The Tales of Abu Nuwas 2: Faizah's Destiny

By Marva Dasef

The gods are at war and only a farmer’s daughter can save the world from Armageddon.
The village magician has gone missing. His four pupils think he has left a clue to his whereabouts in the Magicalis Bestialis--the book of magical creatures. They must seek the help of the elusive Simurgh, the mythical birds who know all the secrets of the universe.

However, this is not an easy camping trip into the mountains. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are not aware they’re being set up by otherworldly forces for a much larger task.

A farmer’s daughter, Faizah is chosen to lead the humans in the battle. She must persuade a slave, an orphan, and a rich merchant’s son to join in the battle on the side of good. Although divided by Dev, the evil god of war, the teens must band together to find the Simurgh, rescue their teacher, and stave off Armageddon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marva Dasef
• Release date: Apr 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311458315

Marva Dasef

Born in Eugene, OR and a grad of the UofO, I still made a success of my life by constantly changing jobs and cashing in miserable 401K earnings. Finally, I decided to hell with it. If I'm going to be poor, I might as well be a writer.

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Faizah’s Destiny

The Tales of Abu Nuwas 2

By Marva Dasef

Dedication:

For Jack, my primary reader and dear husband.

Copyright Information

Smashwords Edition License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Discover other books by Marva Dasef at

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mgdasef/

https://sites.google.com/site/mdasefauthor/home/

Layout and Print Book Production by Marva Dasef

Cover Art and Story © Marva Dasef

Previous Editions:

Quest for the Simurgh – Faizah’s Destiny - 2009

Faizah’s Destiny (Ebook-MuseItUp Publishing) - 2013

Acknowledgments

Without my good critique partners, this book would not have come about. Especially, I must thank Liz and Lorrie, who read it over and over again with only a minimal amount of kvetching. Many other members of Critique Circle read most of the book, all of which helped mightily.

The Tales Of Abu Nuwas 2 - Faizah's Destiny

The gods are at war and only a farmer’s daughter can save the world from Armageddon.

The village magician has gone missing. His four pupils think he has left a clue to his whereabouts in the Magicalis Bestialis--the book of magical creatures. They must seek the help of the elusive Simurgh, the mythical birds who know all the secrets of the universe.

However, this is not an easy camping trip into the mountains. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are not aware they’re being set up by otherworldly forces for a much larger task.

A farmer’s daughter, Faizah is chosen to lead the humans in the battle. She must persuade a slave, an orphan, and a rich merchant’s son to join in the battle on the side of good. Although divided by Dev, the evil god of war, the teens must band together to find the Simurgh, rescue their teacher, and stave off Armageddon.

Be sure to read another tale told by Abu Nuwas

The Tales of Abu Nuwas 1 – Setara’s Genie

A girl, a genie, a few demons. Would could go wrong?

Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar on his threadbare rug; a cup and sign proclaim him a teller of tales. For one small coin, he bids passers by to listen. A poor girl, Najda, sells spices from a tray. Would he, she asks, trade a tale for a packet of spice? Abu Nuwas agrees and begins the epic adventures of a girl and her genie.

As did Scheherazade before him, Abu leaves Najda hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back. Between stories, he questions the girl about her life. He discovers that she’s been promised in marriage to an old man whom she hates, but she must wed him to save her sick mother’s life. The rich bridegroom will pay for the doctors the mother needs. Meanwhile, Najda sells spices in the market to earn enough money to keep her mother alive.

He relates the adventures of the bored daughter of a rich merchant, Setara, and her genie, Basit, as they encounter the creatures of legend and folklore: a lonely cave demon seeking a home; a flying, fire-breathing horse who has lost his mate; a dragon searching for his family; an evil genie hunting for the man who put him in a lamp; and a merboy prince cast out of his undersea kingdom.

Table of Contents

The Teller of Tales

Chapter 1 - Lessons

Chapter 2 - Monsters!

Chapter 3 - Musings

Chapter 4 - New Boy in Town

Chapter 5 - Wafai Disappears

Chapter 6 - Lies and Plans

Chapter 7 - The Search Begins

Chapter 8 - Caravan

Chapter 9 - Menog

Chapter 10 - Volcano

Chapter 11 - The Goddess Anahita

Chapter 12 - Leaving the Valley

Chapter 13 - The Spy

Chapter 14 - The Beast

Chapter 15 - Descent

Chapter 16 - Separation

Chapter 17 - Buyasta

Chapter 18 - Harib’s Visitation

Chapter 19 - Spirits

Chapter 20 - Demons and Deities

Chapter 21 - Battle Lines

Chapter 22 - Help Arrives

Chapter 23 - Mourning

Chapter 24 - Ahurani

Chapter 25- The Simurgh

Chapter 26 - Homeward Bound

The Teller of Tales – The End of the Story

About the Author

Published Books

The Teller of Tales

ABU NUWAS SHADED HIS EYES and checked the position of the sun as it crept nearer the roof of the building across the street. The lower edge had yet to touch the peak. He sighed. Another hour at least before he could gather his sign and offering cup and wrap them in his rug.

This day had dragged more than usual. While the bazaar’s crowds buzzed around the merchant booths, none had stopped to read his sign, Tales Well Told and One Drachma on the next line. He considered if his price was too dear. Perhaps, he shouldn’t specify a price. Of course, he always told a tale no matter what the customer could offer, a piece of fruit or a slice of bread. He fondly recalled the young spice seller, Najda, paying with packets of spice to hear the tales of an adventurous young woman named Setara and her not-so-helpful genie, Basit.

