Zumurrud  was both forgiving and clever,  so after being put in mortal danger my the actions of her husband she packed up a few choice possessions and escaped the city. Her escape was not easy and soon her journey found her captivity, in the hands of a group of 40 thieves. Whilst they went out pillaging, Zumurrad was is left in a the cave with the mother of one of the thieves. The mother, who was appalled by how her son had turned out, snuck Zumurrad men’s clothes and a horse and showed her a secret exit to make her escape. 

 

Zumurrad, who had no idea where she was, by this point, started the long journey to find her husband Nur Al- Din again.  

The first city she came to had just lost its king and it so happened that the custom of the city was to make king the next man to walk into the town.   

So it came to be that, disguised in stolen men’s clothes, Zumurrad rode through the palace gates and was greeted by the towns folk, who took her to be crowned king of their city.  

 

Having decided that her position as ruler would enable her to send word out to Nur Al-Din, she decided to stay, keeping her true identity and gender a secret.  

She was a kind and just ruler and her people loved her. She provided a feast for her citizens every day, one rule being that nobody must touch the rice pudding. Many thieves and crooks disobeyed the rule and she punished them severely, promoting the importance of honesty and trust in her kingdom. 

 

Then one day, the same as any other, word reached her that a man had stolen from the bowl of pudding. How will Zumurrad react when she finds out that the man is from her past, a man with a dark, furrowed brow.