Shaherazade's Daughters Read online

  Shaherazade’s Daughters

  by Sameena K. Mughal

  Table of Contents

  The Healing Princess

  The Voyage of the Maid

  Fatima and the Bandits

  The Four Bewitching Sisters of Nahar

  The Jinniyah and the Warriors

  The Lady in the Crystal Chest

  Morgiana and Her Fool

  The Poet, His Wife, and His Muse

  Ezania’s Adventures in the House of Wisdom

  A Soul’s Journey – Shaherazade’s Son

  The Healing Princess

  Once upon a time in a secluded kingdom outside of Damascus, there lived a princess named Tahira who was also a healer. When the princess had taken her first steps, the sultana’s attendant had cut her hand on broken glass. Before anyone could stop her, Princess Tahira placed her hand on the wound, and with her touch, the wound closed and all traces of blood had disappeared from the woman’s hand.

  Sultan Ahmed and Sultana Shirin were baffled and also frightened by their daughter’s power. So much so, that they sent for the court physician and the caliph. The chief court physician saw nothing to give him cause for alarm, and the caliph found no bewitchment. Satisfied, the sultan and sultana now saw their daughter’s power as a gift. An astonishing and wondrous gift.

  Before long, all the nobles at court found out about The Healing Princess, as she came to be known. Whenever any of them sneezed, they came to the princess. Soon after, everyone in the kingdom came to know, and anyone with any ailment came to the princess. This continued routinely for the next few years, until Princess Tahira’s thirteenth year.

  According to the laws of the kingdom when a princess reached her thirteenth year, she had to go into seclusion. She had to be kept separate from the public behind the court zenana. The zenana was an opaque red silk screen where only outlines of forms could be seen. The sultan, sultana, and vizier all pondered over this matter.

  “Under no circumstances must the law be changed,” the sultan declared.

  “Of that we are aware, Sayedi,” the sultana replied, “but for the good of the kingdom we cannot just relegate her to the confines of the harem.”

  It was the vizier who thought of a solution.

  “Sultana, the princess must lay both hands on a person in order to heal them, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “She does not have to be gazing directly at them nor do they have to be gazing directly at her, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, we will simply have the royal tailor cut out holes in the zenana just big enough for the princess’s hands to slide through.”

  This was the manner in which the matter was decided. Princess Tahira, while in seclusion continued to heal all in the kingdom. Her routine consisted of studies and healing. She never left the palace. No princess ever left the walls of the palace.

  Although all she could want was within her grasp in her eighteenth year, the princess grew restless. She began to liken herself to the royal birds. Loved and wanted for the use and amusement of others, only to be confined to their beautiful cages.

  One evening as the moon was beginning to rise, she revealed her discontent to her attendant and confidant, Shenaz, the only soul who knew her heart.

  “Shenaz, look at the moon and how beautiful it is. The dreams she will inspire tonight!” “… That will vanish with the dawn,” she laughed.

  “How right you are,” Tahira replied with a sigh.

  “What’s the matter Princess? Is there any wish that you have that cannot or could not be fulfilled?”

  “Shenaz, do you see the royal birds in the garden?”

  “Flying dunghouses. What of them?”

  “I’m being serious. My mother takes them out. They talk to her. Sing for her. Make her laugh and smile. And what do they get in return? They get put back in their bejeweled, golden cages,” Tahira said.

  “They get food and water. They get shelter. And they don’t have to worry about getting eaten by other animals. What more could they want?” Shenaz replied.

  “To be free.”

  “Princess, are we still talking about the birds or are we talking about you?”

  “Shenaz, how am I different from the birds? I heal people. Peasant and nobleman alike come to me, and I heal them. But I can’t cure myself. I can’t cure this longing I have to be somewhere else, someone else. To just be free to see what I want and do the things that I want to do. To be free from this beautiful cage.”

  “Princess, what you have is a gift. For whatever reason, Allah chose to give you this gift. It is not for you to squander.”

  “I am not saying I don’t want this gift, and I am grateful. But I just want to breathe different air. Actually look at people directly, instead of through a piece of cloth. Maybe have someone love me for what my heart and mind can offer them, not for these hands that can cure them of their ills. I don’t expect you to understand. You were born outside this palace. You get to leave it from time to time. You’ve seen the outside world.”

  “Princess, I love you. The sultan and the sultana love you. And the outside world can be a cruel and lonely place. Be careful what you wish for. But I do understand the need to explore other things. Alas. It is always in human nature to want most what we can least likely have.”

  “And my dreams don’t vanish with the dawn. They linger long after I am awake,” Tahira sighed.

  Even before the Princess ever mentioned anything, Shenaz noticed her restlessness. Although they each knew their “places,” in their hearts they felt like sisters and knew each other’s joys as well sorrows. Shenaz wanted to help her, but she knew whatever actions that would be taken would not be received lightly and she would also be putting her own life in danger. Weeks went by as she watched the Princess’s restlessness turn into sadness. Like all servants, Shenaz could endure a great many things, but her mistress’s sadness was not one of them. So one day after weeks of contemplation and deliberation, she told the Princess of her daring plan. She found the Princess gazing at the moon, as was her usual pastime in recent weeks and said:

  “Still wishing you could fly away like the birds, Princess?”

