So, I recently finished "The Forbidden Wish" by Jessica Khoury and I highly recommend this book. It was lush, descriptive, and the jinn history was breathtaking. I'm almost sorry I finished it as quick as I did. Oh well, I'll just read it again at some other point in time.
Savannah and Jasmine have a little interaction here. And I'm kind of happy about this. Understanding is a key factor in any scenario.
Chapter Thirteen: Treasure Hunting is not for the Weak
If he could steal the night, he would. Sa'luk was through with playing. After Cassim's kin came into the picture and attempted to kill him, Sa'luk had had enough; initiation or not. The rage fueled him to persevere through the blistering winds and sand dunes. Agrabah was more than a stone's throw away, but he would exact his revenge against the faulty "King of Thieves". He would kill Cassim, his son, and the tramp they brought with them.
Enough with playing around, enough with not getting the treasure; Sa'luk would find the Hand of Midas with Cassim's help and then rid of him when he was finished. That was how someone got a job done, not this step-by-step bull. It was easy convincing the thieves to side with Sa'luk, he tempted them with all the treasures Cassim promised and then some. The greedy men, hungry for treasure fell weak at their knees for him and the newfound leader grinned. He truly felt unstoppable.
No one told any of them the cons of greed. Sure, it gave you something to look forward to, but no one ever told them about the downfall of petty greed. That was why greed was considered one of the seven deadly sins, but very few saw that side, perhaps the 'crazy' superstitious people. Sa'luk considered him to be smart and clever, and planned to outsmart his enemy.
After making the trek through the desert, Sa'luk entered Agrabah's gates. He surveyed the area, unable to determine where the palace guard would roam, he decided nearest to the palace would be best. He laid low near a carpet maker's kiosk and waited patiently. The downtime was necessary for Sa'luk to recover the mighty tread. Many men wouldn't have made it alive with the little water and food Sa'luk had. Despite being parched, Sa'luk would wait.
Razoul, after checking the perimeter of the palace made his way through the gentle outskirts, detecting around the palace kiosks that the Sultan personally used. The market place, many didn't know, had layers. The outer most layer, nearest to the palace, was the Sultan's personal kiosks; the following layer, the kiosks the Sultan's kiosks conferred with when they ran out of material, etc. The belly of the marketplace was where the commoners resided, the main citadel where the hustle and bustle of the day took place.
There were guards assigned to each layer of the residential areas and merchant kiosks. Razoul was assigned to the Sultan's personal. Sa'luk picked his head up and grinned as Razoul made his way closer, taking slow treks to assure the security. Now that Aladdin's father was here, the Sultan was still suspicious as he was initially of Aladdin. Skepticism never truly went away until a complete clearing was made, equivalent to a background check. The Sultan still gave the order to keep an eye out for the thieves, whether they were to come back for the prisoner, or otherwise.
Sa'luk cleared his throat, which caused Razoul's head to perk and jerk in the direction of the sound. "I can tell you the real reason for the King of Thieves to be in Agrabah."
"State your business." Attempting to sound domineering, Razoul's thick voice was gravely and rough, stern, yet uncertain of the individual he was dealing with.
"I said, step into the light and state your business!" Razoul was becoming testy.
Complying with the Captain's commands, Sa'luk stepped into the light, hands raised to show he held no weapons on hand. "I am Sa'luk, a victim of the Forty Thieves."
"Go on," Razoul urged, although stood rigid at mention of the thieves.
"The King of Thieves is here for a certain jewel. He is tricking everyone. You will find him in the palace treasure trove, I guarantee it."
"And how do you know this information?"
"Because, I've heard it myself from his lips; his plots and his plans. And don't think that brat of his isn't an accomplice." Sa'luk revealed, unraveling this information slow enough for Razoul to take in. "Devoting all his time in the palace with that princess?"
"I knew that street rat was more than just some common mongrel," he sneered, which only caused more joy to well up in Sa'luk.
"Oh, he truly is dangerous. He may even be worse than his father."
"And the others?"
"Hiding away in Mount Sesame. In order to gain entrance, you'll need to know the code. Call to the wind: Mount Sesame. You'll be led straight to them."
"And if you are wrong, we will kill you."
Sa'luk merely grinned in response.
Four nights had gone by since their arrival. Cassim had waited patiently, gaining the trust of Aladdin, the Sultan, and his son's future bride. Through that time, Cassim knew he could never make up the years lost. But, he had begun to know his son as a person and not just his kin. It was more than pride of landing a gold mine for a future, he was proud of the good man he had grown to be, he paused in thought, without his influence.
The guilt began to wash over him. He sought Savannah in her room and made sure she was decent before entering the well furnished guest room. "Everything you said was true."
