Ali Shar was born the son of a great merchant. What his father left him he got through in a few years. With nothing left, he went and sat in the market where people are sold.
Standing in the market that day was a woman called Zumurrud. The broker went among the buyers calling her price. In this market one thing was allowed to the side being priced as well as the side paying. She could refuse a buyer.
Zumurrud turned down the men in front of her one after another. Then she pointed at Ali Shar, sitting behind them all. She would be sold to that man, she said.