Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/188

164 right hand, and about him his captains, with whom he was taking counsel for the slaughter of the Muslims. Kailjan caught up the Prince and Courjan the King and flew back with them to Gherib, who caused beat them, till they fainted. Then the Marids returned to the Shirazi camp and drawing their swords, which no mortal man might wield, fell upon the infidels, and God hurried their souls to the fire and evil was the abiding-place [to which they went], whilst they saw nothing but two swords flashing and reaping men, as a husbandman reaps corn. So they forsook their tents and mounting their horses bare-backed, fled for their lives. The Marids pursued them two days and slew of them much people, after which they returned and kissed Gherib’s hand. He thanked them for that which they had done and said to them, ‘The spoil of the infidels is yours alone: none shall share with you therein.’ So they called down blessings on him and going forth gathered the booty together and abode in their own place.

Meanwhile, the remains of the beaten army drew not bridle, till they reached the city of Shiraz and there lifted up the voice of weeping for those that had been slain of them. Now King Khired Shah had a brother by name Siran the Sorcerer, than whom there was no greater wizard in his day, and he lived apart from his brother in a certain stronghold, called the Castle of Fruits, in a place abounding in trees and streams and birds and flowers, half a day’s journey from Shiraz. So the fugitives betook them thither and went in to Siran, weeping and crying out. Quoth he, ‘O folk, what ails you to weep?’ And they told him all that had happened, whereupon the light in his eyes became darkness and he said, ‘By the virtue of my faith, I will slay Gherib and all his men and leave not one alive to tell the tale!’ Then he pronounced certain magical words and summoned the Red King, who appeared and Siran said to him, ‘Go to Isbanir and fall on Gherib, as he sits upon