He glanced at his cup and give it a gentle poke. No jingle of coins greeted him. He wouldn’t mind if some harried young mother offered him an orange to entertain a restless child with a short fable. He could always delve into the tales told by the venerable Scheherazade who stayed the hand of the murderous prince by leaving the man hanging in the midst of a story. Night after night, up to 1001, she kept her head securely upon her shoulders. At last, the prince was appeased and promised her love instead of death at dawn.

Abu Nuwas nodded. Yes, he’d tell some short story to capture the attention of passersby. One might stop to listen and be pleased enough to offer a coin in return. The old man picked up his sign and stuffed it into the folds of his robe.

But what story would suit? Everyone and their hound knew of Ali Baba and Aladdin. While entertaining, both were too well known. One of the more obscure tales from the Arabian Nights might be more suitable. Something fresh to listeners’ ears. He began to speak. Loudly, of course. Otherwise, he’d garner no attention and have nothing to eat for supper.

O listen ye! From the annals of Scheherazade, the most blessed one, comes this story titled ‛The Enchanted Horse.’ Abu Nuwas noted no eyes turning his way. Maybe he hadn’t spoken loudly enough. He started again.

I tell you now of a most wonderful creature, a horse looking in every respect exactly like a real horse, but was much more. Abu cleared his throat, preparing to launch into the tale of the mechanical horse.

It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of all the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent by the king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent spectacles prepared by his subjects to do honor to the festival.

Abu Nuwas glanced left and right. No ears were bent his direction. This was not a good sign. He needed something to catch attention, startle, excite, and be of such a fantastic nature that no one could resist the listening.

He dug through his memories of all the tales he knew. Then, he recalled his good friend, the Magician Wafai, and the very real and dangerous tale Wafai had told Abu years ago. Yes, he would tell the tale of Faizah, a poor farmer’s daughter, who had faced death-defying dangers, had communed with the very gods, and, by her brave efforts, had staved off Armageddon. Now, that was an exciting story. And it had the added benefit of being completely true.

The story teller pondered. He could simply jump into the story at the point the demons of hell attacked the earth spirits. That was certainly thrilling. But that part of the tale made little sense without all the events that led up to the confrontation.

He decided to start with the first event Wafai had related. A trivial thing, a fight between boys, for it was truly where the story began.

Chapter 1 - Lessons

BAHAAR GRUNTED AS FAT RAZIQ threw him to the ground. Raziq knelt on his chest and then slapped him—left—right—left. His face stinging, Bahaar struggled to throw off his tormentor. The bully’s gang circled, a murder of ragged crows, laughing and urging their leader on.

Smack him again!

Use your fists!

With Bahaar’s brother seldom in town, the gang often attacked the smaller boy. Still, Bahaar never backed down from a fight, even with the odds against him.

Raziq raised his hand to slap the boy again when two figures burst through the ring of jeering bullies and catapulted into him, shoving him into the dust. Bahaar struggled up immediately, fists clenched and ready to fight. The untucked end of his turban drooped over one eye. Although he reeled from the slaps, his ears ringing and vision obscured, Bahaar didn’t need to look to know his rescuers were Faizah and Harib.

They stood back-to-back, facing Raziq’s thugs. Bahaar pushed the end of the turban out of his face and whispered, I’ll take Raziq and Ali if you two handle the other three.

Yeah, sure, Bahaar, Faizah replied. "It’s not likely any of us can handle any of them."

Raziq sneered. Need a girl to save you, Bahaar?

Faizah, a farmer’s daughter, shook back her long black hair and raised her fists. Try me, fat head.

Slapping the dust off his clothes, Raziq glowered at the three friends. You’re really going to get it now, he threatened, raising a fist. I’m going to―

Ah, there you are, my students. You’re late for class, intoned a deep voice halting Raziq in mid-threat. A tall, gray-bearded figure stepped into the ring of youths. His ragged, once-white robes swept the sandy path as he took Faizah and Harib by the shoulders and pushed them through the circle. Come along, come along. You too, Bahaar. Mustn’t be late.

The gang reluctantly parted to let Master Wafai pass through. The village’s resident magician ushered his students away. From a safe distance, Bahaar turned back and made a very insulting gesture at Raziq. Wafai’s wise old eyes twinkled as he pretended not to notice. They say, he stated to no one in particular, that a brave man fights when he must, but a wise man waits to fight until the odds are favorable...or at least even.

I could have taken him, Bahaar said, glancing over his shoulder.

Oh, yes, I could see that, Master Wafai replied solemnly. A slight smile belied the serious tone of his voice.

The three students followed their teacher and mentor north along the longer of the village’s two streets and then turned east at the town’s common well into the lane leading to the school. The village, Lulubi, little more than a handful of mud-daubed houses, surrounded a shallow well set in its central square. As a watering stop along the north-south caravan route, it supported a bakery, an inn of sorts, and a blacksmith shop.

Teller of Tales – Interlude

ABU NUWAS PAUSED. A few people looked his way. He beckoned to them. One man shook his head and walked on. Another, a youth, tilted his head and glanced down the lane as if searching for someone. Apparently, not seeing the person, he walked toward Abu Nuwas. The old man noted the boy dragged one foot and one of his shoulders was higher than the other. A lame boy would not have money, Abu thought, then chided himself for being mean-spirited. Perhaps this boy needed a tale more than anyone else. Payment should not be Abu’s concern.

The boy stood at the edge of Abu’s small rug. The story teller gestured for the boy to sit, which he did with some difficulty.

I only have a copper piece to pay, sir. The boy held out his hand with the small, blackened coin.

Abu Nuwas nodded. That is sufficient. He nudged his cup toward the boy, who dropped the near-worthless coin in. Abu calculated it would pay for a day-old slice of bread. Enough for an old man.

Chapter 2 - Monsters!

THE STUDENTS AND TEACHER arrived at Wafai’s home. The one-room school, a rough shed, stood next to Wafai’s small, whitewashed house at the