Chapter 3

"Can't I go, Ali?" Alaric begged, giving his best, "I'll be really good" look. Aladdin snickered.

"Go ahead, Ali. Tell him no." Ali gave his younger brother a pointed look and rolled his eyes. For the past three years Alaric had grown to become part of them, through Cassim still wouldn't acknowledge the boy as a son.

Once a month Cassim sent out two of his people to go and gather what they could from the neighboring kingdom, Agrabah. This month it was Aladdin's and Ali's turn. Alaric always wanted to go when they went on raids and this time it was his brothers going. He didn't want to miss this opportunity to see the city.

"I don't know-" Ali began teasingly.

"I'll stay out of the way, I promise." Alaric interrupted. "Let me come this once."

"All right, all right. Stop giving me that look." Ali laughed and Aladdin held a hand out for him. Alaric grinned and let Aladdin haul him up on the back of the horse. Abu chattered at him and hopped over to sit on his shoulder.

"I swear, guys. I'll stay where you tell me." The boy stated, his eyes filled with promise.

"We know, Rick." Aladdin laughed, ruffling his hair, and then turned towards the large tent. "We're off, Dad! See you later!"

"Be careful, my sons." Cassim chuckled and then spotted Alaric who fidgeted nervously. "Have fun, boy." The wide grin that followed that made Cassim chuckle more. He did like that boy a little.

"I'm telling you, Cassim," Hussam drawled from behind him as the three boys rode off. "He's a jinx. You'll have no sons by the time he's done."

"You know I don't believe in that, Hussam." Cassim stated firmly and turned to face him. "The boy has done nothing to you. And he's become an asset to our people."

"A snake like thing to do, my king. He's lying in wait. I'm warning you. You're boys don't stand a chance with that little monster."

"Exactly." Sa'luk agreed. "He's not trustworthy."

"Alaric has proven himself over and over, Sa'luk. He won't let me down." Cassim walked away from the two men, shaking his head. Would they never let up on that poor boy? He had made progress over the last year, learning what he could and slowly regaining his own trust with others. For a while he had only trusted Aladdin and Ali, and then his trust had expanded to him and some of the other men. Cassim would never tell him, but he was proud of the boy and his accomplishments.

"How would you like to be rid of the boy?" Sa'luk asked slightly.

"I would be grateful, but how?" Hussam frowned. "Those two brats of Cassim's watch him like hawks."

"What if there was a…misunderstanding in Agrabah? I heard there's a group of salve traders looking for an oddity or two?"

"Ah, yes…and that boy certainly is one."

Alaric gaped at the golden topped palace that glittered at them as they rose over the hill.

"It's beautiful."

"Sure is." Aladdin agreed and Ali shrugged.

"Eh, it's all right." He grinned teasingly and laughed when Aladdin attempted to kick him off his horse.

"Shut up, Ali." He snorted and Alaric tilted his head.

"Uh, what are those men doing?"

"Those are slave traders, Rick." Al said quietly and frowned at the line of men, women, and children.

"I thought the Sultan, didn't allow that here." Rick said and looked towards Ali who was frowning too.

"He doesn't. Looks like his guards are taking care of that." Ali didn't like the look of some of the men who were getting into an argument with the burly palace guards. "Let's go around. I don't want get too close." They headed down the hill, making a wide gap between them and the slavers. Alaric looked over his shoulder at them and shivered a bit.

"It's all right, Rick. We're not going to let anything happen to you." Aladdin promised, feeling the boy shudder.

"Just stay nearby, all right?" Ali told him and the boy nodded and then peered around Aladdin to get a look at the Marketplace.

"Wow." He said and the older boys chuckled.

After leaving their horses in the stables, they headed into the throng of people coming to and from the grand Marketplace. Alaric kept near the older boys as they got into the thicker crowds, struggling to make sure he wasn't going to get lost. He was going to prove that he was good enough.

"All right, Rick. Stay here while Al and I go negotiate." Ali told him and Alaric nodded, plopping down on an empty crate. "We'll be right back."

"Okay." The boy nodded and Ali ruffled his hair. Aladdin waved at him and they disappeared around the corner. Alaric leaned against the wall, content to sit and listen to the sounds of the Marketplace.

"Is that the boy?" Alaric's eyes flew open. Two evil looking men were standing over him.

"That's him, all right. Blue eyes, brown hair."

"Um…hi." Alaric waved and then swallowed nervously as hands reached down to grab at him.

Ali rolled his eyes at his brother's attempt at humor.

"Shut up, Al, and get the horse saddled." He told him and smirked when Aladdin gave him a dirty look.

"No! Help!" Aladdin and Ali whirled around, instantly recognizing the shout and saw Alaric being dragged down the street by a couple of men.

"I told him to stay put." Ali frowned. "Now he's got the guards after him." Aladdin shook his head.

"Those aren't palace guards, Ali." Ali paled a bit and he and Aladdin ran to catch up to the men.

"Let him go!" Aladdin demanded, flipping over the men and landing nimbly before them. Ali rolled his eyes at his brother's dramatics, but quickly took a stance beside him. He wasn't much of a fighter like Aladdin, but he could hold his own if need be.

