Juwani Mulkh: The ailing King and the Magical Apples. 

It was after some walking that dawn arrived, and they were all happy to find themselves alive after coming safely through the Land of the Half-Dead.

It seemed that the way ahead was going to split into two. They reached a point where the road divided into two different directions. One direction seemed to be covered in darkness, as if it had been so for thousands of years. But the other way was clear because of the dawn.

Nadir, in a low voice, suggested that he and his brother would take the way where the sun was rising from behind the mountains and the path ahead was clear. But he handed a bean to Najum and said, “Take the way that leads into the unknown darkness. He also suggested planting that bean so that if it grew, it would give them a message that you had succeeded. If our beans grew instead, that would confirm our success.”

Najum wished his stepbrothers success, and after burying his bean, he proceeded towards the unknown darkness.

The two had now parted from Najum. Taking a deep sigh, Alf said, “What a relief! At last, we got rid of that moron.”

“He isn’t going to come back from that darkness. We’re the ones who will share our father’s kingdom,” replied Nadir enthusiastically.