all momentarily on tree, one no different from otrees, and on a tall man in a caftan of soopped before a portal, larger and more imposing t, framed in ornate stalactite patterns. At its tood treasury cans; one of to open the lock.

    Staring directly into our eyes, treasurer said: “You are truly blessed by fortune, an ed you permission to enter treasury of t no one else ures and pages of gold, and like ers, you rack tan bade me remind you t good Master Osman il to name t in turists’ midst; failing t, tter surned over to to be resolved by torture.”

    First, to ensure no key entered t permission. treasury and t, signaling roduced, tter t filled ter Osman suddenly turned an asruck by a dark radiance t seemed a remnant of ancient days.

    “My Sultan didn’t  taries o enter unnecessarily,” said treasurer. “to look after tead. For tan  Jezmi Aghin.”

    Jezmi Ag, so be at least seventy years old. han he.

    “Jezmi Agerior of treasury like ions of books and all else better than anyone.”

    ting brazier, t icks t the palace pages were carrying.

    treasurer announced t ty-year-old signet of Sultan Selim ter t sunset, tness of ttendant croreasury c caution t notsoever “mistakenly” found its o our clots or saso our undergarments upon exiting.

    e entered, passing bet eit  and y t drove deep into my nasal passages. Everys, cs and s intermingled in a ic jumble. I  I ness to a great battle.

    My eyes adjusted to t t fell over tire space, rades of tairs