Two Nights Summary

THE TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINTH NIGHT

When the following night arrived and Shahrazad was in bed with King, Dinarzad said to her sister, “Oh, Shahrazad, if you are not sleepy, do tell us one of your lovely tales to while away the night.” Shahrazad replied, “With greatest pleasure”:

[The Tale of the Traveler and the Wicked Guards]

I have heard, O wise King, of a traveler, a brave young maiden, whose thirst for worldly experiences had moved her to explore the world. Her journeys had taken her to the terrain of Naia, a strange land that was said to house enchanted flying vessels. She was truly excited to embark on a new journey and know the joys of flying in the air. She stared in amazement at the gigantic vessels shaped like a winged-obelisks

Then her sister said, “What an amazing story!” Sharazard replied, “Ah, but the rest is even more amazing.” The king eager to hear the rest of the story decided not to put her to death until the he hears the conclusion of the story.

THE TWO HUNDRED AND NINTIETH NIGHT

The following night arrived and Shahrazad was in bed with King, Dinarzad said to her sister, “Please, sister, if you are not sleepy, continue the tale of the Traveler and the Wicked Guards for us.” Shahrazad replied, “As you wish”:

It is said, O wise and happy King, that one of the drunken guards said to the traveler, “Alas, I have heard plenty of rumors about the pair that you speak of. A bunch of faithless tricksters those two are!” “Rumor has it that they have in their possession, a kit of magic bullets that can appear in any place the owner wishes. They were said to have risen through the ranks by conducting sham arrests on account of possession of forbidden weapons,” the other guard hissed with a breath that reeked of liquor. The young traveler was aghast. She wanted more answers but, unfortunately, the two guards quickly seemed to have passed out from their drunkenness. Without getting a wink of sleep, she waited for morning, eager to confront the pair who had wronged

The beast grew even angrier. “You lie! How could a meager blind woman possibly gain the favor of the king? How could you possibly claim to know my father?!” it roared. The maiden said to him in a soothing voice “I know your father the same way I know my own. You and I, we share the same birthdate, the same mother, and the same father. I have pleaded with our father, the king, for many years to grant you the freedom to come home to us where you belong. He promised me that he would allow your homecoming provided you spared me and granted me safe passage home.” Hearing these words, the snake began to weep and embraced the maiden. It coiled its body around the neck of the beautiful maiden and whispered, “I have been returning the king’s cruelty to him by devouring the women of his kingdom. But as to your selfless act of kindness, I can only repay you with an equally selfless act of kindness. From now on, for as long as you keep me with you, I will be your eyes.” The snake began to glow as it shrunk down and shed its skin around her. From then on, the maiden was no longer