Aladdin looked at the paintings gracing the walls as Omar went to the door. The images of Ababwa. His kingdom. He and Jasmine were equals taking on the world together here. They sat in this very room and changed people’s lives, working side by side. Back in Agrabah, both of their lives were difficult in different ways. Aladdin had to figure out where his next meal would come from, while Jasmine was stuck in a sort of gilded cage of her own. Though he knew Ababwa wasn’t real, it would be as long as Jasmine and Aladdin remained here.
He wished they didn’t have to leave at all. But, of course, he knew wishes were tricky things.
“THE CARPET is still fast asleep, isn’t it?” Jasmine observed. She leaned down and gently petted its soft fabric.
“Yep, looks all tuckered out, still.” Ali looked affectionately at the magic rug. Then he turned to Jasmine. “Once this next person leaves, if you’re still up for it, I’d love to show you the gardens and grounds.”
“And the surprise?”
“Still remember that, huh?”
“As if I could forget,” Jasmine laughed. She rested her back against the high-backed cushioned chair and thought back to all the people they’d met today. She didn’t know if her idea would work for Zaria and Maha, but the two families thought they’d tried everything, and she’d given them one more chance to hope. She marveled at how easily Ali welcomed her advice and treated her as a peer. The more time she spent in Ababwa, the more she found herself falling for this charming little kingdom. And—she glanced at Ali—for him.
But before Jasmine could think upon this much more, her warm feelings disappeared as she saw the person walking into the Advisory Hall now.
It was him.
The man she’d glimpsed among the well-wishers when they had first arrived at the palace. The one who’d glared at them and made the hairs on the back of her neck tingle, just as they did now. She wondered what it was about this man that put her off as it did. Sure, he clearly wasn’t as impressed as everyone else was with the prince. But unhappy subjects were part of the deal when it came to ruling a kingdom. It was more than that making Jasmine feel so uncomfortable. She frowned at his thin silvery hair—he was so familiar. It was almost as if she knew him, though she was completely certain they had never met before.
The man ambled up to the podium. Up close he was taller than he’d looked from afar. Scrawnier, too. His shirt was tattered and his hair was matted with dirt. Even from where he stood a fair distance away, Jasmine recognized the faint smell of salt water wafting over to them.
“Poor guy.” Ali shook his head, whispering to Jasmine. “As much as I talk about how great Ababwa is, there’s poverty here, too. He looks famished.”
Jasmine watched the man examine a golden-framed painting along the wall. He craned his neck to study the vaulted ceilings, and then his eyes settled on the thrones. His eyes narrowed before he began coughing. Clearing the phlegm from this throat, he gripped the podium with his hands. He studied the two of them for a moment before speaking.
“Twenty-four karat?” he finally said. His voice was deep and gravelly.
“Excuse me?” asked Ali.
“That frame.” The man nodded at the painting of Ababwa he’d been studying. “They look to be solid gold. But surely they’re just an imitation, aren’t they?”
“They were here before my time,” Ali said.
The man walked over to a frame and ran his hand across it.
“Well, it certainly feels as real as gold,” he said, marveling.
“No one touches the property of the palace,” Omar said firmly, marching over to the man.
“Easy there.” The man raised an eyebrow. “Just admiring the premises is all. First time at this…what do you call it? Town hall meeting? My apologies to you,” he said with a smirk. Jasmine wondered if Ali noticed the hostility that laced his words, but when she looked over at him, Ali wore a sympathetic expression instead.
“It’s a big palace.” Ali nodded. “I understand it can be a bit distracting.”
“Big?” The man barked a laugh. “This isn’t just big. This is the largest palace I’ve ever seen. Just how many people did it take to get this place up and running?”
“You know what they say.” Ali laughed awkwardly. “It takes a kingdom.”
“Takes more than a kingdom with this one.” The man snorted. “You some kind of wizard or magician or something? Because the way I—”
“If you have a question for the prince, a problem you need assistance with, please ask him now. Otherwise it is time for you to go,” Omar said, interrupting him.
Doesn’t he see that there is something off about this person? Jasmine wondered. She wanted to nudge Ali, but what could she say? The man was boorish, to be sure, but he hadn’t actually done anything wrong. She simply had a bad feeling about him. And was that fair? She looked at the man now—he stared at their thrones as though he wished to inhale them.
“How can we help you?” Ali asked him.
“Help me?!” the man laughed. He ran a hand over his tattered clothing. “How does a person even begin to address all the problems I have?”
“New clothes?” Ali asked him. “We could start with that. Nothing wrong with what you’re wearing, of course, but if you’d like we can get you some fresh outfits. Omar, can you please send for the palace tailor?”
“At once.” Omar nodded and walked at a steady clip out of the hall.
The man watched Omar leave. He did not thank Ali. He seemed entirely indifferent, his arms crossed against his body. The three of them waited for a few moments in silence until Omar returned with the tailor in tow.
“Easy there,” the man snarled when the woman bent down to measure his arms. “I’m not a mannequin you can just poke your pins into!”
“I haven’t done anything but measure you with my tape,” the tailor responded.
“Sorry,” Ali said. “I know it must feel strange to get fitted for clothing, but I’m sure she will do a good job. When do you think it will be ready?” he asked her.
“I can have something put together by evening.”
“That’ll do,” the man gruffly replied.
Just then, the magic carpet fluttered and stretched. It stuck a tassel up toward Jasmine before settling back down again.
The man’s jaw dropped as he stared at it.
