TWENTY-ONE
Anahita couldn't stop laughing. "Why would anyone want a jewelled garden? Why not plants? Trees for shade and flowers for scent...precious metals and jewels have no scent!"
"Plant do not grow underground, you see. Most plants, anyway. There are mushrooms growing in one of the lower caverns, I believe. They fetch quite a high price in the markets, or so I'm told."
Anahita knew little about mushrooms, unless they found their way into her food. "Are you sure you're not a mushroom merchant pretending to be a prince?" she asked.
The frog drew himself up, and bumped his head on the lip of the water bag. "I assure you I am the Prince of Tasnim, and as such, it is my business to know as much as I can about my city and how to help it prosper. The mushrooms have a terrible smell, and
