Some time earlier, high in the air on a flying carpet, a pair flew over a desert town and landed on the veranda of the most prominent building. The accompanying slaves began to unload enormous bags of treasure from the carpet while the pair watched.
"Well, congratulations on gettin' yourself a dungeon, kid," yawned the one with long dark hair braided like a scorpion tail. This was the Magi, Judar. When he was young and his powers started to manifest, the Emperor of Kou himself came and offered his family a nice place to stay at the capital's palace. It was a boring, cushy gig, so to his amusement he'd go around raising dungeons just to stir up things. The current strategy was taking people that would pledge their territories to the Empire and lead them through these dungeons. But this backwater desert trap with the spoiled Lord standing next to him hardly seemed worth it.
Lord Jamil went in the dungeon with a small battalion and only came out with two slaves and Judar. Even at that, Judar felt like he did most of the work anyway. If Djinns were compatible with Magi, Judar totally earned this one. Even the djinn Amon wasn't too impressed by Jamil, but they were finally able to convince him to form the pact.
Another bothering fact was that a number of months passed in the outside world while they were in the dungeon. The Empire probably needed Judar for other tasks by now. Seeing as the closest goal he knew of was Balbadd, he figured seeing if things were still going to plan there would be quicker than going all the way back to Kou's capital. If all was on track, one of his friends from the royal family should be there in the near future.
Judar said, "Well, if you'll excuse me, I've got a wedding to crash."
Jamil perked up. Even he would admit his province of Qishan was drab. He desired to rule over more and wanted the quickest way to it. That's why he got a djinn. "Oh really? Can I come along? I'd like to try out my new toy…"
Maybe this spoiled brat would be fun to have around after all? Judar threw Jamil a mischievous smile as the carpet they were on ascended with the pair and two slaves and headed south.
Down below in the city, a young man stared up above the housetops at the empty sky where a tower use to be. He had missed his chance. He felt that the dungeon that was once there was meant for him. That's why he was bootlicking and working a demeaning job: to afford what he needed to go in. Well, maybe there was another tower lying around that he could scout out. He shook the daydream out of his head and looked in the back of the carriage, checking on the inventory. He heard someone approach behind him.
"Alibaba! Is everything in order?!" a man shouted.
With a plastered smile on his face, the young man, Alibaba, turned and nodded his head to his overweight boss. "Yes, Mister Budel!"
"Good! And none too soon! We need to take these to the next town over right away!"
"Oh, what's with the sudden rush?"
"There's been rumors going around; that the Lord here made a deal with the Kou Empire to subject to their rule for conquering a dungeon. That blasted building is gone now, so we better high-tail it out of here or all I'll get for my wine is worthless scraps of paper!"
Alibaba nodded and began getting the horses ready. Budel may be a greedy man, but thanks to that, he knew business well.
Currently in Balbadd, Sin's meeting with Ahbmad was disappointing to say the least. The excuse against resuming trade this time was about the agreement with Kou. Sindria would have to adopt Kou's exchange system too if Balbadd were to resume trade with them. What's more, when asked about the economic crisis hurting the lower class, Ahbmad said he had plans in the works with Kou to solve their problems. His smirk, however, did not put Sin at ease.
Sin was planning what he could do with his subordinates as Zenobia, or as Sin knew her, Neela, returned from her errand. She crossed the room to grab her headdress.
"Oh, hey, Neela! How was your business?" Sin greeted.
She smiled back at him. "It was quite fruitful. How was yours, Sin? Do you know when King Ahbmad's wedding will be?"
"Now why would a wedding be on your mind?" Sin's eyes held some mirth as he smiled at her.
Zenobia joined the trio on the couches. "I was only thinking of how once that is a done deal, Balbadd will in essence belong to Kou and helping here will be much harder. I have come up with a solution, if there is enough time."
While speaking, she had reached for the pitcher of water in the center of the table but Ja'far tried to stop her. He offered to pour her a glass, but she insisted as she already had the pitcher in hand it was more efficient for her to pour it for herself. She filled a glass then sat in the vacant seat around from Sin.
Sin said, "Unfortunately Ahbmad's engagement didn't come up, but what is your idea?"
"There's talk of a third prince that the previous king was intending on leaving his kingdom to. Unfortunately he disappeared shortly before the king passed away. If we can find proof and find the prince, the country can have the upheaval it needs."
Sin thought over this information. "Hmm, I do remember Rashid telling me of another son I hadn't met. But if he's gone, we'd have one heck of a time finding him."
