Return to Part V

Reform Begins With Structure, Not Sentiment

By this point, two explanations are no longer tenable.

• The first is that what happened can be attributed to isolated bad actors.

• The second is that acknowledging systemic failure requires condemning entire communities.

Both are comforting. Both are false. And both ensure repetition.

The systems did not malfunction. They operated as structured. They rewarded volume over verification, access over accountability, and silence over correction. Any reform that does not reverse those incentives will fail regardless of how carefully it is framed.

Oversight cannot depend on discretion, cultural interpretation, or political confidence. It must be routine, automated where possible, and applied without regard to identity. Random audits are not punishment; they are maintenance. High-trust systems survive only when inspection is expected. When scrutiny is evenly distributed, claims of targeting lose force and legitimate recipients gain protection.

Time limits must function as limits.

Welfare systems were designed as transitional mechanisms. When they operate as permanent income streams, incentives invert. Dependency stabilizes. Integration stalls. Assistance must taper predictably, with benchmarks tied to language acquisition, employment participation, and civic integration. Support that does not move is not neutral. It immobilizes.

Refugee status must reflect current conditions.

This is not moral judgment. It is definitional consistency. Refugee designation exists to address inability to return safely. When return becomes feasible, the classification no longer applies. That does not require expulsion. It requires transition—from refugee-specific benefits to standard residency frameworks. Systems built on exceptions fail when exceptions become permanent.

Public money flowed through nonprofits because growth was rewarded while accountability was optional. That incentive structure guaranteed capture. Funding must be contingent on independently verified service delivery, accurate enrollment, and demonstrable progress toward self-sufficiency. Organizations unable to document outcomes should not receive public funds. Compassion without verification does not preserve services. It dissolves them.

Internal reporting must carry protection, not penalty.

Fraud scales where whistleblowers are isolated. That dynamic must be reversed. Reporting channels must be clear, protections enforceable, and incentives aligned toward disclosure rather than concealment. Systems cannot rely solely on external enforcement when internal witnesses face asymmetric risk for honesty.

Enforcement must return to routine.

Oversight fails when it becomes symbolic, theatrical, or politicized. Effective enforcement is dull. Quiet audits. Consistent denials. Predictable consequences. The less emotional enforcement becomes, the more legitimate it is perceived to be. Stability does not require spectacle.

Reform collapses when accountability is displaced downward. No community should be scapegoated. No whistleblower should be vilified. And no institution that ignored repeated warnings can claim surprise. Incentives are set at the top. So is accountability.

This article series avoided easy villains for a reason.

What failed was not compassion or intent. It was avoidance. The choice to preserve appearances rather than correct structure. The belief that silence was safer than acknowledgment. This belief held—until arithmetic overran the narrative.

That is the lesson of the emperor’s clothes. Not that deception succeeds, but that collective pretense has a limit. Once crossed, correction becomes unavoidable and far more costly than earlier intervention would have been.

This is not an argument against aid.
It is an argument against illusion.

Systems that cannot be audited cannot endure. Aid that cannot be verified cannot be sustained. And inclusion that depends on denial collapses under its own weight.

The garments were imaginary.
The consequences are not.

What happens next is no longer a question of intention.

Return to Part IV

The Predictable Outcome of Sustained Institutional Silence

By this point, causality should be clear. What unfolded in Minnesota was not isolated opportunism or momentary lapse. It was the predictable outcome of sustained institutional silence—a silence that continued long after warnings surfaced, evidence mounted, and corrective action remained possible but was avoided.

For years, auditors, caseworkers, and program staff documented glaring anomalies in Minnesota’s child nutrition, Medicaid, housing stabilization, and autism intervention programs. Observed concerns included claims submitted for nonexistent recipients, providers billing from identical, vacant, or phantom addresses, and reimbursements claimed for services never observed or delivered. These were not concealed secrets.

They appeared in internal audits, escalated reports, and repeated notifications—yet decisive intervention stayed deferred. The barrier was not lack of knowledge. It was institutional risk calculus.

Once patterns clustered within a politically protected demographic—predominantly Somali-American networks and associated nonprofits—standard verification acquired reputational hazard. Audits were reframed as “targeting.” Routine checks became “discrimination.”

Enforcement carried professional, legal, and political risk. Inaction offered plausible deniability and career safety; action carried asymmetric cost. No explicit order to ignore was needed.

Frontline personnel learned which red flags invited scrutiny of the flag-raiser rather than the flagged claim. Supervisors learned to moderate language in reports. Agencies internalized that equity optics and access preservation carried lower institutional exposure than rigorous integrity enforcement. Politicians weighed the electoral math: probing carried accusations of prejudice with high visibility and low reward.

The outcome was systemic paralysis: near-universal awareness of the problem, paired with near-universal deferral of responsibility. Everyone assumed accountability resided elsewhere.

This silence was generative, not inert.

In tightly connected networks, word of unpunished extraction travels fast. Early instances that escape penalty signal tolerance. Tolerance encourages imitation. Imitation normalizes the practice. Over time, opportunistic fraud consolidates into coordinated, self-reinforcing operations—protected precisely because external disruption seems improbable.

Internal community controls that typically curb misconduct before authorities act also failed here. In functioning high-trust settings, group norms often constrain deviance internally. That dynamic reversed.

The personal cost of breaking silence—social ostracism, family retaliation, reputational ruin within the network—far outweighed the perceived external risk of continuing. When state-level enforcement projected hesitation or selective caution, internal deterrents evaporated. And media patterns echoed the institutional ones.

Initial coverage framed incidents as discrete episodes, detached from larger architecture. Structural connections stayed underexplored. Context narrowed. Journalists, attuned to the same reputational hazards as regulators, exercised parallel caution. The story stayed contained—until the volume rendered containment impossible.

An independent investigator documented empty buildings linked to massive reimbursements and asked a simple operational question: Where did the money go? That act disrupted the assumption that denial could persist without consequence.

Rather than prompt correction, the system attempted deflection. Scrutiny redirected toward the investigator—his methods, his phrasing, his presumed motives—rather than the multi-billion-dollar drain the exposure documented. The court did not clothe the emperor. It attempted to silence the witness.

That reflex reveals where responsibility truly lies.

Individual perpetrators committed fraud and face prosecution. In the Feeding Our Future case alone, federal authorities have charged 78 defendants—most of Somali descent—with losses exceeding $250 million; over 60 have pleaded guilty or been convicted, with additional trials pending into 2026. Broader investigations across 14 high-risk Medicaid-linked programs since 2018 have produced preliminary estimates of $18 billion in total disbursements, with half or more—potentially exceeding $9 billion—suspected fraudulent, involving coordinated billing for undelivered services, kickbacks, and diversions.

Leaders who chose narrative control over fiscal stewardship enabled the expansion. Regulators who prioritized avoidance over confrontation permitted it to compound. Agencies that valued optics over outcomes institutionalized it. Silence was neither accidental nor neutral. It was the operating condition—and the multiplier.

This matters because vigorous prosecutions, while necessary, will not break the cycle if core incentives remain unaltered. If pursuing evidence stays professionally hazardous while ignoring it remains safe, the mechanics will reproduce under new labels.

The settled fact is abuse at scale. The remaining variable is whether institutional incentives will be forcibly realigned—or whether silence will reoccupy the space until the next external breach compels acknowledgment.

Continue to Part VI

The purpose of these figures is not to establish an exact total, but to determine whether the order of magnitude is survivable. Even under materially more conservative assumptions, the structural imbalance remains.

Return to Part III

Structures Reveal Themselves Through Scale

By this point, motive no longer matters. Systems do not require intent to fail. They require arithmetic.

Fraud, when isolated, is criminal. When persistent and protected, it becomes structural. Structures reveal themselves through scale, and numbers remove intent from the argument. They do not care who meant well. Instead, they show whether a system can survive the behavior it permits.

Minnesota did not experience a scandal. It experienced an accumulated imbalance.

Let’s start with inputs.

The Somali diaspora in the United States numbers roughly 260,000 people, with approximately 108,000 in Minnesota according to recent Census estimates. Workforce participation reaches around 70 percent in Minnesota—higher than some national averages—yet average household incomes remain in the $30,000–$45,000 range. Applying a combined effective tax rate of 12–20 percent (reflecting lower brackets and state burdens), annual tax contributions from Somali households nationally remain in the hundreds of millions.

Participation in means-tested programs among Somali households in Minnesota stands unusually high. Analyses from Census-derived data place usage of at least one major program at 81 percent overall for Somali immigrant households (89 percent with children), including 73 percent with Medicaid access and 54 percent receiving SNAP. Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, childcare subsidies, SSI, and refundable credits dominate expenditures.

Conservative estimates place average annual public assistance costs near $15,000 per recipient when healthcare, housing, and tax benefits or returns are factored in. Applied to high participation rates across the population, baseline assistance exceeds $1 billion annually in Minnesota alone—before scaling nationally or adding enforcement and incarceration overhead.

This framing still understates the failure, because it treats fraud as marginal rather than multiplicative.

Federal prosecutors, led by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson in late 2025, indicated roughly $18 billion flowed through fourteen high-risk Minnesota programs since 2018, with half or more—approximately $9 billion—suspected fraudulent. This excludes standalone cases like Feeding Our Future and reflects coordinated billing for nonexistent services, kickbacks, and diversions.

Each stolen dollar reduces available aid, forces program freezes, increases borrowing, expands enforcement costs, and erodes political tolerance for the safety net itself. Minnesota froze child nutrition reimbursements statewide after oversight collapsed under abuse. Legitimate recipients absorbed the damage.

Then there are secondary losses.

Illicit funds routed abroad—often through informal remittance systems—represent permanent capital flight. That money does not circulate locally, does not generate taxable activity, and does not support domestic infrastructure. When such funds transit through regions with security risks, downstream costs emerge: intelligence operations, security spending, diplomatic pressure, and aid overhead.

Conservative estimates place these indirect costs at multiples of the direct fraud loss. A multi-billion-dollar fraud problem becomes a far larger long-term burden.

Duration compounds magnitude.

Welfare systems are designed as transitional mechanisms. Most refugee populations stabilize within a decade. Within twenty years, they are typically net contributors. This pattern holds across nearly every major resettlement cohort—except where insularity disrupts integration.

In Minnesota, data indicate persistent high dependency among Somali households well beyond ten or twenty years.

