he　clash　of　metal

singed　the　hides　of　the　horses　which　gave　off　smoke。　The　fight　was　a　lengthy

one。 The Turanian shot arrows； the Persian maneuvered his sword and horse

skillfully；　and　finally；　the　mysterious　Persian　felled　the　Turanian　after　catching

him　by　the　tail　of　his　steed。　He　then　chased　after　Shengil　who　was　trying　to

escape；　and　grabbed　him　by　his　armor　from　behind　before　taking　him　by　the

neck。　As　he　accepted　his　defeat；　the　Turanian；　still　curious　about　the　identity　of

the　mysterious　warrior；　asked　without　hope　what　everybody　had　wondered　for

days；　”Who　are　you？“　”To　you；“　replied　the　mysterious　warrior；　”my　name　is

Death。“　Tell　me　then；　my　friends；　who　was　he？”

“The　legendary　Rüstem；”　said　Butterfly　with　childlike　glee。

I kissed him on the neck。 “We’ve all betrayed Master Osman；” I said。

“Before　he　metes　out　his　punishment；　we　must　find　Olive；　rid　ourselves　of　this

venom　in　our　midst　and　e　to　an　agreement　so　we　can　stand　strong　against

the　eternal　enemies　of　art　and　those　who　long　to　send　us　directly　to　dungeons

of　torture。　Perhaps；　when　we　arrive　at　Olive’s　abandoned　dervish　house；　we’ll

learn　that　the　cruel　murderer　isn’t　even　one　of　our　lot。”

Poor　Butterfly　uttered　not　a　sound。　Regardless　of　how　talented；　confident

or well supported he might be； just like all illuminators who sought one

another’