Kai Kaous Committeth More Follies (ed. – why did they let this guy rule?)
Shah decides to visit his empire, but rebellion’s in the works. Egypt revolts, plus the King of Hamaveran. Shah’s army seems invincible, so he lays down arms, but someone tells the shah of the king’s daughter, who again is ridiculously beautiful.
Sudaveh – the ridiculously beautiful daughter.
King of Hamaveran asks for Sudaveh’s counsel because he doesn’t want to give her to the shah. After a week, he was depressed enough that he sent a messenger to the shah to ask if he’d come and feast at his place instead, and his daughter was suspicious. Kai Kaous was not, and after lulling for many days into complacency, chained them up. Then he sends for Sudaveh, who’s not happy, ‘cause for once that whole arranged marriage thing worked. So she’s sent to the dungeon with her husband.
Afrasiyab again decides he’ll try for the throne while it’s empty, and lays waste to Iran. Yet again, the people go to Zal, who yet again, sends his son. Rustem’s irritated with the idiot shah, but will do what he can. Armies prepare and march, Hamaveranian army flees, so he tries again with allies. Rustem exhorts his troops to rest their hopes in God. So all’s well, everyone’s dead or allied with Shah now, and Shah and Sudaveh are released.
Only problem is, Afrasiyab’s on the throne, so Shah sends him a letter telling him to get out. It doesn’t work, so they fight, Afrasiyab’s ousted, and tells his warriors that he’ll give them a kingdom, an umbrella (yes, really – sign of nobility, most likely, way of saying will be ennobled), and the hand of his daughter....IF they can bring Rustem alive to him.
Of course, that didn’t work, because Rustem is named Jahani Pehliva, which means champion of the world, and there is peace. Of course, Ahriman the Evil isn’t happy and talks to the Deevs. One goes and tricks Kai Kaous into thinking he should be able to control the heavens as well as all the earth – he wants to fly among the stars and ask their secrets. So he builds a flying throne powered by eagles, which nearly kills him and gets him nowhere in his quest. Plus, he lands in the desert of Cathay, and he didn’t think to bring food or water for him. Rustem finally snaps and chews him out, Kai Kaous says it’s true, and he avoided his throne until he decided God had forgiven him his presumption. And it seems he finally learned not to be so damn stupid.
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