A/N: OK, so 5,110 readers! WOW! I never thought this story would reach 4 thou much less 5! It's epic; I'm totally numb with shock, it's just THAT amazing to me….
Phew; anyways, so I'm getting a pretty steady stream of questions on whether or not Cassim will be able to ask the Oracle about his family, so it's time to poll: does that matter to you, my readers? Yes or no? Please let me know; I want feedback on this.
Second poll: I'm also getting many ?'s about whether or not Sadira and Mozenrath will eventually become a couple. Again, is that important to you guys? I am curious to know what you want to see at this point. So, input is VERY welcome Plz leave it with your review! Thx! Onward….!
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Aladdin & the Heirs of Magic Ch. 45: Morning's Light
Everyone spun around to see Iago and Xerxes playing tug-a-war with a clump of purple grapes.
"Mine! Mine!" Iago yelled over and over.
Xerxes hissed and snapped at him, but quickly lost patience, flicking him aside with a whack from his tail. Iago went catapulting across the room and into a large vase near the balcony.
"Eeewwww! Someone's been spitting in this vase too!"
Jasmine gave Aladdin a reproving look.
"I swear Jaz! It wasn't me!"
"Probably your charming guards," Mozenrath flatly said to them as he walked up to Xerxes and held out a hand expectantly. Xerxes sheepishly dropped the grapes into them as Abu fished Iago out of the vase.
"Aghhhh, yugk!" the monkey said, sticking out his tongue as he pulled a wet Iago from the striped, gold-painted vase.
"Blah, that's it, we need new housekeepers or something!" Iago complained. Genie flew up to him, and pointed a blue finger. One 'poof' later, Iago was clean and groomed.
The parrot shook. "Phew! Thanks Genie!"
"No prob, bird-man."
Mozenrath placed the grapes back into the oval fruit bowl. "Manners, Xerxes," was all he said in reproof. Xerxes nodded.
"Sorry, master; but parrot took. I see them first." His tone was sullen.
"Regardless, manners."
"Xerxes be good."
Meanwhile, Mozenrath had observed in his peripherals the sand witch returning to the table where the Elixir of Life majestically sat, glistening in the early morning light. He caught the clanking of bottles and glass as she prepared some other concoction of hers—probably a supplementary potion for his most recent dose of the Elixir.
He smelled the fragrance of exotic perfume as the princess drew near to him. He turned to give her his full attention.
"My father did have a couple conditions though, in exchange for your going with Sadira."
Mozenrath couldn't keep the amused twitch of his lips at bay. Of course he did; of all the impertinence. "And those would be?" he asked silkily.
"That you eat something first, and take another healing potion—"
"Which your sand magician is no doubt preparing this moment—"
"-And that when you return, you rest; no changing your mind after, no complaining, no tricks."
"I'll leave those things to your bird—" and he watched in satisfaction as the parrot threw him a surprisingly impressive glower, "those seem to be his areas of expertise after all."
"I heard that!" the parrot snarked. Mozenrath only snickered in reply.
The princess only rolled her eyes at them and then leveled a serious look at Mozenrath. "Well? Will you agree?"
Xerxes took that moment to fly over and wrap around Mozenrath's shoulders. "Sounds fair," he plainly said to his master.
Mozenrath sighed. "I suppose Xerxes is correct," he said, sounding only mildly put out.
The princess's posture relaxed, probably in relief. He caught the thankful little smile she tried to sneak to his servant…but failed. "Good. Sadira, you're going to eat with us, right?"
"I don't know Jasmine, Iago might be worried about the soup if he found out I made it."
And of course, the parrot at that moment was about to take a spoonful of soup; he froze and dropped the golden spoon. "You…you made this!?" he gasped in horror. "But, I already took a bite of it!"
"Oh? Really?" Mozenrath put in, and turned to Sadira, "what did you put in it? Will he turn into something…preferably something mute?"
"Hey! Jaz I say we put the crazy wizard back where we found him. I warned you about bringing strays home; especially on your wedding day."
A padlock appeared around Iago's beak. The weight of it knocked him face first onto the table.
"Mooophmmppphhhhghghghghgghh!" he yelled in angst, struggling to pull the huge lock off.
"Mozenrath!" the princess rebuked, spinning on him, "Take that off him right now!"
The wizard only lazily shrugged. "I can't," he said as Xerxes rolled around on his shoulders, laughing in his raspy voice, "I didn't do it."
Everyone turned to Genie. He only shrugged. "Don't look at me guys…even though I was thinking about it—well, I was gonna use a safe; you know, with combination lock."
Sadira at that moment walked up to Mozenrath, balancing a full goblet made of copper in both hands. "Here, drink it while it's hot," she said, her eyes fixed on the cup.
"Sadira," Jasmine chided, hands on her hips.
"What can I say?" Sadira innocently said as Mozenrath took the goblet carefully and after a soft "thank you," sipped it, "I'm good at multi-tasking."
Mozenrath nearly choked on the liquid. He forced himself to swallow and then snickered. "Could you not do that?" he asked with mock casualness.
Sadira actually blushed. "Ahem," she cleared her throat, "sorry." She flicked her wrist in Iago's direction and the padlock dissolved.
"Oh, the things I put up with to live in luxury," the bird complained.
"He would never have lasted, putting up with my circumstances," Mozenrath murmured to Sadira.
"What? Iago, having to live with Desdane?"
"No," Mozenrath corrected, "Desdane-having to live with the bird."
The both chuckled as they found open seats at the table with the others.
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A/N: Ok, so here we are; truces are being called per se, hope you're all still liking! Plz leave a review, and don't forget about the polls above. Feedback/input is a MUST! LOL
