tanysiderationatall.

    Westaredatthehorsethiswayuntilwediscovereditcealedasecret.Now,however,Icouldseeabeautyinthehorsethatshimmeredlikeheatrisingbeforemyeyesandwithinitaforcethatrousedazestforlife,learningandembragtheworld.Iaskedmyself,“Who’stheminiaturistwiththemagictouchthatdepictedthishorsethewayAllahwouldseeit?”asifhavingfottensuddenlythathewasalsonothingbutabasemurderer.Thehorsestoodbeforemeasifitwerearealhorse,butsomewhereinmymindIalsokwasanillustration;beingcaughtbetweewothoughtswasentingandarousedinmeasenseofwholenessandperfe.

    Foratime,weparedtheblurredhorsesdrawnforpracticewiththehorsemadeformyEnishte’sbook,determiningfinallythatthey’dbeehesamehand.Theproudstahosestrongastudsbespokestillnessratherthanmotion.IwasihehorseofEnishte’sbook.

    “Thisissuchaspectacularhorse,”Isaid,“itgivesoheurgetopulloutapieceofpaperandcopyit,aodraweverylastthing.”

    “Thegreatestplimentyoupayapaiosaythathisworkhasstimulatedyourowhusiasmtoillustrate,”saidMasterOsman.“But’sfetabouthistalentandtrytouhisdevil’sidentity.HadEnishteEffendi,mayherestinpeace,evermentiohekindofstorythispicturewasmeanttoapany?”

    “No.Acctohim,thiswasohehorsesthatlivedinthelandsthatourpowerfulSultaisahandsomehorse:ahorseoftheOttomaisasymbolthatwoulddemonstratetotheVeianDogeOurSultahandtheregionsunderhistrol.Butoherhand,aswitheverythingtheVeianmastersdepict,thishorsewasalsotobemorelifelikethanahorsebod’svision,morelikeahorsethatlivedinaparticularstablearticulargroominIstanbulsothattheVeianDog