A refugee, by definition, cannot safely return. Yet travel back to Somalia occurs among Somali-Americans once citizenship allows—visiting family, investing, and conducting business.

If return is safe, the classification no longer holds. What remains is economic migration operating inside systems designed for temporary refuge. Because when policy is built on definitions and those definitions stretch, costs escalate.

No malice is required.

Only three conditions are necessary:

• High-trust systems.

• Weak or politicized enforcement.

• Internal loyalty structures that discourage reporting.

Under those constraints, abuse is rational behavior.

The system behaved as designed. Oversight failed not because warnings were absent, but because acknowledging them carried institutional risk. And the damage extends well beyond money.

It has corroded legitimacy. And legitimacy, once broken, is more expensive to restore than any program line item. Because now the taxpayer doesn’t trust the stewardship of their remittances.

Continue to Part V

Return to Part II

High-Trust Systems Are Not Self-Correcting

High-trust systems work precisely because they assume restraint. They presume that most participants will act honestly most of the time, and that deviations will be rare, detectable, and corrected. This assumption reduces friction. It lowers administrative cost, and allows generosity to scale without constant surveillance.

But high-trust systems are not self-correcting. They only remain stable when enforcement is credible. When enforcement weakens, trust does not degrade slowly. It collapses.

This is not a moral claim. It is a mechanical one.

Every system produces the behavior it rewards. When access is easy, verification is minimal, penalties are rare, and oversight is inconsistent, rational actors respond. That response does not require criminal psychology. It requires opportunity paired with low risk.

When those incentives intersect with low-trust social structures—where loyalty is inward, silence is enforced, and external authority is viewed as unreliable—the outcome is not ambiguous. It is predictable.

The issue is not that people suddenly become more dishonest. It is that honesty ceases to carry advantage, while dishonesty carries little cost. In that environment, abuse does not merely occur. It normalizes and spreads. Over time it becomes coordinated, protected, and eventually expected.

American welfare systems are designed around a specific assumption: individuals act independently. Applications are processed household by household. Oversight is program-specific. Audits are siloed. Detection focuses on individual anomalies.

Exploitation does not always follow that structure.

In low-trust environments, information moves laterally. Knowledge about loopholes circulates through family networks, community groups, and informal authorities. Techniques are shared. Risks are distributed. Responsibility is diluted. The system is not breached once. It is learned.

That is how small weaknesses become large drains.

Recent cases illustrate the scale without requiring speculation. In Massachusetts, federal prosecutors charged two men in late 2025 with trafficking nearly $7 million in SNAP benefits through coordinated storefront operations, exchanging benefits for cash and ineligible goods. This was not incidental misuse. It was organized extraction driven by skimming technology, storefront trafficking, and unified tribal groups.

Minnesota presents a more severe example. Federal investigators have estimated that billions of taxpayer dollars—potentially exceeding $9 billion according to preliminary prosecutorial figures—were diverted from programs intended for child nutrition, autism services, housing for the disabled, and Medicaid care. Nonprofits claimed services for nonexistent recipients.

Kickbacks were paid. Funds were routed elsewhere, including overseas. Warnings were raised, and then ignored. Whistleblowers faced retaliation.

Oversight failed repeatedly, and the abuse compounded.

At the national level, the pattern is consistent. The 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown charged 324 defendants, including licensed professionals, in schemes totaling more than $14.6 billion in alleged fraud. Medicare and Medicaid were primary targets, often through coordinated networks and telemedicine fronts.

Broader government estimates place annual fraud losses between $233 billion and $521 billion, with improper payments reaching into the trillions over time. SNAP fraud has reached record levels, driven by skimming technology and organized groups. Losses concentrate where volume is high and enforcement is weak.

This is where policymaking often stalls, because the implications are uncomfortable. If exploitation follows incentives, then prevention requires altering incentives. That means verification.

It also means enforcement and consequences. But those mechanisms have become politically hazardous, particularly when enforcement is caricatured as being cruel or selectively applied.

So the system adapts in the wrong direction.

Oversight is softened to avoid accusations of bias. Red flags are deprioritized to preserve access. Administrators are encouraged to meet equity benchmarks rather than outcome benchmarks.

Investigations slow. Standards blur. And eventually, institutions internalize a lesson: scrutiny is riskier than neglect.

The result is a feedback loop.

Abuse increases while oversight retreats. Programs strain or collapse, and legitimate recipients are harmed. Public trust erodes, shifting the debate toward whether the system itself is unsalvageable, rather than how it was allowed to be captured.

This is why fraud clusters geographically and socially. Not because certain populations are inherently predisposed, but because exploitation concentrates where it is safe, coordinated, and normalized. The same dynamics appear in corporate fraud, cartel-dominated regions, and insular institutions of every kind. This pattern is not cultural. It is structural.

Once established, it is difficult to reverse without confrontation. And confrontation carries cost—political, social, institutional. It requires someone to say the system is failing and to accept the fallout.

That did not happen.

Instead, warnings were reframed as prejudice. Audits were cast as hostility. Whistleblowers were sidelined, and funds continued to flow under the assumption that trust could be restored through language rather than enforcement.

It cannot.

Trust is not a sentiment. It is an outcome. It emerges when rules are clear, oversight is credible, and behavior has consequences. Remove those conditions, and trust becomes performative—invoked rhetorically, but absent operationally.

The damage is not easily undone. High-trust systems degrade quickly and recover slowly. People adapt fast to opportunities for exploitation and far more slowly to restored accountability. Once norms shift, they do not snap back.

This is why focusing on individual prosecutions alone is insufficient. If the system continues to reward the same behavior, you can punish offenders indefinitely. The system will still produce the same outcomes.

It is also why appeals to abstract compassion fail as policy. Compassion without structure subsidizes abuse. Structure without compassion becomes punitive. Stability requires both.

What we are witnessing is the predictable result of that balance collapsing. Systems designed for trust are being forced to operate without it. Acknowledging this reality is treated as moral failure rather than policy necessity.

Before arguing over totals, disputing intent, or debating rhetoric, one fact must be accepted: the outcome unfolding was not accidental. It was the logical consequence of design choices, enforcement failures, and political incentives aligning in precisely the wrong configuration.

In the next section, we will examine scale—not to claim false precision, but to understand magnitude. Because when trust collapses at scale, the costs do not remain abstract.

They compound.

Continue to Part IV

Return to Part I

The Quiet Lie

One of the quiet lies in modern immigration debates is the idea that everyone arrives with the same social software, just waiting to be updated.

They don’t.

People do not leave their past at the border. They carry the habits, incentives, and survival strategies that proved reliable where they came from. In stable, high-functioning societies, those strategies soften over generations. In unstable ones, they harden into iron rules. These patterns do not disappear on arrival. They travel.

America was built on individual accountability. Our systems rest on the assumption that a person can report wrongdoing without their family suffering reprisal, that contracts outweigh blood ties, and that loyalty to the law supersedes loyalty to kin. These premises are so deeply embedded that we almost never notice them—until the moment they fracture.

But in many parts of the world, especially where the state has never reliably protected its citizens, the primary unit of survival is not the individual.

It is the clan.

Clan-based systems are not inherently malevolent. They are adaptive responses to environments where institutions have collapsed, where police are predatory or absent, where courts offer little more than ceremony, and where survival hinges on who will stand beside you when the world turns hostile. Loyalty is enforced socially, not legally. Order is preserved internally. Outsiders are not trusted, because trust in outsiders is dangerous.

In such settings, reporting a member of your own group to authorities is not a moral act. It is betrayal—with consequences no distant government will shield you from. Silence is not corruption. It is common sense.

When people from clan-based cultures arrive in a high-trust society like the United States, they are not blank slates. They are rational actors navigating unfamiliar rules. And when those rules are unclear, inconsistently enforced, or selectively applied, people revert to what they know.

Some immigrants do something remarkable: they abandon tribal loyalty in favor of civic loyalty. They integrate, accept risk as individuals, and report wrongdoing. These people break with old structures because they perceive genuine opportunity in the new ones.

That’s why they tend to succeed—not because they are inherently superior, but because their incentives now align with the system they have entered.

Others do not make that break.

They retain clan-first loyalty, not out of malice, but out of habit and perceived necessity. They continue to see the state as something external—something to be navigated, gamed, or endured, not joined. In this mindset, government programs are not a shared social contract. They are resources to be claimed before someone else claims them.

This distinction—between integration and retained tribalism—is more predictive of outcomes than race, religion, or refugee status. It explains why fraud clusters in certain networks. It explains why silence endures even when abuse is blatant. And it explains why appeals to “community leaders” so frequently fail.

High-trust systems are fragile. They operate on the assumption that most people will not exploit loopholes—and that those who do will be reported and stopped. When that assumption collapses—when silence becomes the norm rather than the exception—abuse does not merely leak. It scales.

• From the outside, this appears as collective wrongdoing.

• From the inside, it appears as collective survival.

• These systems are not compatible with a high-trust society.

If reporting a cousin invites social exile, retaliation, or worse—and if the authorities are slow, inconsistent, or politically paralyzed—then silence is the rational choice. Over time, silence becomes complicity. Complicity becomes normalization.

This pattern is not unique to any one group. It has appeared historically in mafia networks, cartel territories, insular religious communities, and other environments where loyalty to the group overrides loyalty to the law. Wherever the group trumps the civic order, exploitation of external systems follows predictably.

What makes the current situation combustible is not that people arrived carrying these structures. It is that American institutions failed to counterbalance them.

Integration is not automatic. It requires:

• Clear expectations.

• Consistent enforcement.

• Equal application of the rules.

When those elements are absent, the path of least resistance prevails.

None of this implies that people from clan-based cultures are incapable of integration. Many have achieved it, often at considerable personal cost. It means integration must be incentivized, not assumed. And it means that pretending all silence stems from fear of prejudice—rather than fear of internal consequences—is a convenient fiction that protects institutions more than it protects people.

If this analysis feels uncomfortable, that’s because it cuts across easy narratives. It rejects both blanket condemnation and blanket absolution. It insists on treating people as rational actors responding to the incentives in front of them, rather than as symbols in someone else’s moral theater.

In the next part, we will examine what happens when a system built on trust collides with incentives that reward exploitation—and why the outcome we are witnessing was not only predictable, but repeatable.

Because before we reach numbers, politics, or reform proposals, we must be honest about how people actually behave when the rules are ambiguous and the costs are real.

