"Some of this really is very complicated."said Aida. "But let me see."
She searched her mind for everything she had ever learned about magic. After all, she was the only one at Dzonot who wasn't afraid of the witch. She would often go see her and be awed by her magic.
"Before you would brew a potion, I guess you would have to get he ingredients, but we'll worry about that later."
"Could you actually do all these spells, Mother?"
"Could you curse Iago, Aunt Aida?"
"What!"
"Probably."Aida was too much absorbed in the book, than in what the boys were asking her. "I don't think we're at that level yet."
"When will we be at that level?"
"After a while. So…"she closed the book, and looked at Iago and the boys. "I think Father will be most pleased when he sees what you've just discovered."
"What!"exclaimed Iago. "You can't say a word to anyone!"
But Aida wasn't listening. She was looking around at an hourglass shape, that had two snakes on either side. She stopped when she noticed something.
"This ring looks familiar."
She held it up.
"I remember my father wearing a ring somewhat like this. It's been in the family for years. Come to think about it, now that I remember, he hasn't been wearing it lately, has he?"
"That is your father's ring."Iago told her.
"What are you talking about, Iago."
"Don't you see? The reason that I didn't want the kids or anyone to know about this place is because this was Jafar's old lab. That's your father's ring. The one he used to find your brother-in-law and get the lamp!"
"Huh? Okay, now you're confusing me, Iago. This could not have been Jafar's laboratory, see, because, well, like I said these books belonged to someone who must've been a very great sorcerer."
"And he was a great sorcerer. That's how he manipulated and controlled your father!"
"But…Jafar wasn't a sorcerer. He couldn't have been. He was only a stupid old man who just knew how to get around my father. And my father trusted him. That was all."
"Listen, Aida, I always did wonder why the heck you two didn't get along. You both just loved to fool with magic. The difference being that Jafar always used Dark magic. I don't think you would do something like that."
"I most certainly won't! How come you didn't say a word to anybody before, Iago?"
"Well, see, I was also under Jafar's spell. So obviously I couldn't say a word."
"But afterwards."
"What for?"
"So we could see all this. I'm under the impression that when in good hands, some of these little spells might be pretty useful."
"No, no, no, no, no. We are going to get out of here, and not say a single word to another living soul."
"Why? Is there something that I don't know about, Iago?"
"No, it's just that…look..."he didn't know what else to say.
Aida, remembering the ring, asked, "What did Jafar want with this ring?"
"I told you. To find Aladdin."
"What did Jafar want Aladdin for?"
"Long story."
"I've got all the time in the world."
"Look, he wanted the lamp."
"You mean, like Genie's lamp? Jasmine once wrote something like that to me."
"Yeah, well, see, I guess it's like Al's dad with the Hand of Midas thing."
"Don't you remind me of that!"
"Well, it's kind of like Jafar with the lamp. He heard about it, and was determined to do just about anything to get it."
"Okay, but the Hand of Midas was, well, like treasure. What would one want with a lamp?"
"Because of the Genie. The three wishes."
"Well, if he knew all about all this magic, what did he want a genie for?"
"He wanted to become sultan."
"Now you're just confusing me even more."
"Well, see, he wanted power, I guess you could say."
"So that's why he became the royal vizier?"
"Well, yeah, I guess so."
"But…he was always nagging at Father for Jasmine to get married. He was the one who convinced my Aunt Fara to help."
"Well, I don't know. I only know what I know, and that ain't much."
"Well, I guess I'd better take this ring back to my father."
"You can't do that! How're you going to explain where you got it."
"From right here. Besides, it's his ring. It's been in the family for years."
"But you'll get your beloved nephew and your beloved son into a lot of trouble! Your sister-in-law won't like that. Then she'll get mad at your husband, you'll husband'll get mad at you, and well, it's just a mess."
"Not to worry."she said.
"Wait!"
Aida was already on her way out.
"Now just look what you caused, kid!"exclaimed Iago. "Now we're in for it."
Aida walked into the room.
"Why, there you are, Dearest. Jasmine was just telling me about the special surprise. Well, what was it?"
"Just look what I found."
She held out the ring.
"My ring!"Hamed suddenly exclaimed.
"What? But I thought you had simply stopped wearing it, Father."said Jasmine.
"Well, I think I did. Though I can't remember why."
"I found just there in the tower."
"My, my, but I had lost it. I could never find it again. What was it doing in the tower?"
"I don't know. It was in the laboratory."
"What laboratory?"asked Aladdin.
"One that the boys showed me. It was filled the most unusual and interesting books. Iago said they belonged to Jafar."
"Jafar?"asked Aladdin.
"I'm not sure."
"That's what Iago said. You had better ask him."
"Oh, yes. At once."said Hamed.
"Make no mistake I will. Where is he?"
"Well, I left him over there, with the boys."
"But how could these be?"asked Jasmine.
"I don't understand a word of all this."said Josefina. "Oh, my. Quite a beautiful sapphire on that ring. Could it not have been stolen, and the thief have gotten a guilty conscience?"
"Hmm. I don't think so. Iago has some explaining to do. Perhaps this is not the only thing Iago and Jafar stole. Wait a minute, I remember they stole the lamp, too. Perhaps there are other valuables Jafar took."
"That had never occurred to me."said Aida. "Have you ever lost anything?"she asked Jasmine. "I never did."
"Well, not that I know of."
"There's only one way to find out."