Wa'aii leads the way through the cobbled streets. The houses are sturdily constructed. As well as cats there are many people wandering the streets. The people seem reasonably content and well-fed. A few smile and nod at Tekna as he passes. Wa'aii comes to a blue door in a quiet paved square with a burbling fountain with a sculpture of a three-armed merman. Cats sun themselves in the sunny parts of the square.
Wa'aii pulls from his garments a golden key which gleams in the sunlight. He fits the key to the lock and opens the door, gesturing for Tekna to enter.
Inside it is cool and quiet. Divans and cushions and tapestries line the interior. A pair of crossed scimitars are on the wall. The effect is rather like a very elaborate desert tent. From a doorway coos a soft female voice: "O master, you have returned." Tekna turns and sees a beautiful, scantily-clad woman. She looks somewhat perturbed when she sees Tekna.
"Don't worry, Hennah. Yes it is I. I have returned," says Wa'aii stepping in the doorway behind Tekna. "This is a friend. Now be a good girl and fetch us some kaffee."
"Yes, Master." She moves from the doorway.
"Welcome to my home, my true home!" Wa'aii gestures for Tekna to sit.
"As for your questions, this is Ulthar in the Dreamlands. Here all men's dreams reside, and some nightmares of things which are not men. As to its nature, that you must determine for yourself, for no man truly knows the nature of dream. What I seek here...you see around you. Here I am at peace. Here I am myself, a true man in a man's body, no feeble weakling in a desert, unable even to walk." Tekna detects a moment of bitterness in the old man's tone, which up until now has been almost jolly.
Hennah enters with a silver kaffee tray. She is quite beautiful, Tekna decides. The old man watches her avidly, and she smiles at him as she pours the kaffee.
There are small cakes and dates on the tray. Tekna realises that he is quite hungry after several hours walk.