Silence is not always ignorance.

Continue to Part III

What if billions in taxpayer dollars quietly vanished, and the first people to draw attention to the issue were ridiculed instead of thanked? What if no one examined why established systems suddenly and catastrophically failed?

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The story of The Emperor’s New Clothes isn’t a children’s fable. It’s a warning. And like most warnings, it only makes sense after the damage is done.

In the story, everyone can see the truth. Everyone knows the emperor is naked. But no one wants to be the first to say it. Courtiers praise the cut of the fabric. Officials admire the stitching. Advisors applaud the colors. The performance continues because admitting the reality carries a cost—and silence is safer. That is where America’s largest welfare and aid systems are now.

For years, elected officials, administrators, and advocacy groups assured the public that everything was working. That our systems were compassionate and sustainable. That fraud was rare. That concerns were exaggerated, and asking hard questions was a sign of bias, not responsibility.

Then someone spoke up—like the child in the story. Not a literal child, but an outsider with no institutional stake in the performance. He didn’t invent the problem. He didn’t uncover something invisible. He just said out loud what many people, inside government and out, already knew.

There were no clothes.

What followed was predictable. Instead of asking why obvious failures went unaddressed, attention shifted to the messenger. His tone. His motives. His errors. The debate became about his intentions and inferred prejudices. Whether every detail of his reporting was perfect was beside the point. The noise drowned out the more important questions.

That response should tell you something is very wrong.

The story that follows isn’t about one investigation, one state, or one community. It’s about unprecedented denial—and about institutions that reward appearance over accountability. It’s also about leaders who mistake silence for stability.

Because the emperor isn’t just naked. He’s dying—slowly, predictably, and by design.

His death is representative of many things wrong in America today. They all exist. And they all point to the same thing.

• Unsustainable debt.

• Unchecked expansion.

• Minimal to nonexistent verification of programs.

• Minimal to nonexistent enforcement of regulations.

• Oversight hobbled by political and institutional bias.

• Politics that frame outside inspection as cruel or racially biased.

While these failures are individual, they are not isolated. They reinforce each other. And they compound.

One consequence is that America’s high-trust systems—which are designed on the assumption that most people act in good faith—have become easy to exploit by those operating under different incentive structures. That exploitation isn’t random, and it isn’t limited to one group of people. It follows patterns. Pretending otherwise doesn’t make it stop.

This is where many discussions derail.

Pointing out systemic abuse gets recast as attacking vulnerable people. Describing cultural dynamics is branded as moral condemnation. Explaining incentives is twisted into assigning collective guilt. And perceived outsiders—or even those raising data-driven concerns, are swiftly labeled racist.

These conflations are convenient tools. They suppress scrutiny by recasting oversight as cruelty or prejudice, allowing institutions to deflect criticism and avoid serious self-examination.

Reality is less accommodating of such fantasy.

America became prosperous not because it was generous alone, but because it paired generosity with expectation—individual accountability, rule enforcement, and shared civic norms. Those norms created a high-trust environment where people could cooperate at scale without constant surveillance.

None of this implies bad intent across entire communities. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The blame falls on the system and its failure to account for the fact that people respond rationally to the incentives in front of them. When systems signal that abuse is tolerated, silence is rewarded, and enforcement is optional, exploitation becomes predictable.

And when leaders refuse to acknowledge that dynamic—when they praise imaginary garments instead of addressing structural failures—they become part of the problem.

The most dangerous lie in this moment isn’t that fraud never happens. It’s that acknowledging it threatens compassion. That truth-telling is somehow more harmful than sustained denial.

History suggests otherwise.

The child in the story wasn’t cruel. He was honest. And honesty didn’t harm the emperor—the years of pretending did. But maybe we can get him back on his feet. Maybe we don’t have a choice.

This article is not about stripping dignity from people. It’s about stripping illusion from systems that can no longer afford it. Because there is no refuge from national failure. If the dam breaks in America, the consequences won’t stop at our borders.

And right now, the whole world knows the emperor has no clothes.

Continue to Part II

“The veils I gave her were carelessly draped about her head and shoulders, and while she wore the same radiant green silks as when I first saw her, they were stained with tears. Her face was lit with lightning instead of the sun I had come to love, flashing dangerously when she looked at me. The maiden I hoped to meet had become a panther, perched on the edge of a rock and ready to strike.”

“Her brows furrowed, and she stared me down with barely contained fury. Her voice stung like whips from a nettle when she spoke, striking me to the core of my being. ‘I marvel at the audacity you show to dare come before me. You are forsworn, a fickle and faithless breaker of oaths. Your words are like smoke, but the highest in Heaven will reward you justly for the sins you visited upon me!’”

“What she said left me lost as a puppy before an angry master. Her anger was visible and palpable to me, hitting me like a fist, but I had no idea what I did or how to make amends for it. Instead, I pleaded with her. ‘How can I answer if I am unaware of the crime you accuse me of? What did I do other than to be senseless and pale at the absence of you from my life? Where have I sinned against you?’”

“Yet, as every man knows, a woman aflame rarely hears reason, particularly from the man who invited her ire. She would not listen. Instead, she drove the point of her words deeper into my soul. ‘What can I say to one as false and treacherous as you? I am a fool to let myself be tricked by a man with no honor! You made me no better than a camp girl, swooning at your mighty arms while your tongue curried favor and spewed lies to ill ends. I burn with flame at the injustice you did to me!’”

“‘You knew my father intended to bring the son of Khvarazmsha to wed me and did nothing! Instead, you sat with them as a counselor and gave assent to this treachery! You cast aside the bindings of the oath you swore to me like some fool of a soldier with a village maid! I beg God to help me visit ruin upon you for the cunning you deceived me with so I can destroy you and all you love!’”

“Then she began shouting at me, and a thousand tears streamed down the rose of her cheeks. I felt my heart turning to stone so I might protect me from further hurt, but she finished me off before it was fully hardened. ‘Remember when you sighed and swooned over me? Did you forget how your eyes bathed the fields of India with tears?’”

“‘I have not forgotten! The finest physicians and surgeons brought medicines from across the entire Kingdom to revive you. Yet, you are no different than any other man. Your falsehood will be remembered forever, no differently than Eve’s betrayal Adam and mankind. You are filth before me, and since you denied me, I also renounce you. Now, let us learn who will be more hurt between us when I finish with you!’”

“Her blow left my sword arm weak as that of a child holding a toy. I had no defense from the cuts she laid on me, and I understood then why sages say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But she was not done. Her fire was far from spent.”

“Like Achilles dragging the body of Hector, my death would not satisfy her. She continued piercing my ruined heart until no more than a shadow remained of me. ‘You made a grave error in betraying me. Like the lie of your words, you will be judged and punished. So long as I live, I swear by God, you will not find a home here.’”

“‘I will rule beside whoever rules! Wherever you go, you will find no other like me. No matter how much you reach your hands up and beg to Heaven, they will be left empty! If by some chance you are too cowardly to leave and choose to stay, I will watch the soul separated from your body.’”

“My spirit wilted as her tongue flayed the skin from me. Better I stood against an endless legion of heroes than suffer such agony. Had Ramaz and his armies faced her wrath, I am certain there would not be a blade of grass left standing in all Khataeti.”

“But there was truth to what she said, no different than there are needles in every haystack for the men willing to find them. She did not discard me out of hand, but instead believed I willingly turned her over to wed to the son of Khvarazmsha. Knowing this, hope revived a few threads of my heart. I found enough power in myself to look once more on the light of her whom I loved above all else in the world.”

“Though Fate has often laid her hands on me to drain the blood of my life and take my breath, this was not to be her day. Do you not wonder how I survived the lance of words so artfully thrown into me? I tell you truthfully, it was faith alone which enabled me to hold my head up.”

“Her Koran lay open on the table next to her. I walked over and placed my hand on the pages as I spoke. ‘I lack the means to say how you have burned me today. In truth, the sun sets upon my soul, and my spirit departs. Though, as you stopped short of slaying me outright, I will give you an answer.’”

“With my hand still on the Holy Book, I continued speaking. ‘If what I say to you is false or laced with cunning, I beg God to bring the skies down on me. I ask to spend my days in ruin and woe, with all the lights of Heaven turned against me. Yet, if you consider me worthy of judgment, hear my words, for I did nothing to visit this harm or hurt on you.’”

“Nestan looked at where I rested my hand, lifting her eyes to mine. When I finished, she spoke shortly, still questioning me and my intent. ‘If this is true, tell me why I am led to believe this falsehood? Why would you forsake me to another?’”

“Like a soldier left for dead, I bound and stitched my own wounds, giving her what she asked of me. ‘The arrangement with the son of Khvarazmsha is not my doing. Your mother and father summoned me to court at dawn. They were in counsel with three advisors and asked me to sit with them. Yet, it became clear to me they already decided to appoint him as your husband. There was nothing for me to oppose, for no man can stop the will of Pharsidan. I would have been a fool for my pains and was forced to agree with them. What else could I do? I fortified my heart, not knowing how I might survive if you were lost to me.’”

“‘My love for you and yours towards me is still unknown to the King and Queen. In their minds, they did what is best for the Kingdom, for they do not realize I will not leave it masterless. I cannot say who is wrong or right in this, but I alone am the owner of India. No other man has any right than me. While I have not met this Prince who comes here, I will never hand the rule of my country to him or Persia. Yet, I am unable to change the minds of our rulers and have found no way to undo what they have decreed.’”

“When I arrived, they were waiting with three of their most trusted advisors. I was invited in and asked to sit as they spoke, ‘God has brought old age upon us. Our youth is past, no differently than seasons fading throughout the year. The burden of ruling has exhausted us, yet we have no one to assume the throne in our absence. Raising you, we never wanted a son, but now there is no one left to rule.’”

“‘We can marry Nestan to someone, but as of now, we have found no husband for her and do not know where we can find a worthy man. It must be someone to whom we can entrust our Kingdom to, who would be our own and formed in our image. One we can trust to sit beside her and guard the realm. Do you have any idea where we can find such a man, who would ensure victory over our foes, and keep the swords of our enemies from us?’”

“Their words cut me in ways I didn’t know I could be hurt. I always considered them as my own family, but what they said left me in disbelief. I stumbled for words, looking to find anything to say other than what was on my heart. Yet my heart remained silent, and I was left to answer as best I could.”