  “Yes, Shenaz, but my wings are clipped just like those birds in the garden.”

  “What if I told you we could leave?”

  “I would close my eyes and sleep so I could have the same dream as you.”

  “Princess, I think I have found a way for us to escape.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Every fortnight, the kitchen maids go to market to buy fruits, vegetables, and meats.

  They are always covered of course and are accompanied by two eunuchs. You and I could make our escape that way.”

  “You know the eunuchs are just as bad as the girls of the harem. They’re not to be trusted.”

  “There is one to be trusted, Princess. Mustapha. He would do anything we asked. Remember?”

  “Ah. You’re right he’s a bit smarter than the rest. He’s the only one who’s realized that the only two women of the harem my father will give an ear to are myself and my mother. It would be to his advantage to have our favor,” Tahira said.

  “He also has a good heart. I’ve known him well since childhood,” Shenaz said.

  “But once he helps us he can’t come back alone. He’ll have to stay with us.”

  “Of course. Two women can’t travel alone in Damascus, and it would be dangerous for him to come back without us.”

  “Damascus! Shenaz!”

  “Quiet! Do you want to reveal everything before it even happens?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve just always wanted to go there” Tahira replied.

  “Mustapha will be in dis
guise as your brother. Or perhaps he’s better off as your sister considering he lacks the proper tools to be your brother!”

  “Shenaz!”

  “In any case, he will be your merchant brother who is also your guardian considering you are both orphans from Yemen. And I will remain your humble servant, Fatima.”

  “And I will be Perizad. And what is my brother’s name, Fatima?” she said with a smile.

  “I thought I would let him choose. A eunuch’s choices in life are rather limited as is. Let him have this.”

  “Shenaz, do you always tease him about his….state?”

  “Of course. Let him provide the service of laughter since he can’t perform other services.”

  “Shenaz!”

  So the plans were made. As luck would have it, the day that the kitchen maids chose to go to market also happened to coincide with the sultan’s evening assembly which would last until dawn. The sultana was always present with the sultan during these assemblies as well so the princess and Shenaz wouldn’t be missed until late in the afternoon. Also, during the previous evening, the princess asked to be excused from studies and healing as she was feeling rather tired. She would not be disturbed for quite awhile.

  Shenaz and the princess quietly slipped in with the rest of the kitchen maids. One of them asked Shenaz what she was doing there.

  “The princess was not well today. I thought I would take leave of the palace today.”

  “Can’t The Healing Princess heal herself?”

  “I don’t ask these things and neither should you.”

  No one took any notice of the princess as new kitchen maids came rather frequently and she was totally covered with the exception of her eyes.

  Once the maids scattered into different corners of the market, the princess, Shenaz, and Mustapha quietly slipped away to horses he managed to hide in a far corner of the market.

  “Mustapha, what did you tell the other guard?” The princess asked.

  “I told him Shenaz needed my assistance elsewhere.”

  “What’s your new name?”

  “Husam.”

  “Husam?” Shenaz asked incredulously. “You’ve chosen to call yourself sword, have you? A sword with a dull blade I would say.”

  “Shenaz, leave him! At least until we reach Damascus.”

  “It’s alright, Princess. I’ve grown used to her quips at my expense. In any case, my dear Shenaz even if my sword had a sharp blade, I wouldn’t use it on you. Excuse me, Highness.”

  “Please, brother Husam, don’t spare her on my account,” she replied with a laugh.

  When they reached the city, Princess Tahira couldn’t help but be in wondrous awe about everything. She was a bit frightened even but even that experience thrilled her because it was new. It was all new for her. The sights, the sounds, the smells. She heard old merchants arguing over the prices of goods. Mustapha and Shenaz hurried her away while she stared at two men ready to draw swords. The swirling dust was invigorating rather than stifling. She even smiled at the sight of an old drunkard in an alleyway.

  What she loved most about this concentrated chaos that was the city of Damascus was that no one noticed her. No one wanted anything from her. In this world in one instant, she was able to become anonymous. It was what she waited for her whole life, and she reveled in her new found anonymity.

  “Princess,” Mustapha said urgingly, “we must find lodgings.”

  So they rode on until they found an inn at the heart of the city where merchants and caravans mostly stayed on their rest stops. Mustapha arranged for two rooms and a meal. All of them were famished as they had not eaten anything since the day before for they dared not stop even to eat until they reached the city.

  During the meal, Princess Tahira discovered just how well-prepared Mustapha and Shenaz were. Mustapha had arranged for two spies in their kingdom as well as Damascus. The first spy relayed a message to the second spy. They were well prepared and trustworthy, according to Mustapha who would not disclose their names, not even to Shenaz. Shenaz informed her that they must not discuss their fictional histories in great detail as to avoid inconsistencies.

