02. A Carpet Soars
Although the palace was laden with treasure, we chose to bring back a magicked carpet. We witnessed our foe using it to fly hither and thither, and it seemed to obey the commands of its master absolutely. As appealing as a mountain of gems might be, one cannot put a price on the ability to soar through the skies.
The origins of such carpets are widely known in the Near East. As the maiden told us, it is said an ancient Corvosi king entrapped a pari and forced her to create them. In fact, one scholar of folklore found evidence that this legend predates The Merchant's Tale. Perhaps the fable weaves together several others which circulated through the region during the same time period, meaning that the illuminated manuscript is a rich tapestry of Corvosi tradition and culture. Its value as a scholarly and historic document cannot be overstated.
As it happens, there have been attempts to recreate the fabled carpets through magical means, with some success being seen in recent times. Oh, how simple life would be if, like the pari, one could simply drift off and be carried in the direction of one's whims. Yet I suppose that would rob one of the pleasures of the journey itself. For now, I am content to travel by my own two feet.