Bostava would not return to her father’s house, which was next day razed to the ground, but kept prince Assad in sight; and she, for the friendly part she had acted towards him, was admitted into the queen’s service.

The old man her father, and Behram, were brought before the king, who condemned them and all their families to be beheaded.  They threw themselves at his feet, and implored his mercy.  There is no mercy to expect, said the king, unless you renounce your adoring of fire, and profess the Mahometan religion.

They accepted the conditions, and were pardoned at the intercession of Assad, in consideration of Bostava’s friendship; for whose sake Cavama’s life, and the lives of the rest of their families, were saved.

Amgrad, to reward Behram for turning Mussulman, and recompense him for his losses, made him one of his officers, and lodged him in his house.  Behram, being informed of Amgrad and his brother Assad’s stories, proposed to his benefactor to fit him a vessel to convey them to their father king Camaralzaman’s court; for, said he, the king must certainly have heard of your innocence, and impatiently desire to see you ere this; otherwise we can easily inform ourselves of the truth before we land; and if he is still in the same mind, you can return hither.

The two brothers liking the proposal, communicated it to the king of the city of the magicians, who approved of it, and commanded a ship to be equipped for that purpose, Behram undertook the employment cheerfully; and, being master of the art of navigation and maritime affairs, he soon got in readiness to sail.  The two princes, when they understood that the ship was ready, waited upon the king one morning to take their leave of him.  While they were reciprocally passing compliments on the occasion, they were interrupted by a great noise and tumult in the city; and presently an officer came to give them notice that a numerous army was advancing against the city, nobody knowing who they were, or from whence they came.

The king being mightily alarmed at the news, Amgrad addressed himself thus to him:  Sir, though I am come to resign into your majesty’s hands the dignity of your first minister, with which you were pleased to honour me, I am, however, ready to do you all the service that lies in my power:  I desire, therefore, that you would be pleased to let me go and see who this enemy is that comes to attack you in your capital city, without having first declared war.

The king praying him to do so, Amgrad, with a very small retinue, parted from him immediately, to see what enemy approached, and to know the reason of their coming.

It was not long before prince Amgrad descried the army, which approaching nearer and nearer, the foremost received him favourably, and conducted him to their princess, who stopped herself, and commanded the army to halt, while she discoursed with the prince, who, bowing profoundly to her, demanded if she came as a friend or an enemy; if as an enemy, what cause of complaint she had against the king his master.