh in my mind, for I was with yours three days ago."



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[darrenhfx]

Heh nice