Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.
Before we continue our tale and learn what will happen to Prince Sharkan on the battlefield, it is time for our quick chat.
*Spoiler*
Tonight, we will be introduced to a new set of characters — Byzantine figures, or as they were known in our region, the people of El-Rūm, the Roman Byzantines.
The people we call “Byzantines” today never used that term themselves; they called themselves Rhōmaioi — Romans.
As I was reading the original tales, I was reminded of the legendary Amazon warrior women of Greek mythology — that enduring image of the warrior princess.
Historically, however, Byzantium did not have its own Amazonian female military force. After all, we are speaking of a society deeply shaped by the structures and moral authority of the Christian Church.
Yet Byzantium, like Rome before it, inherited and absorbed Greek culture — including Greek mythology and its fascination with warrior women.
That Greek influence even appears in Byzantine epic poetry. In the tale of Digenes Akritas, for example, we encounter the female warrior Maximo, who is described as having Amazonian ancestry.
I will pause here, because this is a long episode — and I hope you will enjoy what comes next.
So without further delay, here is the third episode of our story: The Tale of King al-Nu’man, the 93rd night of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.
Episode 3: The Byzantine warrior Maidens
The Ninety-Fourth Night
Narrator: And so it was the ninety-fourth night, the following evening. King Shahryar took his seat as he had the night before. Scheherazade arrived at the appointed hour and began to recount what had transpired, continuing from where she had left off.
Scheherazade: My lord, wise and fortunate King, I have heard that when King Nu’man received King Kanaan’s call for aid, he dispatched twenty thousand valiant knights, placing his son, Prince Sharkan, in command, accompanied by the vizier Dandan. The army marched night and day, cutting through deserts and wastelands, until two months passed, and the knights grew weary. At last, they came upon a vast valley, its edges thick with trees and rich with greenery.
Prince Sharkan ordered the tents to be pitched, and the army to rest in the valley for three days to regain their strength before meeting the enemy. Curious to explore the valley himself, Sharkan took Dandan with him, advancing cautiously, fearing a surprise attack. But they ventured too far into the wilderness, and when they attempted to return, they lost their way. They wandered aimlessly, until the dawn gave way to encroaching darkness. Illusions multiplied around them, and still they pressed on, exhausted upon their steeds.
By the last hour of night, they reached a pond surrounded by dense trees. As they neared it, voices drifted to them: a group of fair Byzantine maidens were racing beneath the branches, their beauty radiant, and at their center stood an old, formidable woman, snapping her tongue in the air.
The Old Hag (Stormbreaker’s Grandmother): Every one of you, I have bested! I have thrown you to the ground, bound you with your sashes! Now, you will all acknowledge my power!
The Maidens: Acknowledge you? Acknowledge what?
Stormbreaker (The Old Hag): Acknowledge that I am stronger than you! Did I not conquer every single one of you?
One of the Maidens: And… what does that mean?
Stormbreaker: I am called the Old Hag, and I have defeated each of you forty times! Do you want to see for yourself, young lady?
The Princess (Ibriza): Yes, grandmother, so that you may measure your strength against mine!
Stormbreaker: Is my heart racing, granddaughter?
Ibriza: Will you fight, or not?
Stormbreaker: Step up here! I will shake the earth beneath you! I will display you utterly! You know not my name… I am Stormbreaker! When I strike, the earth quakes with my roar, and the jinn tremble at my voice… Come, imitate me! Hand up, hand down… Now!
(Sounds of combat and struggle between the old woman and the princess)
(Nearby, Sharkan and Dandan watch, whispering to each other)
Sharkan: Incredible… do you see that, Dandan?
Dandan: By the gods! She’s like a spirit! All the Byzantine maidens are famed for their horsemanship, but the girl who bested them is truly extraordinary!
Sharkan: Stormbreaker will defeat her… I must intervene!
Dandan: Let’s stay here. I’m hungry first, and second… we need to figure out where we are. Look!
(A heavy thud as the old woman hits the ground)
Ibriza (laughing): Tell me now, Stormbreaker, have you been bested?
Stormbreaker: Ah, my center! Come, girls… wait… who’s that there?
(Sharkan steps forward)
Sharkan: I am a knight of the knights!
Ibriza: Sheathe your sword, coward! Don’t take him, girl… he’s my son! Poor thing, exhausted and hungry. Is he your father?
Dandan: I am his father.
Ibriza: And… what brings you here?
Dandan: We were merchants, ambushed by a band of rogues. We fled with our lives, leaving our wealth behind, and wandered lost in the valley until we found ourselves here. Three days we’ve gone without food.
Ibriza: Poor souls, strangers in our midst—you are welcome. Come, my father, and you… stand brave in the challenge! So that when Prince Sharkan reigns in his time, and Dandan serves in his court, not even the blue jinn will discover this place. Come, follow me!
And three days passed in the hospitality of Princess Ibriza.
On the third day, Prince Sharkan sat apart with the vizier Dandan.
Dandan: What say you now?
Sharkan: May He who neither slumbers nor sleeps set all aright. But tell me—how fares the army?
Dandan: This is the third day of our absence. When Ibriza comes, I shall reveal to her who we are and ask her aid.
Sharkan: Reveal our names while we stand in the lands of our enemies? I am not of that opinion.
Dandan: Then what do you propose?
Before Sharkan could answer, Princess Ibriza entered.
She stood before them, smiling — but there was sharpness in her eyes.
Ibriza: First, my prince… do you love Ibriza?