  “You must only reveal the basic information we discussed, Princess. We can’t get creative and have something we’ve said not coincide. We are all from Yemen. I am your servant, and Mustapha is your brother,” she said as she glanced at Mustapha mischievously.

  “Yes, Shenaz, I remember everything including our names: Husam, Fatima, and Perizad. You need not worry about any foolish mistakes on my part, my dear Shenaz. I wouldn’t want our adventure to end before it even begins,” Tahira said.

  It was during the evening meal on the second night of their escape when Shenaz and the princess dined alone and wondered where Mustapha was. They had just begun to worry when he walked in with a grave expression on his face.

  “What’s the matter?” the princess asked worriedly.

  “Well, the sultan has discovered the princess’ escape and has sent the guards to look for us which is what we expected, but something else has happened that we did not expect.”

  “What? Don’t leave us in suspense!” Shenaz cried, as she threw her napkin at Mustapha.

  “You’ve been bethrothed, Highness,” he said calmly, as he casually threw the napkin back at Shenaz.

  “To who?” Shenaz and the princess said simultaneously, looking at each other incredulously.

  “To the vizier’s son, Haroun. Your bethrothal took place during the evening assembly.”

  “Without discussing anything with me!”

  “Princess, I understand your anger, but there are many inns in this city, but I imagine the guards will reach here by tomorrow afternoon. You must both listen to me carefully if you want to avoid discovery.”

  “Now, I want to avoid discovery more than ever, Mustapha. What is your plan?”

  “The two of you will stay in town until you get word from me to come back to the inn.

  Aman that I trust will be near you at all times although you won’t know who he is, but be assured you will be safe. I will inform the innkeeper that we will be resting in our rooms as we are very tired and to please send our meals there. In our stead, there will be a man and two women that I’ve put in place. They will know how to answer any questions the guards may ask. And rest assured anyone that I have involved is to be trusted.”

  “And where will you be?” Shenaz asked, anxiously.

  “I will be safe. Don’t worry. I will send for you when they’ve gone.”

  “Take care, Mustapha.”

  The next day, The princess and Shenaz went to the marketplace in town. They bought silks and jewelry. The princess had never been to a market before so it was all very thrilling. It was even more thrilling to watch Shenaz arguing with vendors over prices. She was enthralled by the storyteller’s magnificent tales. She sat with Shenaz and ate on a bench on the edge of the marketplace and was delighted to eat among people who weren’t part of the world of the palace. She felt so free that she wondered if she ever wanted to return to the palace at all.

  As the sun started to set, a man they had never seen before and never saw again thereafter told them they could return to the inn.

  They returned to find Mustapha waiting for them outside their room.

  “I’ve told the innkeeper that we are feeling better and we will take our dinner in the main dining hall. I’ll wait for you there and inform you of this afternoon’s events.”

  When they arrived at the main dining hall, Mustapha greeted them warmly.

  “Please, sit Perizad, Fatima,” he said as he pulled chairs out for them.

  “I take it from your jovial manner that we are safe,” the princess said.

  “Yes, our impostors answered the guards very well,” Mustapha responded, very pleased with himself and his cleverly laid plans.

  “They added a few more twists to the story then even I expected. It’s quite amusing actually. The guards asked them if during their stay at the inn they talked
to any strangers, two women and a man who may have been anxious to not draw any attention or suspicion. They told them they had not, but they had run into a delightful group of two women and a man who were quiet but friendly. They said they noticed the man having some kind of cut on his hand. He seemed to have healed rather quickly.”

  Princess Tahira, Shenaz, and Mustapha were all laughing at this point.

  Through his laughter, Mustapha continued, “Then they told the guards that they overheard the man say that they would stop in Homs before going on to Aleppo. Then, our astute guards gleaned from all this that we are now on our way to Constantinople.”

  “At this rate, they’ll be in Mecca before we even decide to leave Damascus! We are no match for their cunning!” Shenaz added.

  Once the laughter at the expense of the intrepid guards subsided, the three prodigal travelers felt more relaxed. The princess once again absorbed her surroundings and started noticing the other travelers in the dining hall. They were mostly merchants, nothing unusual in Damascus. Then, she spotted a tall nobly dressed man. He had a familiarity about him that the princess couldn’t place right away. She couldn’t help noticing that he was a handsome man, and that he had such power and command in his movements that he conveyed regality. Then, she remembered.

  “Shenaz, look at that man over there. He’s a soldier in my father’s army.”

  “Princess, he’s the captain of the army. Only the captain carries the sultan’s sword,” Mustapha said.

  “He wouldn’t be here for us. The captain of the army would not be sent on this kind of errand,” Tahira said.

  “You’re right, Princess. He’s coming towards us. Both of you lower your eyes and let me do the talking,” Mustapha replied.

  “Assalaam-alaikum,” the man said to Mustapha.

  “Walaikum-salaam,” Mustapha returned.

  With that, he walked past their table to the very next one and sat. At the same time, one of the serving men brought food to the princess’s table.

  The captain glanced at their meal and asked Mustapha what they were eating. He told him and the captain said, “I’ve come after a long and tiring journey, and I prefer to have my food sooner rather than later.”