The revamp of Faizah's Destiny added the character Abu Nuwas whom narrates Faziah's story to a poor crippled boy. In Setara's Genie, Abu told that story to a young woman being forced into a marriage she didn't want. I liked the idea of the frame story and, since both books are set in the same middle-eastern fantasy world, I thought Abu should narrates them both.
The beginning of the book shows Abu Nuwas trying to get an audience for his story telling. That's how he earns his meager living. Unfortunately, he's finding it difficult to attract a paying customer.
Faizah's Destiny - The Tales of Abu Nuwas 2 is available on Amazon in Kindle and
print format.
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.
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