“‘Though I agree Nestan is enough to carry our hopes, how can your heart not feel the want of your own son? My first duty must be to India, so I will support whatever decision you take. But what more would you have me say? How can I offer you advice in this matter? Surely you know what is best for the Kingdom. I am certain whichever man you choose will rejoice at his good fortune.’”

“How they hurt me. But what could I tell them? From what they said, in their eyes I was neither suited to marry my love, nor as a son and heir. So, I sat mostly in silence as they began discussing how to proceed. I believed nothing I might do or say would change their minds. Knowing this, I did my best to steel myself and stop the flames in my heart from burning me to soot. How it pained me to be a part of the counsel to my own ruin.”

“At one point, Pharsidan spoke, saying, ‘I know of a man in the Persian Kingdom of Khvarazma, the son of King Khvarazmsha. None are like him. He is a lion, fierce and proud, commanding a vast host of armies. If this Lord would give us his child, all our worries will be gone.’”

“Here, to my eternal pain, the Queen spoke up, saying, ‘It is true. He is mighty and known far and wide for his benevolent rule and military prowess. Surely this youth is worthy of our daughter! Who else is there who could be a better choice as our son-in-law?’”

“To say I died at this moment is to compare the sun to a candle. I immediately understood they had discussed the matter between themselves earlier. Their words were guarded as though holding some secret from the rest of us.”

“Though I wished to speak against this injustice, it was not my place to do so. Instead, duty forced me to agree with their decision. Nothing I could say would hinder what they both clearly desired. I burned to cinders and fell to ash as the day of my ruin was set, and Fate once more pressed her black hand down upon my soul.”

“The King and Queen sent word to Khvarazmsha, asking for his son. They wrote, ‘The throne of India is left without an heir, and in the entire Kingdom, only one daughter of royalty remains. She is fit for childbearing but not to be wed abroad. Instead, she will remain here with whomever she marries. Yet if you would agree to our terms, we will give her hand to your son. Come quickly, and we will gladly receive you.’”

“They loaded their messengers with gifts of rich cloaks and veils of the finest silks, and they were not disappointed with the result of their efforts. Khvarazmsha rejoiced at their coming and gave Pharsidan and his Queen a joyous answer, writing, ‘By the grace of God, we have what we wanted most. No other child in the world can be compared with yours. Who else is better? Our joy will be immeasurable in marrying our son to your daughter.’”

“I was ordered to prepare men who would bring the Persian prince into our palace. There, he would steal the jewel of life from me. I had no words for what I felt. Duty required me to remain Amirbar while a foreign man invaded the Kingdom I was bound to protect and stole the woman I gave my soul to. Not a ray of light fell on me when I realized what cruel designs Fate devised.”

“I tried to find mental and physical oblivion by exhausting myself in training, but I peace eluded me. In time I gave up and went to my chambers. My hope was to rest or at least seek respite from the mausoleum of my heart, but no salve could heal the wound I now bore. I began enduring pain like nothing I experienced before. How I might go on living was beyond me.”

“Alone and a stranger to myself, I contemplated the knife of melancholy poised above me. I believed nothing might compel me to live further, but someone came to my door. I bid the man in without concern for him or what message he carried, but after a moment, I recognized who he was. He served Asmath, and I stood to receive the letter he brought. In it, I learned Nestan commanded me to appear before her without delay.”

“When I understood she wished to speak with me, a spark of hope lit within my breast. I did not think I would see her again, as her father had already decided the matter. Yet now she called to me. Filled with new resolve, I mounted my steed and quickly left, making haste to the little garden outside her tower.”

“When I arrived, Asmath was waiting, but I could see she had been weeping. Tears still stained her cheeks, and it made me sad to realize my coming caused her grief. I jumped from my horse and came to her, worried at what brought her such woe.”

“A frown was etched across her face, and she turned from me without a word, raising the golden curtains and beckoning me into the jeweled tower. Her silence added fresh wounds and worry to my bleeding heart, for I did not know what waited within.”

“‘If I died from missing you, I would not be able to share my thoughts. You must hear them now, though they are bold. I hope you can forgive me, but as God gave me this tongue, I will use it in praise of you.’”

“‘Having seen the loveliness of your gem-like brilliance in the palace, I am certain my tears did not flow in vain. I am thankful you urged your horse home so quickly, for I enjoyed looking on you freshly returned from battle. You are fair to my eyes. Put your grief away and weep no more from this day.’”

“‘While you were gone, the sun made a garden of rose and jet for you, which resides in my heart. My soul belongs to none other than you. Now, give me the veil you wore today, so I may keep it as my own. You will see me wearing what was yours, and I will feel as if you hold me. In turn, I will give you this armlet, which is my favorite above all things I own. Bind it around yourself and cherish it as you love me. This way, you will never spend another night wholly separated from me.’”

“‘You will have what is mine, and I will rest safely wrapped within what is yours. Together we will hold one another, no matter how far apart. Know too, there will be those who look on you and curse whoever looks on me, but do not let them disturb you. Lions do not concern themselves with the desires of scavengers.’”

Tariel stopped speaking then and took something from his arm before pressing it to his lips. Then, he held it out to Avtandil, who could not believe his eyes. He was looking at the armlet of Nestan. It seemed to be made from a stream of woven gold. Jewels appeared to move in and out of it, shifting and shining with multicolored hues.

Asmath wept as she reached out and closed Tariel’s hands over the armlet. He choked back sobs as she did so, and she embraced him, stroking his hair, and speaking soothing words through her tears. He shuddered with the effort of maintaining his composure, and after a moment, spoke again.

“I still live, though the earth drinks of my blood, yet I am fortunate to find myself in the company of friends unmet. The one joy remaining to me is seeing your face. Though I behave like a madman, you did not abandon me. You sit beside me in this cave, listening to my woe. Perhaps I am not so abandoned by Fate as I think. I will continue this tale of the woman who I am buried for.”

“I told you of the gift given to me, but I had something of my own to give. I immediately removed the strange and mysterious dark veil and cloak I wore and handed it to Asmath. After, I wrote a letter, saying the words I now recite to you.”

“‘Your first words were like an elixir to me, lifting me from the depths of the darkness I suffered in your absence. The rays which shine from you strike me deeply. For all my prowess in battle, I am brought to nothing before your beauty. What service can I offer in exchange for the life your love restored to me?’”

“‘Your hand released me from a prison no other was able to open. Your armlet is now with me, and my spirit soars like a falcon. As I gave my heart, so do I hope you will receive this veil. More, I will gift you a cloak of the same strange material, for you also keep my soul. In all the world, you will find nothing finer or rarer than this. Nor will you find a love equal to mine. But I beg you, do not leave me alone these days, for who else can I submit to?’”

“I gave Asmath my letter when I finished, along with the veil and cloak. She rose from her seat and gracefully left my chambers. For me, I caressed the bracelet Nestan gave me and fell into a pleasant sleep. Later, I found her in my dreams but awoke to find her not with me. When I could not find my way back to the dream, I lay awake, thinking of her.”

“Though her voice and touch were still on me, it was no comfort. I passed the night holding my hand around the armlet and lamenting the burden of life without her beside me.”

“Though I was weary, one does not lightly refuse the summons of a King. So, I dressed and made my way to him, where I met packs of hounds outside. As I entered, I was surprised to see the chamber filled with birds of prey and him sitting in the middle of them. He wore hunting finery and shone like the sun. When he saw me, he clapped his hands with glee, laughing and rejoicing at my arrival.”

“I did not know it then, but earlier, he had he met the Queen in secret before inviting me. There, he shared a plan with her, ‘When I gaze on our hero returned from war, my heart sings. He should be seen by all in this way. It brings light to those around him, however dark their hearts.’”

“‘Whatever I ask of you this day, do it without delay. Though I made this decision without your consultation, you are a part of it. Our Nestan will one day rule, and today she will be seated beside you. So, wherever you are when I return with Tariel, you must both come to meet us. We will be full of joy from the hunt, and he will rest his eyes upon her.’”

“Unaware of their plans, I only saw a hunting party arrayed before me with my King at the ready. I joined him, happy to be home in India. We left with our hounds in tow, followed by countless falcons and hawks. The two of us hunted over the plains, crossing over foothills and up small mountains in our pursuit of game.”

“We returned before sunset, carrying the bounty of our hunt. The people were joyous when they saw us, still flush with news of my victory over the Khatavians. Men playing ball stopped, dropping their games unfinished to laud us with praise and share their happiness at my return. The city overflowed with people cheering, and they spilled out from the bazaars and onto rooftops to see me.”

“I wore tasseled robes, with the veil and cloak I found in Khataeti. To our onlookers, I appeared as a pale-hued rose, bathed by the tears of an angel. All who saw me swooned. Those whose hearts I drove mad with adoration became more maddened. Every step went on like this until we reached the palace.”

“Once there, the King dismounted and invited me into his private apartments. When I stepped into the banquet hall, my breath was taken. There she stood, the desire of my every waking moment. Her cheeks sparkled like sunlight, blinding my eyes, and leaving me trembling. I did not expect to see her here. Especially not in front of her father, who normally kept her hidden from all eyes.”

“Yet she was here and real, clad in brilliant orange and shining like a rose. Her spirit illuminated the room, and I could imagine the light from her spilling into the streets like a sun. She showed the briefest of smiles, but I was dumbstruck and could do no more than stand there, my wounded arm hanging useless in its sling.”

“Then, the Queen came to meet me, tenderly kissing my cheek as a mother kisses her son. She loved me, as did my foster father. Their boldness in the presence of the assembled people and Nestan brought both surprise and joy to me. She turned and addressed the people gathered in the hall, ‘The Amirbar returns victorious. From this day, we can expect no foe to challenge him further.’”

“The guests applauded, heaping praise on me, and she seated me opposite her for whom I was slain. My seat pleased me, for I could secretly watch Nestan. Throughout the evening, I stealthily stole glances at her, and she to me. While we exchanged many a look, there was no conversation between us. Every time the ceremony required me to tear my eyes from hers, my heart died a little.”

“Yet, all around us, people celebrated and shared their merriment. Tables were set with goblets and cups crafted from ruby and turquoise, next to jeweled golden plates worth a Kingdom each. Wine flowed like a river, and Pharsidan invited those who might drink too much to stay and enjoy the hospitality of the palace apartments. Everyone feasted with him and his Queen as though they were all equally Lords.”