"Out of the way, boy. This runt will bring in big money." The taller of the two men leered at him and Alaric swallowed.

"Just go, guys." The nine-year-old stated miserably. "You're dad's waiting for you."

"He's only a kid. What good could you get out of him? Just let him go and we'll pay you for him." Ali told them, ignoring the look on Aladdin's face.

"Hm, that one looks like he could bring in money." The shorter slaver stated, eyeing Ali who stiffened slightly.

"No, we want the boy now move or-" The tall trader didn't get to finish as the air was knocked out of him by Aladdin. The other man was stunned at the quick action and Ali took the opportunity to snatch Alaric.

"Come on, Al!" Ali called as he sprinted off with the boy right behind him. Aladdin gave the men a cheeky grin and fled after his brother.

"I didn't do anything honest!" Alaric stated as they ran. Behind them the men had recovered and were giving chase. "I was just sitting there!"

"We'll talk about it later. Just keep running." Al told him and then Ali slowed, ducking into an alley nearby. They had left the men in the crowds and for now were safe.

"We've got to split up."

"What? No way!" Aladdin hissed.

"It's the only chance we have." Ali informed him over his brother's protest. "Take Alaric and go hide somewhere. We'll meet back at the horses in an hour. That should be sufficient enough time to be rid of our friends." Aladdin didn't like the idea, but he took hold of Alaric's arm and pulled him along.

"One hour, Ali. Then we're getting out of here."

"Right. I'll be there, I promise." His big brother assured him and Aladdin nodded, satisfied. His brother almost always kept his promises. Alaric fidgeted, looking at them worriedly.

"Go on, Rick. I'll be okay." Ali told him and Alaric smiled, hoping he was right.

"Come on, Rick." Aladdin told him and they hurried through the crowd. "You get to see our hangout we have when we're here."

Ali watched them go and then sighed. He hated lying to his brother, but what else could he do? He was going to save them, his family, the only way he knew how. As the slavers moved into view he stepped out of the alley and unknowingly into a dark future.

"It's been an hour. Where is he?" Alaric asked, sitting on Ali's horse.

"He'll be here." Aladdin said softly, looking towards the horizon. The sun was beginning to go down. "He promised to be." They waited until the sun finally disappeared.

Aladdin couldn't stand it any longer and he began to search for his brother. Alaric had a bad feeling in his gut. Something told him that Ali wasn't coming. The boy slid off the horse and knew where he had to check.

"Rick! Where are you going?" Al called after him, but the boy sprinted away.

Alaric reached the edge of the city and looked towards the spot where the slavers were. In the diming light he could just make out people being shoved into the caravans. The last person in line was paler than the others and Alaric gasped.

"Ali…No!" The boy jumped up and ran for the wagon. "Ali!"

"Go back, Alaric!" He heard him call back. "Go back and take care of Al."

"No!"

"Alaric!" Aladdin came to stand behind him and frowned at the caravan. "Ali."

"We've got to do something! They're taking him!" Alaric tried to move forward, but Aladdin held him back.

"No, Alaric. If we go out there, they'll catch us too." Aladdin swallowed. He didn't want to leave his brother in there, but he had to look out for the boy next to him.

"I'm sorry, Al."

"It's not your fault, Rick. We can still save him if we get to Dad."

Alaric nodded. "Cassim will know what to do." He hoped.

"Is there anything we can do, my king?" A voice spoke up and the crowd fidgeted. What did one do for someone who had lost a son? They had discovered the caravans wreaked and no sign of Ali among the bodies. They could only assume the worst.

Cassim looked up from the fire, his eyes sad. "Thank you for trying to find my son. I only hope his spirit is resting peacefully." His men took that as a dismissal and left him. Aladdin sat across from him looking saddened and worried. Alaric was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I wanted to go after him…I had no idea."

"I don't blame you, son." Cassim stated, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It couldn't be helped."

"I just feel so helpless, but I couldn't leave Alaric."

"Where is the boy?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since we got back." Aladdin ran a hand through his hair. "I hope he hasn't run off."

"Perhaps it would be better if he did."

Aladdin looked up and frowned. "What? What are you talking about?"

"They were after the boy weren't they? I don't think it was a coincidence." Cassim stood up and went into his tent and Aladdin followed after him.

"Dad, you can't seriously blame Rick for that. It wasn't his fault." Aladdin spoke to his father's back as the man poured himself a drink.

"They said he was jinx. I should have listened."

"Dad, come on. Alaric is like a son to you. I think of him as a little brother. He's not a-"

"He is not my son!" Cassim snapped and then sighed. "You can call him what you like, but he'll never be my son. You are the only son I have left, Aladdin." Aladdin frowned at his father before turning on his heel and stalking out of the tent in search of Alaric.

Alaric wiped at his eyes, slumping down against the tree Ali used to sit. He ignored Aladdin calling his name and gazed down at the tents below.

"I swear I'm going to make it up to you and Cassim, Al. You'll see. I'll find a way to bring Ali back to you."