Sharkan started, caught unguarded.
Sharkan: What? No—no… not love… yet I find joy in her company.
Ibriza laughed softly.
Ibriza: Where are the foreign merchants? Welcome… welcome indeed.
Sharkan: And welcome to you.
Ibriza: You are the merchant?
Sharkan: I am.
Ibriza: And this is your father?
Dandan: It is so.
She regarded them steadily.
Ibriza: Are you certain of this tale? Falsehood brings shame… and grey hairs should not be stained with lies. Do you doubt us? The sons of kings do not lie, Sharkan.
Sharkan froze.
Sharkan: By God…
Ibriza: Sharkan? What Sharkan? Are you not poor wandering traders?
Dandan: And are you not the vizier Dandan? Do you think I would not know you? Time is precious. Waste it not. Rise at once. Take your horses. Beyond the forest lies your army. Order them to withdraw and return to your homeland.
Sharkan’s voice hardened.
Sharkan: We are upon a mission.
Ibriza’s tone shifted — no longer playful.
Ibriza: You are deceived.
Silence fell.
Sharkan: Deceived? We march to aid King Kanaan, to restore his stolen treasure — the three enchanted beads.
Ibriza: You understand nothing. This is a snare laid for you all.
Sharkan: Why would he entrap us? We come as his allies!
Ibriza stepped closer.
Ibriza: King Kanaan has a daughter… Atrashan.
The name struck like a blade.
Ibriza: Atrashan — the slave-girl your father received as a gift.
Sharkan’s face drained.
Sharkan: Who are you?
She stood tall.
Ibriza: I am Princess Ibriza, daughter of King Hardoub, ruler of the Byzantines. The old woman you saw wrestling me is my grandmother — Stormbreaker. And this place is the Temple of Maidens.
She continued:
“Atrashan came here once, disguised, during the Festival of Maidens — when relations between our kingdoms were strained. After the festival, one of our commanders seized a vessel at sea. It carried goods… and slaves. Among them were maidens — and one who bore three beads inscribed in ancient script.
“My father took the beads and gave them to me. And the girl… he sent as a gift to your father.”
She held his gaze.
“That girl was Atrashan.”
Sharkan spoke slowly.
Sharkan: Then Atrashan… is King Kanaan’s daughter?
Ibriza: We did not know until it was too late. And matters grew darker when word reached us that she had borne your father children.
The silence thickened.
Sharkan: Then why does King Kanaan send gifts and plead for aid?
Ibriza’s voice became steel.
Ibriza: Can you not see it? He summons you by deceit — to avenge his daughter’s honor… and to take vengeance upon your house.
She opened her hand.
Within it lay three beads, glimmering faintly.
Ibriza: Here. The three beads. Is this proof enough?
Sharkan stood motionless, the three beads glimmering in Ibriza’s palm like embers of fate.
Before he could speak—
A horn sounded in the distance.
Then another.
And another.
Dandan’s face darkened.
Dandan: That is no festival trumpet.
Ibriza turned sharply toward the forest.
From beyond the trees rose the thunder of hooves.
Sharkan seized his sword.
Sharkan: Betrayal.
Ibriza did not flinch.
Ibriza: Yes. And you stand in the heart of it.
From the woodland poured armed riders — banners unfamiliar, armor dark, faces concealed. Their formation was swift and deliberate. This was no skirmish. It was a trap long prepared.
Sharkan looked to Ibriza.
Sharkan: You knew?
Ibriza: I suspected. And now you see why I urged you to flee.
Stormbreaker appeared at the temple steps, her aged form unbent, her eyes flashing like stormlight.
Stormbreaker: Enough talk! Take horse, child!
Ibriza vaulted onto her steed in a single motion.
Sharkan mounted beside her.
Dandan, though no warrior of youth, drew his blade with steady hands.
The riders closed in.
Steel rang against steel.
The Temple of Maidens became a battlefield.
Sharkan fought like a prince born to war. His blade rose and fell with terrible precision. Men broke before him.
But what stunned him more was Ibriza.
She rode into the fray as though the clash were her natural element. Her strikes were swift, merciless, exact. Twice she shielded Sharkan’s flank. Once she wheeled her horse and struck down a rider who aimed at Dandan’s unguarded back.
The attackers faltered.
Yet more came from the trees.
Dandan shouted above the din:
Dandan: My prince! The army — if this is but the first wave, the greater strike is meant for our camp!
The realization struck Sharkan like ice.
This was no mere assassination.
This was war.
He cut down the man before him and turned to Ibriza.
Sharkan: If they strike our camp unprepared—
Ibriza: Then your army will be crushed before sunset.
Their eyes met — no longer as host and guest, but as allies bound by necessity.
Ibriza: Go.
He hesitated only a heartbeat.
Sharkan: Will you stand alone?
A faint smile touched her lips.
Ibriza: I am my father’s daughter. Go.
Stormbreaker roared like the tempest she was named for, her staff cracking against a helm with startling force.
Stormbreaker: Ride, boy! Or all is lost!
Sharkan spurred his horse.
Dandan followed.
They broke through the thinning line and rode hard toward the forest’s edge.
Behind them, the clash of battle raged on — and at its heart rode Ibriza of Byzantium.
As Sharkan raced through the trees, one truth burned within him:
King Kanaan had summoned them not as allies — but as prey.
And if he did not reach his army in time, the kingdom of Al-Nu’man would drown in blood before nightfall.
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