“I gave myself up to the joy surrounding me, though I could not long keep my eyes from the flower of my soul. The pleasantry of being face to face with her after so long overwhelmed me. I became wild to see her, and whenever she returned my gaze, the fires in me stilled. Yet, I feared to stare too long or obviously. I did not want my affection for her to be noticed.”

“After several hours, the King ordered the minstrels to cease singing. They bowed their heads in silence, and he turned to me, ‘Tariel, my son, I cannot tell you how we rejoice at your return. It is a bliss to be with you again. Meanwhile, our enemies are filled with woe at the folly of their ill-conceived challenge.’”

“‘Many are the men and women in these halls who rightfully are your admirers. They do not sing your praises idly. It is the truth they speak, and we too would honor you. As is custom, we will clothe you to match the might and glory of your deeds, though we will not take away the beautiful robes you wear now.’”

“‘Instead, you who light our lives with the fire of your Heavenly rays will receive a gift from our hands. In this way, you may order whatever you desire sewn. Do not be bashful, for your victory is ours too, son of India!’”

“They handed me the fabled one hundred keys, which everyone knows lock away indescribable treasures. Empires would blush at the hoard of wealth this gifted me. I gave blessings beyond counting for their generosity, and they rose, kissing me tenderly. Each of them was shining, like two suns come down to illuminate me. At no time had anyone honored me as much as they did that day. Nor did any army see gifts equal to those I would later present my soldiers from the treasure I received.”

“The King and his Queen took their seats once more, joy radiating from them like sunlit cherry blossoms. All around us, the singing and drinking increased. The gentle melody of lyre and tinkling of harps soothed and caressed us as we feasted. When the kiss of dawn tugged at the edges of the sky, our Queen retired to her rooms. However, many of us remained and continued celebrating, though our joy was lessened by her absence.”

“When evening came, the feast finally defeated me. I could drink no more double goblets of wine and took my leave, paying my respects as I left. When I made it to my chambers, I fell to my couches like a man dazed, rejoicing at the memory of being so long under the raven lashes her who I so loved. My heart and body were still her prisoners, but I had no power to extinguish the fires which consumed me.”

“As I rested my head, a servant came to my door with news of a veiled woman waiting for me. I understood at once who was there and ordered him to let her in. Asmath came through my door with the elegance of an angel, and I kissed her on the forehead. I took her hands and stopped her from bowing, seating her near me on the couch as I greeted her, ‘You are a blessing to me, like a new shoot from a spruce tree, filling me with wonder and joy. Tell me of her who has slain me with her eyes, and nothing else.’”

“She smiled, pleased to visit me. With a laugh, she shared the words of her mistress, ‘Do not think I came here for no purpose other than idle chatter. I have enjoyed my time watching your pleasure at the tender sight of one another. It is by her command I have come, to bring you more than news, as you will now learn.”

“In time, we made our way to the palace of my King. He met me like a father to his beloved son, giving me praises I cannot lightly repeat. When he noticed my wound, he changed the dressing himself, wrapping my arm with fresh and soft bandages.”

“Soon, a great celebration was held for us in large tents they had placed in the square. I rested there with my Knights for all to gaze upon. Many people came to praise us, and especially me. Others brought fine gifts and succulent delights, which we consumed with joy. Pharsidan sat beside me, looking on with love in his heart. We spent the evening feasting and celebrating together with those came to adore us. My happiness was boundless at being home and in the company of my people.”

“In the morning, we left for the halls of justice, having enjoyed the night until the first rays of the sun graced us. The King sat in the chair of judgment and commanded the Khatavian prisoners to be led in one at a time. He questioned each and judged them according to their worth until only Ramaz remained.”

“I brought the traitor in myself, for it was I who bested him. Despite his betrayal, I showed him every respect. He came with humility, and Pharsidan gazed on him sweetly, as one might look upon a son he once cradled. This gesture alone made it appear as if the deceitful one deserved such affection. For this is the truth of heroism. The brave show compassion to those they overcome, even the undeserving.”

“My King caressed him, and they spoke together until morning, when he summoned me. With a soft voice, he asked, ‘What do you say, my son Tariel? Should I forgive the Khatavian, an enemy just moments ago? Is it fit for me to restore the trust he so treacherously severed?’”

“I thought about what my Lord said, and after a moment, I answered him truthfully, ‘It is the will and action of God for sinners to be forgiven their trespasses. Because of this, we must also be merciful towards those who brought themselves to ruin with sin.’”

“King Pharsidan stared at Ramaz, and the steel of his will could be seen behind the diplomacy he showed the captured Khatavian, ‘You betrayed me and those I love, but it is my hand which sends you from here with forgiveness. Though, I wonder, would you be so considerate towards me if I were in your place?’”

“‘Think about this on your road home, for today you have witnessed my compassion. I do not send you away bare headed with empty hands and a broken crown. But know this, if you dare show yourself before me in disgrace again, you will learn the weight of my wrath.’”

“When he finished speaking, he gifted Ramaz a tribute of ten thousand drachmas, all in Khatavian money. Then he dressed the defeated Khan and his courtiers in finery, giving them silk brocades and satins before sending them away. Such was the mercy and wisdom of Pharsidan that even a traitor might win a pardon in place of the punishment he rightfully deserved.”

“On hearing his reprieve, Ramaz bowed low before the King. He thanked him profusely, paying homage and saying, ‘Let it be known before God, I repent the treachery I once planned towards you. If I sin against you again, it falls to your hand to kill me.’”

“Pharsidan nodded at his words, dismissing him and his men and returning the other prisoners to the Khatavians. Once their retinue gathered in full, they made their way from the palace without insult or injury, preparing for the long journey back to Khataeti. The actions of my King had demonstrated his superiority to all.”

“By the time our shamed enemies finally departed, my power was spent. The wound I received in battle throbbed, and no spirit remained in me for the necessities of court. It pleased me to witness the compassion with which my Lord ruled, but I craved rest. When the last of our affairs finished, I retired to my chambers, thoughts of Nestan close to my heart, though I still had not seen her for whom my soul sang.”

“As I began to give orders on the field, men from my army cheered what was left of the three hundred Knights who led the charge with me. Others offered thanks and gratitude for our victory as I passed them. When I reached our tents, the advisors and Lords who had raised and trained me wept with joy over my success. All who witnessed the carnage my sword wreaked on the enemies of India stood in awe.”

“For myself, I felt proud. The plains were colored with the blood of those who sought to betray me to my death. More importantly, we did not fight at the gates of the city. Instead, I seized the entirety of Khataeti without a prolonged battle. In one day, I accomplished what might otherwise take months to accomplish. Yet, I needed to do more, for victory is the smallest part of any war.”

“First, I sent my soldiers to collect any riches they could, and they did not disappoint. They returned with smiles etched across their tired faces, loaded with all manner of treasure and jewels. I laughed when I saw this and gave them leave to keep whatever they wanted from the loot. My eyes were fixed on a bigger prize.”

“Having taken care of my men’s morale, I was free to focus on Ramaz. My councilors brought him to me, and I spoke shortly and directly to him, ‘I am not accustomed to suffering evil men or fools. Your treachery warrants death, but I would not cause more innocent blood to spill with the loss of your head. If you drop the fortifications of your cities and turn them over to me, I will allow you to live so you may seek forgiveness for your wrongs. Should you refuse, I will not overlook your guilt, and you will be separated from your head.’”

“Though he was an idiot, I had bested him in battle. When any two people pit themselves against one another, each learns the mettle of the other. Because of this, I knew he was cowardly, and cowards are loathe to part with their lives.”

“The offer barely left my lips before he accepted, ‘I am ruined by you. There is no power in me to contest your victory. My Kingdom and all within are yours to do with what you will. Bring a Lord who remains faithful to me, and I will send him to our stewards. We will give Khataeti to you.’”

“I brought every one of his Lords to him from our prisoners and let him choose one. My Knights escorted this man to the fortresses of those who remained loyal to the treacherous King, and after several days the governors of towns and cities began presenting themselves to me. They gave us their strongholds, each bringing an endless stream of treasures with their submission. The men and women who ruled repented the folly of their actions and the war they invited, swearing allegiance to me.”

“Once I held the entirety of the Kingdom, I traveled across the country to inspect the lands. At every township and castle, they presented me with the keys to their Kingdoms. In time I visited everywhere except the palace.”

“Wherever I went, I calmed the people, telling them, ‘Do not fear me. I did not come to destroy you or your homes. Though I shine like the sun, I will not burn you, nor will I harm you. My actions are the reason your cities and castles fell without war or bloodshed on the citizens. Continue your lives in peace, and I will not disturb you.’”

“At last, I came to King Ramaz’s palace. I was unable to believe the treasure amassed there. You would grow tired of listening to me before I described them all. Yet, one item stood out above everything. It was a beautiful cloak and veil, but nothing I knew of could be compared with it. The fabric was woven in a strange foreign pattern and made of some material I had never seen.”

“Everyone marveled at the workmanship, but no one could tell me what it was or where it came from. I learned it was immune to fire and strong as steel despite being thin and light as a feather. Many claimed it to be a divine miracle, and I found no reason to doubt this.”

“I put this wondrous item together with several unique and precious gifts I thought Nestan would like. For Pharsidan, I chose the best items from each of the countless treasuries. When I finished gathering everything, we needed a thousand strong mules and camels to carry it all. Before they left, I sent a letter ahead sharing the good news of our victory.”

“I wrote, ‘My Lord and father, fortune smiles on us. The Khatavians plotted treachery, planning to ambush us and slay me with trickery, but they failed. Unfortunately, this deceit delayed word of my success. However, I captured their King and bring him to you now. The road will be long, for we have many prisoners and carry much treasure. I will rejoice to see you on my return to India.’”

“I told the three hundred before me of the evil intent of our foe, ‘Brothers, the Khatavians plan treachery for us. Knowing this, why should the power and might of our arms grow weak? Men who die for their Kings ascend to Heaven, as you all know. So, I ask, do we wear these swords for vanity, or are we warriors? Will we hesitate to engage our enemy, or will we meet them like lions? Now, let us prepare ourselves and destroy these treacherous cowards!’”

“With pride and fierce words, I commanded my men to ready themselves for battle. My heroes put on their coats of chain mail, buckling armor on and strapping shoulder pieces into place before checking their weapons. I arrayed them into squadrons, and we rode out to meet the enemy. Each trusted his skill and the prowess of the men beside him to ruin the plans of our adversary.”