The chain mail on her ring-bracelet clinked as Zenobia gestured by lifting her cup towards him. "I think I have a lead for that. While I follow that, since you have access to the palace, do you think you might be able to track down the proof, like in a will or something?"
"Ahbmad isn't too fond of me, but we may be able to manage a search." Sin and Ja'far exchanged a subtle look and nod, silently communicating how they would go about such a task. Sin continued, "In the meantime, I would like to talk to the Fog Troop and see how we can help them. You wouldn't happen to know where to find them?"
After painting Sin as a threat to Cassim, she did not care for the two to meet. Zenobia smiled as she sidestepped the question. "If I had known where to they were, why did we wait in hope for them to show up instead of heading them off at their base?"
"Of course," Sin chuckled, and then explained, "The old location for the slums has been cleared away. No wonder they're angry with the government—tearing down their homes when they already have so little."
Later, in the Oasis of Derinma, Alibaba was loading up boxes of fruit that Budel just purchased from a caravan. He was in the wagon, situating the last crate when a stranger approached him.
"Excuse me, do you carry any unfermented fruit here?" a soft feminine voice spoke.
"We carry an excellent variety of wines. The fruits we have are ingredients," the young man said, counting the watermelon.
"That's too bad. I wish to purchase a lot of food to help out the poor and hungry in Balbadd…"
He stopped at the mention of that country, but he took a breath so as not to show his interest. He turned to see a woman with dark skin and hair of teal and magenta, definitely not someone native to that land.
"Why would you be doing something like that?" he said in a casual voice. He hopped out of the cart and stood, facing her.
"Haven't you heard how grave the situation has become there? The government abolished the slums. The survivors are fighting extinction. I'm working with a man named Cassim in attempts to help the lower class."
The blond haired boy showed no reaction to her statement, except for maybe a mild twitch. She pulled out a handmade white flag from under her cloak as she explained, "He even gave me this, saying it would help me find an old friend of his."
He remained expressionless, only the slightest disruption to his breathing when he saw the flag he use to play with.
She stowed the flag and crossed her arms. She complimented, "You're very good at hiding who you are, Alibaba Saluja, Third Prince of Balbadd."
Not only saying his full name, but former title as well, he gasped and shushed her before anyone could overhear them. "How did you know who I was and how did you find me?!"
She brought her hands up to her chest, left hand rubbing the jewelry on her right. "I have methods of finding treasures and secrets. Now, if you'll come with me, Cassim could use your help. It's life or death for them."
Alibaba looked to the side. "I wouldn't be much help. I'm powerless."
The woman took his chin and turned it so he could look into her eyes. "I am Zenobia, Queen of Pamira. I have conquered dungeons and can lend you my power for you to save your country. We can reclaim your throne and under Pamira, revitalize Balbadd. Your father wanted you to succeed him, did he not?"
Alibaba cringed, easing his head out of her hold. "He did. But I don't want to rule. I think the citizens of Balbadd should make their own decisions."
"That's not a problem. You'd be a figurehead and can show the people how to think for themselves. Pamira is all about progress and development."
"So you'd have my country in debt to yours?"
Zenobia laughed, "How do you expect to lead a thriving country with debt? Balbadd would become a part of my empire. But come, your brothers and sisters need you! If you have ideas for Balbadd's autonomy, we may discuss them on the way there!" Zenobia grabbed the tassels of her right earring and exclaimed, "Spirit of lewdness and desire, dwell in my body, Sitri!"
She transformed and before Alibaba stood an astounding figure with a fiery aura surrounding her. Wings like a griffin sprouted from her back and muscles bulging under the golden, brown spotted fur on her powerful legs. His jaw dropped as he beheld something he had only longed for: the power of a djinn.
The spell was soon broken as Budel came around the corner, demanding to know what all the ruckus was. Zenobia grabbed Alibaba by the wrist and yanked him onto her back before he could react and shot off to the south with the impressive speed of her fastest djinn. Some say to this day you could still hear his screams across that barren wasteland.
Meanwhile in the busy streets of Balbadd, Cassim stood in the shadows with his band of followers. They were eyeing a certain prominent hotel with special interest on a particular occupant. One scout shielded by a cloak came and whispered his findings to his leader. Cassim nodded as he devised a plan.
"I thought we only needed to stall for time if the royal wedding was taking place," grumbled Zayneb.
"For taking care of the Kou threat, that is true," confirmed Cassim. "However, I don't see why we should wait to eliminate the Sindrian threat."