The custodians carried Khumar away to Afrasiyab, who lamented the pitiful state of his beloved and had her dressed. He restored her to consciousness and asked her what had passed with her. Khumar replied, 'I saw a youth fishing in the River of Flowing Blood. When I stopped him he told me he had already made kebabs of the fish he had caught. I was surprised to hear that and when he offered me some I ate them. Then I fell unconscious.' Khumar did not disclose her infatuation with the youth.

Afrasiyab replied, 'O princess, he must be a trickster. They have entered the tilism and now you must remain alert to such traps wherever you go or the tricksters will overpower and kill you. They are great fraudsters and deceivers. I have sent two sorcerers to arrest them. Once they return I will dispatch Empress Heyrat with an army of sorcerers to battle Mahrukh Magic-Eye and kill Prince Asad.'

Afrasiyab then struck his hands together, and resplendent magic birds flew down from the trees of Apple Garden to the emperor. He said to them, 'Go and perch yourself on the trees where Asad and Mahrukh Magic-Eye are gathered, listen to their council and bring me a report.' The magic birds flew away after receiving the command.

—

Amar Ayyar kept walking along the banks of the River of Flowing Blood but could find no way to cross over to the other side. After some time, he arrived near a majestic mountain adorned like a bride with jewel-like flowers. The foot of the mountain shone like the hearts of the pure, and fields of saffron stretched on for miles on end. The whole forest looked yellow from the spring flowers. A waterfall cascaded down the mountaintop from where the sound of music floated down. Amar climbed over the mountain pass and reached its peak. When he raised his head he saw a marvellous sight Some twenty moon-like beauties dressed in saffron and crimson costumes sat on a splendid carpet watching a dance recital.

Women sat on swings hanging from the trees while others pushed them, sending the swings so high into the air it seemed those infidel beauties wished to touch the heavens. Every one of them was as full of pride as a preening peacock, and their conceit at their own beauty made them flighty and vain.

Amar thought of retiring to a corner to put on a girl's disguise and join them, but the moment his feet touched the peak, they started crying, 'AMAR COMES! AMAR COMES!'

Unable to do anything else, Amar quickly put on the cape of invisibility, saying to himself, These are the stages of the tilism. They will not be surmounted except by the Conqueror of the Tilism. It is pointless to join these women who must be magic slave girls created by the founders of the tilism.

Amar climbed down from the mountain and headed onwards.

He finally arrived at a mountain pass where he saw Prince Asad sitting beside a houri-like beauty, while a sorceress stood close by. The sight resembled the conjunction of the sun and the moon in the constellation of Aries. Amar called out, 'Well done, my boy! Go ahead and waste your time with women while on the mission to conquer the tilism.'

Asad rose to greet Amar, who embraced the prince and prayed for his longevity. Then Amar looked darkly at Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe and said, 'May God protect us against the devil, O Asad. What a remarkable appetite you have shown by choosing this ugly, ungainly woman for your companion!'

Seeing that Amar's words mortified and embarrassed the princess, Prince Asad whispered to her, 'O Princess, do not take offence at his words. He is notoriously avaricious. If you conferred a little something on him he would immediately start singing your praises.' When the princess took off her bejewelled bracelets and made an offering of them to Amar, he said, 'O Princess, what made you think that this lowly person, grandson of Hamza the Arab, was your match? Even great and mighty kings would be unfit companions for a majestic princess like you.' Asad, Mahjabeen and Dil-Aaram all began laughing at Amar's words.

Amar said, 'May God keep you smiling and happy always.'

Prince Asad said, 'O princess, now the tilism is sure to be conquered. While I kill the enemy warriors, Amar Ayyar will dispatch the enemy sorcerers to hell.' The princess felt pleased to hear these words.