“We came down the mountain like an avalanche of steel. When the Khatavians noticed our equipment glinting in the sun, they sent a messenger, who told us, ‘King Ramaz looks upon your approach with displeasure. Your betrayal is untimely, and we are amazed by your audacity.’”

“I ordered the man back with a message of my own, barely missing step in our march, ‘I know the deceit of your words and actions. What you planned for me will not come to pass. Call your men and come fight me as is our custom. This day I have taken my sword in hand to slay you.’”

“When their man returned, our enemy hastily made fires. The smoke rose in the distance as we approached, and soldiers came from all sides. The ambush they hoped to hide was shown clear as day. I watched as his men advanced, forming into ranks, though thanks to God, they were yet unable to harm me.”

“I took a lance in one hand and put on my helmet with the other, eager for the battle to start. My Knights and I rode towards them in a long line as the treacherous armies of Ramaz drew up on either side, seemingly countless. They stood immobile and calm, undisturbed by our presence and sure of their superior numbers.”

“When I came near, they looked at me as if I was a madman. Three hundred Heroes swam in a sea of more than a hundred thousand soldiers, but I did not care. My arm was strong, and my will stronger. I rode down our line, cheering the courage of my men, before charging into the main body of the enemy army. My lance pierced a man with such force his horse fell. I left him to bleed onto the plain, forever departing the sun. However, I would not be stopped with one. I loudly praised the fools before me and thanked those who would whet my blade with their blood. Then, I released my fury on them.”

“I swooped down like a falcon amongst hapless partridges, making a hill of men and horses as I threw one upon the other. Countless Khataetian soldiers bore down on me, and I sent them spinning away like dragonflies. I destroyed their two forward squadrons by myself as the onslaught of those behind me carried into their ranks and made many a widow.”

“The ferocity of my blows left none standing where I struck. All around me, the battle raged. Blood spurted from their fallen soldiers like fountains. Everywhere I went, I ruined men, leaving them hanging like saddlebags from their horses. Though they pressed hard upon us, we were unstoppable. Men fled from me like lambs before a butcher, no matter where I rode.”

“Soon, the ground shook beneath us, and the watchmen of our enemy cried out a warning as the sound of my approaching force was heard. Neither mountain nor plain had delayed my army, and the soldiers I commanded to follow had arrived exactly as planned.”

“Now the drums of my men thundered defeat to the ears of our enemies. Trumpets blared in such number one might believe the gates of Heaven opened and spilled forth hosts of vengeful angels. Hundreds of thousands of Indian warriors swarmed towards them, the dust of their approach blotting out the sun.”

“When our foe realized doom approached, they wailed in fear. Each lamented his fate, begging to be saved from the slaughter we would visit on them. Yet, I did not stop. Treachery knows no quarter, and I gave them no respite.”

“Left and right, their ranks broke. They began to run, but we did not let them go. I cut my way to Ramaz and unhorsed him. He fell to the ground with a cry. In an instant I was on the fallen King, like a lion taking down an antelope. He drew his sword, and we fought one another until I knocked his blade away and beat him into submission. But I did not kill him. This was not my plan.”

“My men shouted and cheered at the sight of my victory, and what was left of the previously ordered Khatavian army began collapsing. They fled in every direction, no differently than water running down the side of a mountain.”

“The initial charge of my rear guard had immediately overcome most of the Khataetians. Those who remained were drowned by the tide of Indians swarming over them. This caused the complete collapse of their few remaining ranks. Those few who did not have the wisdom to surrender were quickly overtaken and thrown down, vanquished to a man. When the dust cleared, my troops feasted on the sweet reward of victory for their sleepless nights and hasty march.”

“We now held countless prisoners, each terrified of the fate he imagined I would visit upon them. Most were not even wounded, yet they cried and moaned like sick men. It disgusted me to witness soldiers begging and pleading like lambs.”

“But I could not give them the death they deserved. We needed them, for a vassal state without an army is a liability. Though Ramaz showed himself to be a King among fools, he would still serve my purposes.”

My Knights readied themselves, and foot soldiers opened the way for me. I rode forward, leading a tide of steel behind me. The time had come. We brought war to Khataeti.”

“None can accuse us of cowardice as we marched to the borders of our nation. In every town and village, the people celebrated our might and glory. We were heroes to them, off to slay the snake threatening their homes.”

“In time, we reached the farthest edges of our country and crossed into the lands of our enemy. From there, we traveled over hills and mountains beyond any road we knew. With no care for path or track, we made our way directly towards the palace of Ramaz.”

“We went on this way for weeks. Every time we came to a village or town, the people fled, though we left them untouched. They had done nothing to warrant my ire. Only their King and those who stood with him would suffer my wrath.”

“In time, a messenger approached us. He brought priceless gifts of treasure but could not hide his awe at our assembled might. He used a conciliatory tone as he spoke, ‘I bear a message from Ramaz, Khan of Khataeti, who regrets his hasty words. We realize too late the wolves of our lands are nothing before the least creature of India, yet you are lions! We beg you to forgive our sins and if by God’s grace you would be merciful, hold back your armies. Do not destroy us or bring the Heavens down on our heads.’”

“‘My Lord will swear an oath to you and bind our necks. Every castle and city will be delivered to you without the need for war. Our children and possessions will be yours for the taking should you desire. We ask only for your mercy, as it is unwise to ruin those who would serve you. He invites you to come forward with only a few of your Knights, where he will meet you and swear his servitude.’”

“When the man finished, I had him fed and given a place to rest. While he waited, I called my advisors to me. These were wise men who served my father before me, and we discussed how to proceed. They told me, ‘The Khataetians cannot be trusted. You are young and do not know this from experience, but we have seen it with our own eyes. They are traitorous, and we believe they plan to betray you to your death.’”

“‘We recommend you agree to this meeting but take your bravest heroes with you. Order the soldiers follow a day behind, keeping them informed by messenger. If Ramaz is true to his word, make him swear before God. Yet, if his men carry treachery in their hearts, pour your wrath over them like an ocean.’”

“I was pleased with the advice they gave me and composed a message of my own, which I relayed to the Khataetian, ‘I know of your decision, and it is wise. Life is better than death to you and your people, for stone walls will not stop the might of our army. But I will honor your plea and leave my soldiers behind. A handful of Knights will attend me as we march towards you to accept your surrender.’”

“The following day, I selected three hundred of my best men, each of them a hero. With these lions at my side, I rode before the rest of my army, calling out to the men, ‘I go before you as is the way of an Amirbar, first in and last out! Wherever I go, you will march behind me over the same fields and follow my track like shadows. Stay close, for I will call if I need your aid.’ When I finished speaking, my Knights and I rode away. We traveled for three days until meeting another man.”

“This man carried beautiful robes of the finest materials and another message, ‘My Khan wishes you to be near him. He said you are mighty and will receive many more gifts than this when you meet him. Before God, I swear to you this is the truth. He hastens to your side.’”

“I answered in kind, bidding him tell the Khan, ‘By the will of Heaven, I will do as you command. I come with haste. We will be most tender to one another. I like a son, and you as a father.’”

“After this, my men and I continued until we came to the edge of a deep forest where we were greeted by more messengers. They brought fine horses as gifts and saluted me as if I already held the Lordship over them. They said, ‘Our King desires no more than to see you. He asked us to tell you he left his home this morning and will see you on the fields tomorrow.’”

“I kept these men with me, treating them as my own. We put up a comfortable tent they could rest in, and I made sure they ate well. They behaved like groomsmen in my camp, resting and relaxing. But of course, you must know no good deed done to an honest man can easily pass from his heart. After a time, one of those men came to me, asking to speak in secret.”

“The man bowed before addressing me, ‘I owe a great debt to you. Though it is difficult for me to pay, I cannot forsake or forget this duty. Your father raised me to an extent, and the treachery planned for you pains me. My grief would never end if I saw your rose-faced and elegant form as a corpse. Listen carefully now to what they plan.’”

“‘The men who accompany me are traitors. They wish to deceive you with vain praise and worthless gestures, yet their words are no more than smoke before a fire. One hundred thousand troops are hidden in one place and thirty thousand in another. This is the reason they urge you to hurry. If you are not careful, grief will embrace you, and the darkness of eternity will be your blanket.’”

“‘The Khan will come a little way to meet you, as agreed, showing admiration and respect. But he will secretly be wearing armor. Meanwhile, you will trust his words and oaths, enjoying the lie of his friendship. His soldiers will make smoke and surround you from all sides. In this way, he will strike you with ten thousand men for each one you have. You and your Knights will be overwhelmed and brought to ruin.’”

“Often, I have heard it said there is honor among thieves, but rarely have I found an honest man in their company. This was one such man, and his honesty pleased me. I thanked him, saying, ‘If I am not slain by their deceit, I will repay you whatever you desire. Now, go back to your comrades. Do not let them suspect we met. Enjoy this night and celebrate with them. You earned my thanks, and I will not forget what you have done for me.’”

“I told no one what he shared with me. Instead, I kept it a secret, like unspoken gossip. I would act when the time came, but what is meant to be will happen. Fate gives no quarter to men, and in the end, all advice is equal.”

“That night, I secretly sent men from our camp to my armies. Though the way was long, I ordered them to march through the night and come up behind us without delay. The mountains and hills would hide them from my initial meeting with Ramaz, but if I needed them, they would arrive at the perfect moment.”

“In the morning, I made sure the Khan’s messengers were fed, and sent them away with a sweetly composed message, saying, ‘I come now with joy to meet you. Soon we will see one another.’ When they were gone from sight, my Knights and I broke camp.”

“We traveled at ease, and I allowed myself to relax. There was no reason to wrestle my conscience. I knew the treachery planned for me. If Fate decided I would die this day, where could I hide in all the world?”

“After a time, I opened his message, which read, ‘I am Ramaz, King of Khataeti. This letter is for you, Tariel, who oversteps himself. Who are you to dare summon me? I am Lord and ruler of many people, and you are barely more than a child! I will hear no more of your words nor look on anything else you send.’”

“At first, I could not believe what he wrote. My message was firm but delivered with diplomacy and tact. More, one so powerful as Pharsidan does not beg the attendance of those who owe tribute. He commands it. To refuse this summons while also being disrespectful marked Ramaz as a fool. For his insults, my hand would be compelled to educate him.

