l so bad. Did I noics felt after committing trange act ered frequently during my fifty-year tenure as a painter? I ed noto floo the eyes I had blinded.

    3. to torment and consolation aing me at t of t book,  masterful artists for ten years, ouc Bi rendering of o be found. t confirmed t Bi years of —ty out of favor—to tabriz. So, I once again decided  after tained tion of ters by  master blinded o avoid tainting ing her workshop or shah.

    Just t before me.

    “No, t it,” I said  being contrary. “the iron horses of

    Alexander’s iron cavalry  aflame like lamps, before being set against ting from trils.”

    e stared at tings.

    “Jezmi Ager depicted in tan Selim ts t Saed t y-five years ago…”

    ly located tan Selim and placed it in front of me. Paired ly colored page t sing ts to Sultan Selim, my eyes found, among ts  ten because it urquoise-and-moted talent of , Master of Master Illuminators Bi of blinding ed self.

    I asked tan Selim. I folloreasury, meandering bet, cabinets and beneatairiced  tusks and tiger skins. In one of trange redness of clot, beside t one, and ruby-studded daggers, I sas t Sa: silk carpets from Isfa and an object t immediately caugtention—a pen case decorated te obviously from time of tamerlane. I opened t came tle scent of burned paper and roseer; ed turquoise-and moto fasten plumes to turbans. I took up turned to my spot like a specter.

    Alone again, I placed t Master Bio blind  it. It  t made me s seeing a