It was there that, once I recovered from my journey across the desert, I met an ancient sultan. I asked him what wealthy treasures or exotic gifts I should get you for your birthday. But this sultan had fallen on hard times and all he could offer me was a ball of sting.
I expressed my disappointment and explained that such a gift, though spun of the finest goat hair, was unlikely to go over very big. The old sultan then told me of an great castle near the edge of his kingdom that he would sell me for a very good price. I accepted. I gave him nearly all of my money as a down payment.
But when I arrived at the new castle, I realized that I had been played for a fool! The land was barren and the castle itself in ruins. I tried to hold things together there for a while...
...but I soon realized that this would never be an acceptable gift.
I returned to the sultan's palace, but he was no where to be found.
I decided I would have to forgo my losses and head to the coast.