Jayde's heart ached. It had been five days and she hadn't seen Mozenrath or Jasmine. Her head was filled with worry. No so much for her lover and husband, but for her sister. Last time, Jasmine had been lucky. A kindly street rat was not something that happened twice. Good guys were very scarce these days. Who knew what Jasmine could be going through? Jayde didn't. Jayde had tried her crystals but she could find nothing. Meant that... Jayde didn't know what it meant. She tried to force these thoughts out of her head but they were only replaced by thoughts of Mozenrath. She felt terrible for what she had said to him. She didn't know much about Desdane or Mozenrath's past, but she knew enough to understand that Desdane was not a nice guy. PMS could come at such inconveniant times, and Jayde's body had picked the worst time to make her cranky. Jayde was worried about making the first move when making up with Mozenrath, what if he turned her away? Darius was seeming to be a permanent house guest, and the same could be said for Jayde. She couldn't believe it, but she was beginning to miss the place where she had spent her first meeting with Mozenrath. Apart from the horrible black sand and dank citadel, it had Mozenrath. Everything had gone so fast. It always did for Jayde. Went really fast right up until Jayde said something wrong or did something wrong and then everything went haywire. Every time... she remembered the Balinese king... the Malaysian peasant... the Singaporean merchant, she had spent alot of time in that area, Jayde noted. It always seemed to be Jayde's fault. They just didn't seem to understand that although she joked, she was serious about the relationship. She had tried a bundle of times to think before speaking, but it only took one time per relationship.
That evening, Jayde decided to go for a walk through the marketplace. It was hot and she enjoyed bartering with the locals. They didn't recognize her most of the time, and she gave them a false name. it was really fun that way.
"Apples, I got apples! Fish, fresh fish! Bread, finest bread in town! Rice, Who wants rice? Vegetables, get your vegetables!" The sounds of the market crowded Jayde's ears. "Jewelry! Pretty jewelry for a pretty lady such as yourself!"
A familiar voice replied. "Oh.... no, really, I have enough jewelry."
Jayde turned slowly. Jasmine was trying to let the jeweller down gently. "But... It's nice jewelry, really."
All in one sudden burst, Jayde grabbed Jasmine's wrist and started dragging her away. Jasmine frantically finished her conversation before the jeweller was out of hearing range. "But maybe I'll come back and buy some later!"
Jayde pushed Jasmine in front of her, and forced her into an alley. She stared angrily at Jasmine.
"What do you mean by running off like that?" "Like what? I went for a holiday."
"Holiday, my..." Jayde stopped. "Oh, this is because of me, isn't it."
"Don't be silly." Said Jasmine. "I needed a break. Aladdin and I had a... yes. I needed a break."
"You're avoiding the real answer." Said Jayde. "You and Aladdin had that fight because of me."
"Well, yes." Said Jasmine. "But I left because I felt like it. I'm not the defenceless little princess that I was before you left, you know."
Suddenly, Jasmines explanations were cut off. Jayde hugged her with all her strength.
"You're safe, not dead in a ditch!" Jayde said. "I'm so relieved."
"Gah, lungs." Said Jasmine, and Jayde released her. "Don't do that. It's not digified."
"Dignified-shmignified." Replied Jayde.
"You're going to be a Sultana, sooner or later." Said Jasmine, making a small prayer to Allah that it would be the latter. "You have spent most of your life consorting with gypsies and sorcerers. You need a lesson in deportment."
"Pshaw, you need a lesson in not making your sister worry her head off."
"Worry?" Asked Jasmine. "I made you worry? I would have thought you would be more busy with your new husband."
"So would I." Said Jayde. Her and Jasmine had left the alley now, and were walking back to the palace. "But... it is not so."
"Whyever not?" Asked Jasmine. "Has something happened to him?"
"We had a fight." Said Jayde.
"I'm sorry." Replied Jasmine. "I am certain you will make amends... this time."
"I have some interesting news for you, though." Said Jayde, ignoring Jasmine's comment. "On our most recent journey, we met up with Mozenrath's brother, Darius."
"Mozenrath has a brother?"
"Mm-hm. And he helped us defeat Jafar who had taken over Agrabah." Said Jayde.
