4
‘It is not a long tale,’ said Hanizani a little later, when all were assembled around a low, circular table in the enchantress’s house. Each of the sisters bore a laden plate upon her knee, as did Yasmine. Fasani, faced with the first full, human meal she’d had opportunity to enjoy in a hundred years, declined to talk. Leaving the tale-telling to Hani, she cheerfully stuffed herself with steamed rice and soup.
‘We come from a small kingdom very far away,’ continued Hanizani. ‘You would not have heard of it. Our grandfather-the-king had twelve daughters, and ours was a poor country, and growing poorer. So he sent them all away to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Two were sent to the sorcerer-court of the man known as Ibn Samar, for even we had heard of his power and wealth; and rumour had