“I stood then, setting his letter aside, and called my Generals to me. They sent orders to the Lords of the frontiers and more within the borders of India. Over the next weeks, commanders and their Knights arrived from near and far, numbering more than the stars in Heaven. Soon, soldiers covered the plains around my fortress Kingdom.”

“It pleased me to see how swiftly the armies came when I called. In all my time as Amirbar, there had been no cause for me to call on the combined might of all seven Kingdoms into one place. Yet now they were before me, a testament to our might.”

“Pride filled me at the way they presented themselves. Each man stood alert, forming perfect squadrons. They wore the finest Khwarazmian armor, forged in Guldursun-Kala and tempered in water from the Aral Sea. Every one of them was worthy of song, and we would soon be about the business of songs.”

“Standing before them, I raised the royal standard, a flag of red and black. It unfurled to its full glory on the wind, and the countless hosts of my warriors cheered. Then, I gave the order to depart for the Kingdom of Khataeti at first light while silently mourning my plight at Fate’s evil hand. How would I lead an army without seeing my beloved sun before departing? The long campaign I had yet to embark on yawned wide like a bottomless chasm, and I was bereft of soul.”

“Not knowing what else to do, I retired to my chambers and collapsed on the sofa. Sorrow had already defeated me before the first day of war, and I could not stop my sadness. I said to myself, ‘Fate rules with a fickle hand. I find no luck or succor from the bite of her blade. Why did she allow me to lay my hand on the rose if I cannot take it?’”

“I sat like this until a young servant came bearing a gift. I was in no mood to receive presents, yet it is rarely the right of those who rule to turn away gifts. I welcomed the youth into my room, surprised when he delivered the most wonderful thing. It was a letter from Asmath. She wrote. ‘The sun you long for calls to you. Come! Is it not better to be with her than weep and moan at the deed of Fate?’”

“Her words sang the truth, and I was unable to deny them. Though twilight tugged at the blanket of night, I quickly prepared myself and made little time of the distance between us. Soon I arrived at the palace where my nightingale dwelled. Asmath met me when I entered the garden gates, smiling as she said, ‘Enter, oh Lion of India. The moon awaits you.’”

“As before, she parted the golden curtain which separated me from my heart’s desire. I went in, but the riches did not catch my eye. My sole intent was on seeing the woman who summoned me.”

“I climbed up every flight of stairs until I reached the terrace. Nestan sat there, bathed in the light of the full moon, and surrounded by shimmering curtains. Though she wore priceless green silks, they meant nothing to my eyes. The wonder of her form drew me in, for she alone in the entirety of the world held majesty for me.”

“I came boldly into her room and walked to the edge of the carpet where she sat on cushions brocaded in gems. I had not seen her face yet, but the fires within me lessened at being in her presence. As I waited, she lifted her head. Our eyes met for the briefest of moments, and my world shrank to the depths of her jet eyes.”

“She looked down and commanded Asmath, ‘Beg our Amirbar to be seated!’ At these words, I sat opposite her and gave myself up to joy, forgetting how Fate abused me earlier. Even now, it surprises me I am able to tell you this story while still drawing breath.”

“Soon, Nestan spoke again, saying, ‘I am aware my silence hurt you the last time we met, though I did not intend to wither you like a flower in the field. I left you doomed to shed water from the narcissus pool of your eyes, but you must understand my reasons. Reservation and bashfulness are necessary towards the Amirbar, and it is to the benefit of a woman to be modest when speaking with a powerful man.”

“‘Yet, I found it worse to be silent and hide the woe of my heart. Though I smiled outwardly, a secret grief gripped me. The message I gave Asmath was true. It pained me to refuse speech, as there were many things I wanted to say. I am sure you appreciate my discretion, for it is the better part of valor, but I did not wish to cause you pain. Now you know why I did not speak when I sat with you before, but this meeting will be different. Tonight, I will bare my soul to you, and I ask you to know me by these vows and oaths. Should I deceive you, may God return me to the earth. More, if I break my promises, I renounce my place in the Nine Heavens.’”

“‘When we are done speaking, you must go forth and attack the Khatavians. Gift those traitors the war they invited, for you are Amirbar. This is your duty. I pray you will come back to me joyous and victorious over our enemies, but what of me? What will I do until I can look at you again? How will I keep myself quiet in your absence? I don’t want to be left in waiting. Instead, give your heart to me, undivided and forever, and take mine for yourself in its place. Otherwise, I will perish if separated from you.’”

“Unable to believe the words she spoke, I told her, ‘This is an unexpected grace from God. No man deserves what you have found me worthy of. The light of your sun fills my darkness, and I glow with your love. I swear to you, I will be yours until the ground reaches up to embrace me and earth covers my face.’”

“We both swore on the Koran, confirming our devotion to one another. When we finished, she said, ‘From this day forward, no other will grace my eyes, nor will their words reach my ears. There is only you, and I am yours.’”

“We stayed together after speaking, sharing fruit, and talking of the many things we would do when I returned. Each of us enjoyed the company of the other until it was time for me to depart. We shed tears for one another over the time we would be separated, vowing to meet again on my return. My heart glowed like a star when I rose to leave, illuminated by her rays.”

“Though it pained and irritated me to be far from the crystal and ruby of her beauty, she renewed my will to live. However, a war still darkened the road before me, in which I must be victorious. She who I desired most in all the world would not truly be mine until I settled the matter of King Ramaz and the Khatavians.”

“‘Brother and Lord, by this letter, we command your presence. No one will be disappointed or embittered by your arrival, and we will welcome you with open arms. Yet should you refuse to come, we will instead come to you. We will not come like thieves in the night but boldly as befits our station. Truthfully, I say, you should come to us, for I would not have you spill your own blood.’”

“With my letter done, I sent it with a messenger and gave myself the freedom to rejoice. There was much merriment and jubilee in my court at this time, and I celebrated with those around me. The fires of my heart had been calmed, and I was no longer bitter towards Fate.

She gave me my heart’s desire. Yet, as night is opposite to the day, so too did my moods shift. I began to grow angry at the time lost between Nestan and me. I did not receive any sign from her and became like a madman, annoying everyone with my presence.”

“First, I thought to roam the fields and plains, but reason soothed my mind. Instead, I feasted with my comrades, though my desire for the woman I loved hobbled my joy. When I had first received news from my beloved, it came to me like a cup full to the brim. Yet, I now had no way to drink without the hand of another. Worse, no answer came from Khataeti, leaving me frustrated on all sides and pacing like a penned stallion in the confines of his stable. I was bitter indeed, at times cursing Fate, who I blessed just days before.”

“On one such day, I returned from the King’s palace to my chambers, consumed by thoughts of her. I read the letter she gave me again. When I remembered the moment I opened it, my unreasonable woe was kept at bay. On this day, though, an unexpected knock at my door interrupted me.”

“A servant whispered to me of Asmath’s man looking for me, and I brought him to a private room, where he gave me a sealed parchment. Though short of content, I could barely contain my excitement as I looked over the message. She, whose knife pierced me, commanded my presence. Joy lit my darkness as dawn upon a field of roses. At last, my chains loosened, and I followed her servant without speaking as we made our way to my heart’s desire.”

“Asmath met me when we entered the walled garden of the palace. It was every bit as beautiful as I remembered, with the trees silent save the occasional call of a nightingale. She smiled before saying, ‘It is a joy to meet you again, knowing my hand removed the thorn which before pained you. Come to the rose of your desire. She waits inside, unfaded and unwithered.’”

“She opened the way for me, pulling the heavy gilded curtains to the side as I stepped in. When I laid eyes upon Nestan, my heart stopped. She sat on a throne in a litter adorned with rubies, and she shone with such intensity the jewels around her appeared to be no more than cut glass. Looking into the inky black lakes of her eyes, I came to life once more.”

“She rested her gaze on my brow like the touch of a feather, and we stood there for a long time, neither of us speaking. An intimacy hung between us, and our hearts yearned to reach one another like roses towards the sun. For some reason, our words stopped, unspoken at the exact moment before dawn. Each waited for the other to light the sky and awaken the world, yet one could not move without the other.”

“After a time, she called Asmath to her side, who returned to me after a moment. She whispered into my ear, saying, ‘You must go from here. Your lady is left unable to speak.’ Once again, I was burned to soot, but I did as she asked. I stood, turning with a bow, and made my way out.”

“When I passed through the golden curtains of the entrance, and she within would not hear me, I turned to Asmath and said, ‘It is not long since your words of hope healed me. Yet now, my joy is scattered like sands to the wind. She and I said nothing to one another, so what is to become of me? I am more devastated now than before with the pain of parting.’”

“Ever my advisor, Asmath comforted me with her wisdom. She said, ‘Do not let the brand on your heart be seen as you leave. Instead, close the terrace of sorrow you occupy. Open the doors of joy in your spirit at seeing her, who your soul sings for. She is ashamed before you and behaves with the dignity expected of a princess.’”

“Those sweet words were music to my ears. I replied, ‘Sister, thank you for this balm you have put on my wound. I beg you, do not keep the nightingale within hidden from me. I will joyously receive any news of her. It will help extinguish these flames, lest they separate me from life.’”

“In this manner, we parted. I mounted my horse, the secret of my true purpose yet intact. To those without, we appeared as lovers, having shared our time together. As I made my way home, the sorrow of not speaking weighed heavily on me. When I came to my chambers, sleep eluded me. I lay in my bed, pain dulling the ruby of my cheeks to the bluest indigo. The black of night was preferable to me, for I did not want the dawn to shine on the misery I felt at separation from the rose of my heart.”

“In the morning, I woke from a short and unrestful sleep and learned my man was back from Khataeti. He carried two messages from their King, Ramaz. One spoken and the other written to ensure I would not mistake his answer. Though an unusual way to reply, I wanted to know what he would say to me.”

“My messenger repeated the words given to him, ‘Amirbar of India, it will be good for you to understand we are not cowards. Neither are our keeps and castles unfortified. I am not aware of who your monarch is for you speak with me in this way, but he is no Lord over my Kingdom.’”

“I sat down and considered what he said, wondering at the sort of man who would dare be so bold and insolent towards me. More, the disrespect he referred to King Pharsidan with was unbelievable. Curious to learn more, I turned my attention to the letter he sent. However, I feared it held little hope for the fool or the fate his words would bring down on him and his people.”