"I told you he had done well for himself, didn't I?"
"A little too well, my dear. You saw to it he wouldn't suffer."
"How do you allow someone you love to live in squalor?" Savannah asked, rising from the bed. "Aladdin had to learn the hard way, make no mistake of that. He has grown in ways you'd never think a person could grow." Savannah studied his face.
"You can make it up to Aladdin, you know. I understand giving up the title won't be an easy task. But, if you want part in this, you can't have both. How are you going to gain his trust if you remain The King of Thieves?"
"You have my gratitude. You and those two goons he calls friends." He smiled softly. "I just wanted to say that."
"I just want his happiness. And his happiness involves you now in his life."
Cassim was to open his mouth pertaining to Savannah, but closed it. That was a door that had been opened too many times. Savannah made her choice in terms of Aladdin. He saw the hardness in her face and how much she tried to hold on for his sake. Take two of the wedding was to commence the following morning. Now that everyone would be distracted with the preparations, he would make his move to make haste with the Oracle. No matter what, Cassim decided, Aladdin must never know.
At dinner, The Sultan raised a goblet in honor of Cassim and his narrow escape from the clutches of the Forty Thieves.
"And the union of our children will be a blessed one," The Sultan said. "How fortunate we are this evening to be gathered as one beneath one roof. Blessed are we that our children found one another. Tomorrow will be a day of happiness!"
Cassim smiled, albeit awkwardly so.
"Since we're all saying something about the happy couple. I've been around for over ten thousand years. I've seen men try to wish for true love, and men go after true love and each and every time it was with the wrong girl, or she was chasing after the wrong guy. It never failed. But, this is the first time I've come across someone who really went after love, and fought for love and for a girl who has the brightest future I've ever seen. I wish the best in life to this happy couple." Genie dabbed a handkerchief at his eyes, dabbing them gently. "It's all so beautiful." He wailed.
"To the happy couple!"
Goblets were raised in honor of both Aladdin and Jasmine. A sitar player was in the corner, accompanied by a tambora player; dancing girls from the sultan's harem sensually moved to the music that was being strummed. Their wrists turned eloquently, hips moving fluidly. Savannah studied them in their beauty, as did Babkak and Omar for different reasons. Savannah rolled her eyes, however, a smirk curled at her lips. It was a time of joy, of pleasure. Weddings were about unions and togetherness.
Aladdin appeared happy, grinning and sharing wine with his father and the sultan. The two men in his life that were going to guide him through life as a growing man, a ruler, and one day a father. The feelings that were consuming the former street rat were overwhelming, and he dared to admit to himself that for the first time in a good, long while, he felt sheer joy. He was surrounded by his loved ones, and that meant more than any riches in the world.
That practiced smile wouldn't last for long, Savannah knew. Jasmine was attempting to appear lively, taking more sips from her glass than she should have for a professional future ruler. Tonight was different, she tried convincing herself. Jasmine picked her eyes up from the table and met Savannah's. Savannah didn't turn her head away; instead, she took the note hidden within those eyes. Jasmine wanted to run and as far away as she could, as she had tried once before. The last time Jasmine attempted to leave her problems behind her; she fell into the arms of Aladdin and tumbled into Savannah's life. If she were to run again, where would the princess find herself this time, she wondered?
Jasmine rose from the table and motioned for Savannah to follow. If there was anyone she could confide in, it was the woman Aladdin trusted with his life. Jasmine knew she had walked into something, an undeveloped bond between the two. Most would find Jasmine to be nothing more than some airhead princess that bathed in her father's royalties. She was an intuitive woman, who was well rounded and well established. She didn't need to be taken care of. She needed an opportunity to do this on her own.
For so long, she obeyed the laws and played by the rules for as long as she could stomach to be a good daughter. She was too independent, like her mother. Although her mother ultimately chose so she wasn't forced, Jasmine knew it wasn't for love. Love, in Agrabah, seemed a luxury no one could truly afford. This was a place of survival. With her hands clasped together, Jasmine looked up to meet Savannah's eyes once more.
"You think I don't understand, about the people of Agrabah. But, I do. I want to do right by them." The other woman stood in silence, listening to what Jasmine had to say. This woman she hated once upon a time ago, hated for being who and what she was. She didn't know the kind of person Jasmine to be. All Savannah knew was that she had opportunities handed to her, while her people died trying to obtain even a fraction.
"You don't understand, because you'll never experience them."
Jasmine stared at her. "I am educated, I am skilled-"
"So are the men that fight the guards for a bite to eat. Is this why you brought me here? To validate yourself? Princess, I hated you for the longest time. I hated that you thrived while we struggled. You are skilled in diplomatic matters we, the poor, will never have need to understand. All we have to worry about is putting food in our children's stomachs and wonder if we'll live to see them grow.
