A/N: Ah, got the homework done a little earlier than I expected; which is good for me…and good for you! Multi chapters brought to you once again! LOL; onward!

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Aladdin & the Heirs of Magic Ch. 28: Promotions & Healing

The sand slugs moved so that their massive, jostling bodies stood before Sadira in a straight line. The sand witch wondered if she had been tricked; or if this "worthiness" was in fact something like: "Ok, you passed the test; you're worthy to be lunch."

No; that was stupid, she thought, I'm too small to feed even one of them! She hoped anyways.

They all lowered their faces to the sand; Sadira repressed a shriek as their heads came at her…realized at the last moment their mouths weren't open—and their teeth weren't bared.

"We declare you worthy, Lady Sadira, Solitary Witch of the Sands," the first slug declared formally, "We give unto you our undying homage and swear un-ceasing loyalty to you…our Queen."

"Congratulations on your promotion," Jib said smugly. Sadira threw him a glare. He had seen this coming! That little…. And he hadn't said a word!

"Little sneak," she grumbled at him. He only snickered; obviously pleased with himself.

"Hey, I'm a Royal Emissary now," he said, straightening importantly, "I wasn't about to let you refuse their allegiance."

Sadira rolled her eyes and let out a groaning sigh.

"Is our oath displeasing to you, my queen?" the spokes-slug asked, lifting his head slightly. Sadira winced guiltily; he sounded worried—and hurt.

"No, no," she said, raising her hands even though they were both full, "it's great." She coughed to clear her throat and quickly seized her whirlwind thoughts. "I'm really grateful actually," she said after a moment, and realized she meant it, "the world has changed…and not all of it for the better. Your allegiance will be a big help to me, I'm sure of it."

"Your wish is our command, my queen," the other solemnly replied, bowing his head again.

Sadira coughed again; this felt…strange, all of this formality. She was a street mouse, sand witch or no; but, they deserved her best efforts, after all she was getting their best—it was only right.

"Please," she said, trying to sound regal, "rise. My…Royal Emissary will remain to debrief you." She glanced at Jib, who was bouncing around with mostly repressed excitement. "Be sure to tell them all about Mozenrath and Desdane," she whispered to him.

Jib nodded. "I will...my queen."

Sadira kept her eyes from going skyward; but it was hard. She kept the groan at bay.

This would take a lot of getting used to.

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"Hey guys," Sadira greeted as she arose as a pillar of sand, once again at her ruin and shifted back into herself.

She held up the goblet and watched her friends let out a collective sigh. She allowed herself a triumphant grin.

It wasn't often that she didn't something right—at least when they were around to see it, anyways.

"Great job, Sadira," Jasmine said, her voice dripping relief.

Before long, she was at the wizard's bedside; administering spoon-fulls of the iridescent Elixir to his unconscious form. Xerxes hovered across from her, watching intently.

"Elixir work? Elixir help master?"

Sadira hid the sympathetic wince; he sounded like he genuinely cared for this…well, she had heard about Mozenrath, Lord of the Black Sands on her travels.

The reviews weren't glowing, to say the least. Words like: maniac, sadist, monster and sociopath were what she usually heard bantered around his name. And now here he was, lying helplessly in her bed…and here she was, a common street mouse, thief-turned witch nursing him back to health.

She caught Jasmine give Xerxes a hopeful smile.

"If anything can, it's this," Sadira told him, trying to sound confident. The eel brightened a little at that.

Life was endlessly strange, she reflected, she had given up long ago trying to ever predict what it had in store for her next. Her efforts had proven futile, not to mention exasperating, to even try.

The others watched in silence as she worked. Jasmine kept glancing at her though, and pursing her lips; she knew that look.

"I'm listening, Jaz."

Jasmine quirked her lips in a small, "hand caught in the cookie jar," smile. "I was just wondering."

Sadira smirked. "Aren't you always?"

"Yes," Iago firmly put in.

Jasmine gave him a half-hearted attempt at a look. "You said you knew all too well what Desdane is capable of."

Sadira nodded soberly; kept working. Thankfully, she caught the wizard's pallor improving, just noticeably. But, she pressed a hand softly to his brow and skimmed his mind every so lightly.

Phew…she could sense his sanity…as much of it as he ever had anyways…beginning to knit itself back together.

Xerxes lifted his head, and gave her a questioning look. Sadira let out a pleased sigh. "His mind is healing, Xerxes."

Xerxes slumped, his body reflexively unwinding from who-knew how much tension.

"Xerxes grateful to sand witch."

Sadira smiled; he was endearing, the little flying worm. But, she already knew worms held that trait.

She rose. "Well, I'm going to let him rest for now; I think if I give him regular doses of the Elixir for the next day or two that should mend his mind as much as possible."

Abu cuffed Iago before he could comment.

"Hey!"

"Nice work, monkey-man," Genie said, "you were reading my mind."

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Sadira whipped together a very late supper for them: soup…plain vegetable soup with no inter-dimensional opening properties or some such thing…Iago complained it didn't taste as good as the gate-opening batch, but after Sadira casually mentioned she could try to make him some, he quickly assured her not to trouble herself. She managed to bake un-burnt bread and had some figs and grapes as well. They sat around her stone oval table and ate.

Jasmine twirled her spoon in her soup, letting it cool. "You're not telling us about Desdane; why?"

Sadira grimaced around a mouthful of warm bread. She chewed, swallowed and tried to be mellow. "I figured you guys wanted to handle one disaster at a time."

"You mean making sure Mozenrath will be all right?"

"All right as in 'not wake up and kill us all'?" Iago muttered.

Genie, who was sitting next to him, twitched his hand and poof! Iago was an hour glass again.

"Hey! You did that on purpose!"

"Guys," Aladdin impatiently said.

Genie put on his best innocent face. "It was a muscle spasm, Al, really!"

Aladdin stared flatly at him.

Genie sighed. "Ohhhh! Okaaaaay." And poof! Iago was himself again.

"Last time I eat at this second rate restaurant," he grumbled.

Xerxes happily devoured everything placed before him, every few bites telling Sadira: "Mmmm, sand witch food good! Food good!"

Sadira ate up the praise and offered him more and more food. He didn't turn her down.

Genie couldn't stop himself. "You'd think he has a worm or something."

Abu sputtered, soup coming out of his nose. Iago pretended not to hear, munching on grapes. Carpet bobbed his 'head' up and down silent laughter.

Xerxes was too preoccupied with his feast to hear.

All the while, Jasmine waited expectantly. Sadira sighed, catching it.

"Are you sure you don't want to at least wait till after dessert?"

"I have a feeling we shouldn't, Sadira," Jaz replied, trying to press gently.

Aladdin tore his bread into pieces; looked up at Sadira. "If you're trying your hardest to delay it, Sadira, it's bad; so, I agree with Jaz. We should just get it over with."

Sadira's gaze swept over the others, finding they clearly felt likewise. Next to her, she heard Xerxes munching gleefully on grapes.

She stood. "All right," she said, resigned, "let me get the scrolls."

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A/N: Well, how did you like? Please don't be shy! Feedback makes a writer happy! Till next time!