Aida made up her mind to do that. The next morning, she got up extra early, and had Tormenta saddled up. She rode out into the marketplace. She had never been out in the marketplace this early before. However, most of the vendors were already out, selling their merchandise.

"Very well, very well,"she mumbled to herself, looking around. "If I were a very good, very elegant, very expensive hotel, in what part of town would I be? I highly doubt in the marketplace, however, there's got to be someone who knows."

She stopped to ask someone. They pointed her in the right direction, or at least she hoped it was the right direction.

"Aha!"she said, as she looked up at the building. "Yes. I rode too far away, at the beginning."

It was closer to the Palace than she thought. Then again, she probably shouldn't be surprised. All the richer people were the ones who lived closer to the Palace, and had a good view of it. The further you went from the Palace, the conditions worsened. You came across more beggars, people dressed in rags, and such. That was why she never wandered too far from the Palace. She didn't like the sight of these people or their surroundings, much.

"Now I just have to look like I'm here casually. If it's true that he should be out at eight, then, he shouldn't be long."

She tried to look casual, and stayed where she had a good view of the entrance without being seen. She didn't have to wait long. Just as she had expected, Francisco came out, putting his hat on just as he stepped into the sun. She casually made her way towards him.

"Oh, hello, I didn't think I'd be seeing you again."she said, as she noticed.

He turned around and smiled.

"I didn't, either. That looks like a very good horse."he said, looking at Tormenta.

"Oh, yes, she is. Do you know much about horses?"she asked.

"Of course. At home, I go riding every single day. Of course, I have to, sometimes I have no choice. A friend of mine says I was born on a horse."

"I wish I could have been born on a horse. I didn't get to ride a lot when I was younger. I was brought up by an aunt, and she hates all animals. Well, let's be realistic, she hates everything and everyone."

"Would she hate me?"

"Probably. Or maybe not. It depends on what kind of foreigner you are, what you're name is, and how much money you have."

"I see. She must be pretty lonely, then. You don't usually too many people who have a lot of money. Usually, the poor outnumber the rich bigtime."

"I've noticed. There are so many poor people here. I don't go among them, of course. I don't like to see them. My brother-in-law is trying to do something for them. He used to be poor, too, you know. Before he married my sister."

"I see. Do you suppose the Sultan will listen and help him?"

"I have no doubt about that. You see, Aladdin is the sultan now."

"That's the new sultan's name? Nice name. Arabic names have always held a somewhat charm for me. It's a pity I got here too late for the princess's wedding. I've heard it was a very unpleasant affair, though. That a group of men known as the Fourty Thieves broke in. Really, if it had been my wedding, I wouldn't have rested until they were thrown them in the dungeon. For life. And then fire those incompetent guards. Hire someone who really knew how to do their job."

"I think those thieves breaking in was a bit of luck, actually."

Francisco looked incredulous.

"Were you there? How can you say that! It must have been terrible for the bride and groom."

"Yes, for them it was terrible. And yes, I was there."

"Which is why I can't believe you say it was a bit of luck. I don't think it must have been luck for the guests, either. I heard the thieves took almost everything from them, too. Purses, jewels, everything."

She thought about telling him that thanks to the thieves's break-in, Aladdin was able to find his father. But she thought better about it and shrugged. He didn't seem to realize that the sultan was her brother-in-law. She thought she would just let him realize it himself, slowly.

"Well, they did. But I guess you'd have to look on the bright side. They didn't hurt anyone. I couldn't believe that. I was always so sure thieves murdered people."

"Don't doubt it one bit. I don't know why there are people like that."

He shook his head.

"I don't know why people would choose to live their lives like that."he continued.

"Well, I guess that answer you'd only be able to get from a thief."

"Yes. Which is why I would prefer that it remain a mystery."

"At least the thieves were caught."

"Finally. It's the very least those incompetent guards could do, after allowing the break-in."

"I'll agree with you on that. I don't know if the other guards are exactly incompetent, however the captain definitely was. He was descended. You see, he associated with criminals."she added, remembering the night she had seen Razouk speak to one of the thieves.

"Corruption."said Francisco. "Probably exchanging money for letting him get away."

"I guess so."

"Being descended isn't enough, I say. He should have been fired."

"Aladdin didn't think it was necessary to go so far."

"You mean the sultan? I thought the people here never referred to the sultan by name."

"Oh, a special few can."

"I guess you're one of those special few?"

"Yes. I believe I am."

"Lucky you. Where do you live, by the way?"

"Me? That shouldn't be hard to find. Everybody here knows where I live. From what I've heard plenty would like to know what it's like to live there. But don't tell anybody."

"Hmm. I think that aunt of yours has allowed you to get too conceited."

"I shall go if you start saying that."

"Only joking. Only joking, in a way. I mean, I don't know much about the people here, to be honest, but look at you. Dressed in fine clothes, mounted on a fine horse. And going on about it."

"I was only telling the truth."

"And if the truth were something else?"

"I'd learn to talk about that, too."

"Now, for reals, where do you live? Do you have any other fine horses, such as this one? What's her name, by the way?"

"Tormenta. And yes, we do have a lot of fine horses. No one else in the whole city has such fine horses as us."

"Except for the sultan, I presume."

"You really don't see. My brother-in-law is the sultan."

"What?"

"That's why I'm sure the sultan will listen and help him, that's why I refer to him by name, that's why everyone knows where I live, that's why they all wonder what it would be like to live there, and that's why no one has finer horses than us. So, you see, I live in the Palace."

She pointed at the Palace.

"But you said that your brother-in-law used to be poor."

"Yes, he did. My sister fell in love with him, and all those awful suitors, well, she hated them all. My father changed the law. Now she married Aladdin."

"Oh, I guess I'm behind new, then. Or, yes, I think I must have picked up a little of that, here and there."

He looked up at the Palace.

"So that must mean you're a princess, or something?"

"Yes."

"Well, my humblest greetings, Princess."

"Stop that. I got enough of that when I lived with my aunt."

"A queen?"

"Yes."

"And now that your sister didn't, I suppose it's your duty to marry a prince?"

"No, it's not. Or I very well hope not."

"I hope so, too. And does that mean I get a tour of the Palace, and get to meet the Sultan and the Queen?"

"If you want to. I'd love for you to meet them."

"Not in my present condition!"he said, throwing his arms wide, to show what he was wearing.

"That makes no difference."

"It does to me, but if the princess doesn't care. I guess I shouldn't, either."he said, climbing on.