Women are selling themselves for money and having babies they cannot afford because these women cannot afford the proper herbs to prevent pregnancy and other medicinal herbs. Taxes are raised and make providing even harder. You think because you put a pretty polish on the city means everything gets better? It doesn't. You're an educated woman? Learn about your people. Don't think you know about Agrabah, learn Agrabah. Open yourself to your people."
Jasmine swallowed a lump in her dry throat, listening to the hum of the anger in her tone. Savannah was one of those people, she saw the agony and watched young die because of improper care. What was happening in her father's city? Aladdin had begun to petition more for Agrabah and the counsel had only just begun to listen. Taxes were still high, even though they were lowered. Agrabah was being rebuilt, but it needed more than a polish.
"Aladdin warned me that Agrabah was nearing turmoil. I didn't think it was that bad."
"You'll never know how bad something is until you watch the life leave someone's eyes. It's not too late to start trying. Aladdin knows the ins and outs of Agrabah's problems. As queen, you'll have the power to change our home for the better and with Aladdin at your side, how could you lose?"
Savannah leaned against the wall as Jasmine took all that was said, absorbing all the important details of their conversation. But it was Jasmine's eyes that gave her away and caused Savannah to sigh slightly in defeat. She couldn't hate her, not when she herself understood that look and those eyes so well. "They've put the world on your shoulders, and on the inside you're screaming. There's no shame in asking for help, Princess."
Jasmine bit her lip, feeling her wall slowly break as it did with Aladdin. "Thank you, Savannah. Your insight, I don't think I've ever heard it put that way before."
"I don't believe in smearing the hummus too thickly." Her lips lightly upturned to a light smile. "It takes away from the cracker."
Jasmine laughed gently and embraced the other woman, then. Savannah hesitated before reciprocating and sliding her arms around the other, giving Jasmine the assurance she needed at that moment.
"Tonight, enjoy yourself. Tomorrow is your wedding day with no interruptions this time, promise. Following your heart is greatest thing you can do as queen."
Jasmine nodded, "I have a few changes to make as queen..."
Cassim excused himself from the table and motioned for Babkak to follow. Omar watched the two and left Aladdin with the Sultan. Cassim lit a few braziers along the way, as they descended towards the room containing the valuables. Cassim, in innocent inquiry asked questions pertaining to the palace. The maids, swooning over such a handsome newcomer, answered any question that he desired. Cassim hated using flirtation and manipulation; however, it served its purpose all the same. He waited patiently for this moment to arrive, the rehearsal dinner where everyone, including and especially Aladdin was distracted.
The needle picked the lock, releasing the breath he had been holding as it released and gave him entry inside. Gold shimmered from the floor, walls; the hue reflected and practically created a golden rainbow surrounding the Oracle's staff. There was nothing to deflect Cassim from obtaining his goal. Babkak glanced at Cassim, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. The youth couldn't place his finger on it.
"I don't feel right about this."
"Just keep an eye out. You don't have to enter." Greed overtook the male as he stepped inside, careful to not create too much sound from stepping on the coins that tinkled beneath his feet. His heart pounded against his chest, feeling everything connecting into place, finally. All of his hard work for this one moment. It was then he realized how close he was coming to achieving all of his dreams for his family.
"Well, well, that guy was right, boys."
And all of his hopes came crashing down. The guards popped their heads up, one by one, like gophers from their holes. Cassim took a step back. Dashing between them, Babkak slid between the legs of another guard. Cassim took this opportunity to connect his fist to the face of one guard, and then followed through with another.
"You truly wish for a taste of the King of Thieves?" Cassim grinned that was until the tip of the sword belonging to Razoul was at Cassim's throat. To make his point, Razoul gently pressed the tip further against his throat, causing a trickle of blood to descend. Cassim winced, though ceased the struggle.
One guard held Babkak's wrists behind his back. Crestfallen, Cassim looked at Babkak apologetically. Babkak shook his head, although the elder took it to be out of disappointment.
"To the Sultan with you. I'd like to see what everyone thinks of The King of Thieves now."
Razoul's foul breath was hot against Cassim's face as he closed his nostrils until Razoul began to carry him away and to his fate. Cassim felt the disappointment that was until he noticed the staff gone from its holding. Babkak, kicked forward, fell onto the coins before getting back up. In his pocket, against his thigh, was the treasure Cassim sought. He could only hope no one noticed, either. Cassim caught the outline of the staff as Babkak unwound cloth from his robes to stuff in his pockets.
