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Romance,
Historical,
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brother. For he discovered that he had no wish to remain in Samarkand where everything he looked upon reminded him of the treachery of the woman he had loved.
And so, as silently as he had left it, Shazaman returned to the caravan and departed with the vizier the following morning without ever revealing to the vizier what had transpired. They traveled together for many miles until at last they reached Shahrayar’s palace. Ah! How joyful was the reunion of the brothers!
But it did not take long for Shahrayar to realize that a profound melancholy had settled upon his brother. Though he would converse on any topic Shahrayar wished, Shazaman neither laughed nor smiled. Nothing seemed to delight him. But when Shahrayar pressed to know what was wrong, his brother begged him to change the subject.
In this manner many weeks went by until the time drew near for Shazaman’s departure. Still trying to shake his brother from his melancholy, Shahrayar arranged a great hunt, a thing that Shazaman had always enjoyed above all others. But when the time came for the hunt to begin, Shazaman begged his brother to go without him. No words Shahrayar could say altered his brother’s decision to stay behind, and so at last, he obeyed Shazaman’s wishes and set forth without him.
Now, since the night he had discovered his wife’s treachery, Shazaman had not slept. For it was in the night that he had discovered there was more to his life than his eyes had been able to perceive, and so he feared to close them.
And so, on a night much like the one on which Shazaman had uncovered the plot aimed at his own heart, he discovered one aimed at his brother’s. For Shahrayar’s wife, too, did conspire against him, to deprive him of his life and set another in his place— both in his bed and on his throne.
Shazaman was filled with anger when he heard his brother’s wife plotting against him, yet his heart was also strangely filled with joy. For now he understood that it was not he, alone, who could be deceived. All men could be blinded by their faith in the women they loved. Thus reasoned Shazaman. And so he cast off his melancholy and waited for his brother’s return. But he kept a close eye on Shahrayar’s wife and her lover.
Great was the rejoicing in the city at the king’s safe return! And great was the change Shahrayar beheld in his brother. Before, Shazaman’s countenance had been dull and downcast. Now it shone so brightly it dazzled all who looked upon him. At dinner that evening as they sat at their ease, Shahrayar said to his brother, “When I departed, you were as the ray of a lamp shielded by a hand—Shuttered and shrouded. Now, no brightness can outshine you. What has brought about so great a transformation? I pray you, tell me.”
At Shahrayar’s words, Shazaman’s expression dimmed. “Ask me anything but that, my brother. For my answer will bring you a grief as great as that which I have lately known—a thing I cannot wish upon you. Therefore, let us find another topic.”
But Shahrayar was not to be dissuaded. Over and over he urged his brother to unburden his heart. And so at last, Shazaman related all that had lately befallen him: How he discovered the treachery of his wife, and what he had done about it. Great was Shahrayar’s sympathy when he heard his brother’s story.
“Now I understand your unhappiness!” he cried. “But this story does not explain why you have lately set aside your grief. Surely some other tale must follow.”
“It does,” replied Shazaman.’! know you have the ears to hear it, but have you the stomach and the heart, Shahrayar?”
“As we are both the sons of our father, I do,” Shahrayar answered steadily, though the truth was that he was beginning to feel alarmed.
“Then hear me, and grieve also,” said Shazaman. At that, he related what he had lately overheard concerning Shahrayar’s own wife. How she, too, had taken a lover, and how she plotted to kill her husband and set