"Jafar took over Agrabah? Where is Papa?" Jasmine looked frantic. "Oh, I should not have left Papa alone."
"Safe in the palace." Said Jayde. " Papa is safe in the palace. I saved the day, as usual... after I shook off that depression spell."
"On the contrary, you haven't been here to save anything for a long time." Said Jasmine.
"You're getting off track." Said Jayde and she was getting annoyed by Jasmine's cutting remarks. "Anyway, Mozenrath's brother has heard alot about you and asked me if I could arrange a meeting."
"This... Darius, he wants to meet me." Said Jasmine, in more of a statement than a question. "Well, I guess it is diplomacy, considering who his brother is."
"Yes, so I though you could sign a few portraits and shake his hand and the like."
"That won't be a problem." Jasmine accepted, as they neared the palace gates. "You know I like mingling with the lessers."
"Good." Said Jayde, her mood considerably lifted at the discovery of her sister, safe and sound in the markets, even though she was being uncommonly rude. "Papa will be pleased to know you're safe."
They entered the palace, and Rasoul bowed the the Princesses before hurrying away to inform the Sultan of their arrival.
"I think you had better go see Papa." Said Jayde. "Have a rest afterwards. You must be exhausted."
"Thankyou." Said Jasmine. "Your thoughtfulness is welcome."
"You should clean up first, though." Said Jayde. "You reek, and Papa would not be so pleased to know his baby daughter has been drinking."
"Oh..." Jasmine looked down." Don't you tell him."
"I won't, but be sure to gargle or noone will need to be told." Said Jayde, smiling victoriously. "I have some business to attend to before I join you two for dinner."
The sisters parted, and it was then that a rift was created between them. Jasmine had changed, even moreso after her little holiday, but even before that, in the time Jayde had been away travelling, Jasmine had grown more independant, discourteous, critical and rebellious. Those many adventures had taken it's toll on the Princess, gradually wearing away her refinement. Although Jayde had travelled with gypsies, she had also spent much time with royalty, and had married a lord, not some common street rat. Jayde was slightly irritated by her sister's unusual attitude, and so she retired to her rooms to think about it.
There wasn't much to think about, really. The little sister she had known had grown into the adventurer she didn't know. Jayde wondered about Jasmine's chosen partner. Aladdin, she decided, was a product of free thinking and an absence of class barriers. She disliked Aladdin, couldn't abide him. A street rat... a street rat... a street rat. The word diamond permeated the depths of Jayde's mind, but she chose to ignore this. Aladdin was a... a... hero. Of course, these were needed to keep the Kingdom running smoothly, but that didn't mean you had to be grateful, it didn't mean you had to fall in lo... lust with one of them. For a start, heroes didn't know love. They endeared themselves to pretty young ladies in distress... often the gave them distress. It was that which disgusted her. By being with a heo, Jasmine was automatically placing herself on the hero created, innocently lower platform marked 'Woman". She wouldn't object, either. It wasn't the heroic way. The position meant no harm, but whilst Jasmine got her occasional bout of independance and glory, she would always be second to the hero, in well-meaning heroic terms. Aladdin seemed well-mannered enough, but Jayde had seen enough of them to know that this "scrubbing up" could only be temporary. The hero always came out in the blood. Naturally foe to a hero through no fault of her own, naturally foe to almost anyone who knew their stuff, Jayde could only automatically distrust Aladdin, and so she did.
At least the city wasn't going to be ruled by a classless hero. That could lead to revolution, a dodgy prospect to Jayde, as it is to most monarchs. Jayde felt somewhat proud of her business deal with Mozenrath. She had the power back that she couldn't have achieved as a single... woman. Blasted heroes, that was probably their fault too. She have to change him, though. He had to be presentable to the people. No one like a Sultan who would run off in a sulk at the slightest mention of an old master. Jayde didn't feel so terrible now. Previous regrets must have been a product of worry for Jasmine. Now, contempt towards Jasmine controlled her emotions. It certaily felt better then worry. This little fight could last longer than Jayde expected... but at the moment, she didn't give one ounce of fecal matter. Jayde had other things to do.