“Nestan, my sunbeam, wrote to me, saying, ‘Oh lion, do not let your wound appear! I am yours, so why do you die? I despise vain fainting. When you finish reading my words, Asmath will tell you all I would say, but I must ask, what love do you think pitiful falling and dying is?’”

“‘Is it not better for you to show deeds of heroism to your beloved? I desired to be your wife long before today, but there was no opportunity to speak with you until now. When I saw you sitting on a litter, deprived of reason, and raving like a madman, I understood you shared my heart’s desire. It was your love of me which struck you down.’”

“‘But this is not the way of a hero. You should bring honor and glory to India rather than the tear-stained pity you have presented thus far. I am sure you realize the Kingdom of Khataeti owes tribute, yet they show ill will towards us. This cannot be tolerated, least not by you, Amirbar.’”

“‘Go to the Khatavians and teach them the manner they should behave. Make battle with them, and in doing this, you will become the hero I wish to look upon. Truthfully, I tell you, this way is better. Why moisten the rose of your cheeks when the sky can do no more than you have done to yourself? Do not weep idly, for I turned your darkness to dawn with only a word. Now it remains for you to turn my dawn into day, so the light of India’s glory might shine on us both.’”

“In that moment, I fully understood how boldly Asmath had spoken to me. I realized she was not a timid woman. Instead, her grace and devotion to Nestan compelled her. Of me, how can I tell you of my joy at the hope her tidings gave me? I feared my heart might fail me, for it beat with such intensity my head spun. The crystal of my face and cheeks lit with flame again and shone like the finest cut rubies.”

“I looked at the letter for a long time before I answered, writing shortly, ‘Oh moon of my soul, there is no heavenly body which can surpass you. Indeed, the sun must dim in your presence. May God never give me anything to compare with you. I feel such joy, as if in a dream, though it is difficult to believe I still live and read these words.’”

“There was nothing else for me to write. My earlier suffering had emptied the spring of my spirit, yet now a torrent of emotion welled up from me. The intensity of it left me unable to contain or direct what I wanted to say. I told Asmath, ‘Hear me maiden, for what I would say flees my grasp. I can give no more answer than this. My reason is washed away. How can a man find sustenance in a field at once ruined by drought and renewed with the monsoons?’”

“Yet she carried more wisdom than me, which is why she is here now. She is my only counsel in the ruin I occupy, and her words are fit for Kings. She bade me write more to my beloved, and I continued, ‘Oh sun of my life. You arise as a light to me. With only this letter, I am revived. Where before I appeared to die, I will faint no more. Instead, I will be at your service. None upon this earth will stand against me in this. Whatever you ask of me, it will be done. Truly I am a liar if I turn away from any task you set before me.’”

“After this, Asmath told me, ‘Now you must do as I say, for this is the command of she for whom you burn. If you follow these words, no one will discover the secret of your love until you reveal it. Come to her palace as though visiting me as my lover. In this way, none will suspect the Amirbar of behavior unfitting his station. You will not ruin yourself, or the woman who holds you captive.’”

“It was wonderful to see such wisdom revealed from Nestan. This brilliant woman who the sun dared not gaze too long on had an intellect becoming a Queen. She was incredible and now opened her home to me. I would sit next to her, whose radiance caused sunlight to seem like shadows, and be blessed with her refined conversation. What can I say to you of this? My desire revealed itself to me in my darkest hour. I could not truthfully tell you whether I stood in Heaven or on earth at that moment.”

“I offered Asmath her choice of jewels and gave her a golden chalice, but she refused them all. She told me she was full of gifts and bracelets and not interested in her own enrichment, but only at what service she might do for her lady. I found her more graceful for her refusal of the riches I offered but insisted she take something. After a moment, she chose a large old, jeweled ring. I cannot say why, nor can I tell you where it was from, but it was her choice, and I left her to it. Then, with my gift in her hand, she stood and went back the way she had come.”

“For me, what can I say? Light and life filled me. The wicked spears piercing me an hour before no longer caused me pain, and the fires consuming me burned down to a comforting and warm blaze. Joy lit my darkness, and I happily returned to my comrades at the feast. All around me, they drank and joked, enjoying the company of one another, and celebrating my return. Overcome with my own happiness, I distributed gifts amongst those gathered. Our celebration increased, and for the first time in recent memory, I truly enjoyed myself.”

“Then, we came to my home and had a great feast. We honored those from the field and celebrated my return from the dark. Singers and minstrels performed, the notes and melodies of their songs floating among us like the voices of angels. Meanwhile, the King gave gifts of precious and unique stones to all there. None present had any shred of dissatisfaction, save me.”

“Despite the smile I hid behind, I could not keep my thoughts from Nestan. Each new thought added fuel to the fires raging in me. When I feared I might burst into flame in front of everyone, I called my friends to me, and we sat down a bit apart from the other guests. My companions were mirthful and joyous, while I was morose. They pushed their joy on me, calling me a spruce tree and inviting me to feast and drink. To hide my misery and grief, I drank and feasted no differently than them, yet a wasteland of sorrow grew inside of me.”

“After a time, the head of my house came to me. He whispered of a woman who came to visit me. When I asked for her name, he said he did not know, but she wore veils worth praise from the wise. Though I did not know who she was, I had him invite her to my chambers. Shortly after, I asked leave of those I sat with, promising to return soon.”

“When I came to my room, one of my men stood guard at the door. The presence of a woman shamed me, yet I said nothing. Instead, I halted at the threshold, and she came forward, bowing and saying, ‘Blessed are they who are worth coming before you!’ This surprised me, for who salutes a lover? I thought her behavior must be because she had no idea how to make love. Knowing this about herself, she bowed before me, but later would only sit quietly.”

“Still, I was intrigued and entered my rooms. I sat on my sofa, and she came to the edge of the carpet. It seemed she felt unworthy, not daring to come near me, so I asked her directly, ‘Why do you wait like this when you came seeking my love?’ Yet, she did not speak. I watched, surprised to see her calculating and planning her words.”

“After a time, she spoke, looking down as she said, ‘This day burns me with shame. You do not realize how it pains me. Indeed, I came here for this purpose, but you are unaware of my heart. While I am happy you did not keep me waiting, I cannot say if I am worthy of this task. It would seem even now the mercy of God fails me.’”

“Then the maid stood and came to me. She said, ‘It is true. I am bashful with you. Though you should not think what you believe of my desire causes this. The boldness with which I came to you is at the command of my mistress. You must forgive me if I anger you, but everything I do is to please her heart.’ And with those words, she produced a letter, handing it to me without looking up. After this, she sat herself a bit away from me and said, ‘Read this, and you will learn of whom I speak. It is she alone who commanded this meeting.’”

“I heard the gatekeeper call back, saying the servant of Asmath came. When I asked what he wanted, the man gave me a letter. What I read surprised me so much it diminished the burning in my spirit. The maiden wrote of her love for me, which I could not understand. I harbored no suspicions about her intent, for she was virtuous and honest, but her words filled me with more sorrow. Until then, I dared hope for some word or sign from Nestan.”

“While it was beyond me to fathom why she would care for me or how she so boldly declared her feelings, I realized disobedience would offer no respite. If I did not respond, her faith in me would be lost, and she would denounce me. Any kind words or thoughts she had for me would wither like grapes left too long on the vine. So, I wrote an answer befitting a lover, though, in truth, I was not. My love had been stolen by another.”

“Many days passed after I gave my response to her, yet they did not lessen the fires in me. I lost interest in matters of court and no longer attended. When the soldiers went to train or sport and play their games, I did not participate. An endless stream of physicians came and went, but they did nothing to ease or succor the source of my woe.”

“This is how I began to pay the joys and debts of the world. The twilight of darkness fell upon me, and the roots of my suffering took hold of me anew. Though the best doctors in India came to treat me, none discovered what consumed me. All blamed it on a condition of my blood. When this news reached the King, he ordered my arm bled, and I said nothing against this treatment. I wanted no one to suspect the truth behind my ailment.”

“When the doctors finished, I rested in my bed, though I cannot say how long I lay there. I was lost to melancholy, but at some point, Asmath’s servant returned. He came up, and I wondered what the girl found interesting in me. I did not know her, other than our brief meeting at Nestan’s palace.”

“The man presented me with another letter. I read it and learned she could not wait longer and wanted to be with me. Surprised, I agreed and wrote back to her. In my message, I told her I would not be late in coming, nor hesitant to receive her in my apartments.”

“Having sent my response, I asked myself why I chose to endure the pain of those lances which pierced me. I was Amirbar and a King. India was subject to me. Yet, if the common people knew how I felt for Nestan, they would judge me a thousand times and more. I would be cast down in shame, with no welcome in any region I might travel.”

“While waiting for her response, I received a messenger from Pharsidan. He wanted the malaise upon me expelled and gave orders for the physicians to bleed me again. Yet it pleased the man to return with the news I had already been bled and was well on my way to healing. More, I ordered him to inform the King, I would visit him soon, saying my joy was doubled. Once because I would see him, and again for my health.”

Author Disclaimer:

This is an example of one paid article from a series of articles I wrote. The purpose of articles like this is to improve brand awareness for a product, or to seed affiliate links and AdSense spots. I own all rights to this article, and am posting it here as part of my portfolio, with the following caveats:

1. No links are seeded in this article, as I don’t market anything other than myself here.

2. The full article series would have multiple product images, and links relevant to the product and external sites such as a national park or health agency.

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• Relief from Snoring and Sleep Apnea: A Step-by-Step Guide: Practical breathing tweaks for better rest.

• Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Sleep: Expert advice on insomnia, apnea, and more.

• Empowered Sleep Apnea: A Handbook for Patients: Fun, engaging take with cartoons and stories.

• The Phantom of the Night: Overcome Sleep Apnea Syndrome: In-depth on apnea, snoring, and treatments.

Wrapping It Up

The BLUETTI X60 isn’t just a battery—it’s your passport to worry-free living with sleep apnea. With its robust capacity, broad compatibility, and go-anywhere design, it’s ideal for 2025’s on-the-move lifestyles, from epic campsites to storm prep.

Embrace adventures without skipping a beat on your therapy.This review draws from up-to-date sources and real-user insights for fresh, original takes. For the latest on the X60, check BLUETTI’s official site. If this helped, consider grabbing a book via the links above—your support fuels more guides like this!