“I remember my mother talking about you all those years ago,” Jasmine invented. “She had said it was such a tragedy what happened. Her kingdom was going to help you, of course.”
“Yes, I’m sure they were.” The man rolled his eyes. “No one helped me. Many things about that time are fuzzy, but I remember this well.”
“We had no time to help you,” Jasmine explained. “The artillery you requested? The cannons? We had them all ready to load onto our boats. We were gathering the forces and armor you had asked for as well. But by the time we were ready to dispatch our ships, word came to us about the tragedy of the fire. That it was all too late. And then of course no one had any idea where you had gone to.”
“Yes.” The man’s eyes darkened. “That’s why he banished me the way he did.”
“It wasn’t right,” Jasmine said. “I’m sure he didn’t even give you a chance to explain your side of the situation, did he? We would have sent people to come and rescue you had we known where you’d been sent. You were wronged.”
“Exactly.” The man’s eyes widened and he nodded his head vigorously. “Sultan Waleed gave me no opportunity to defend myself. A quick overnight trial—if you can even call it that—when everyone there was his loyalists and pawns…So you understand.” He looked at her.
“I do.”
“Then you know exactly why I need to leave,” he said. “I can’t let them get away with what they’ve done.”
“Of course. From one royal to another, they must pay for what they did to you. You absolutely must right this grave injustice.”
She could feel Ali’s eyes on her; he was surely wondering what she was up to. But she had to stay focused. This time, Ali would have to be the one to trust her.
“But what I am genuinely confused about,” she continued, “is why you would want to take a shaky, unreliable carpet; it’s singed from the lantern and injured. And the hook you had in it seems to have messed with its sense of direction. For all you know, it could end up dropping you in the middle of the Sahara with the way it’s functioning right now.”
“What else can I do?” Abbas asked. “I have to try whatever way I can to leave this blasted place. Better this rug than no option at all.”
“Well, how about something stronger and more solid, with a lot more reliability?”
“Such as?”
“A boat,” she said.
“You think I haven’t tried that?” he scoffed. “Weren’t you listening when I told you that I’ve tried leaving this awful place by sea? The waves cut into any vessel I try to build like knives.”
“I’m not talking about a raft. I’m talking about a ship. A seafaring one.”
“Like I’d get on any of those ships out there. As if they’re going to get me anywhere,” the man spat.
“Do you mean the one with the white mast that came in this morning?” Jamaal cried out. “But that’s your ship, Princess Jasmine. You’d give him that one? The one with all that gold in it?”
“Jamaal,” Jasmine admonished, pretending to be flustered.
“Sorry,” the boy said. “I was curious and snuck in when I was certain that the captain was asleep. I didn’t steal anything, I swear it. But there was so much gold.”
“I’m sure you didn’t take anything,” Jasmine said. “But.” She turned to the villain and pretended to consider. “I can give you some of the gold. God knows my kingdom has plenty of it.”
“You’re trying to get me to believe that one of those ships out there is yours?” The man snorted. “And you’ll just give me a literal boatload of gold?”
“As well as a captain to steer the boat for you.”
“Jasmine!” Ali exclaimed. “Your father will be furious.”
“Ali, let me sort this out myself, thank you.” She gave him her best haughty glance and turned back to Abbas.
“And you would do all of that why?” he asked. “From the goodness of your heart?”
“Because if those of royal worthiness do not protect one another, who will?” she asked. “My mother meant to send ships to assist you before everything unfolded with the fire and your banishment. Allow me to give you one ship now as a gesture of goodwill. It’s what she would have wanted. It’s not a tough decision to me. Why would anyone go back on a flimsy rug when you can go back to the kingdom that is rightfully yours with a ship, crew, captain, and enough gold to actually exact your revenge? Money is, after all, power. And that is how you make a comeback. What sort of vengeance does a man in tattered clothing take with a simple rug like this?”
“All this to protect this peasant boy?” Abbas frowned.
“I don’t want to see him hurt. He’s only a child.” Jasmine nodded. “But my decision to help you is strategic. Allow me the chance to help you, and maybe one day you will be grateful enough to form an alliance with Agrabah, as we had meant to do long ago.”
“A boat full of gold? You’ll just give me that to form an alliance?” Abbas asked suspiciously.
“Isn’t Sulamandra full of gold?” Jasmine countered. “If you go back home and defeat Sultan Waleed, then you’ll be swimming in gold and silver, won’t you? Those mountains will be all yours to mine, won’t they? Surely you’ll repay Agrabah for helping you during your time of need. There is no downside for my kingdom to assist you.”
“Maybe…” Abbas considered Jasmine’s offer.
“Jasmine,” Ali said. “Your father…”
“My father will be pleased we were able to lend our assistance to such an important man,” Jasmine retorted. “Please allow us to rectify the tragic mistake.”
Abbas smiled. His yellow teeth looked like a string of corn.
“Fine,” he finally said. “Go summon the captain and bring proof of this wealth that is in that boat you speak of. If you can prove what you say is true, we have a deal.”
“I can do that.” She nodded. “In the meantime, can’t you put the boy down? Holding him like that means even a slight accidental turn risks his life.”
“Accidents happen.” He kept his grip firmly on the boy and shrugged. “You have one hour. But bear in mind that after the ordeal back at the cliffs, my patience is growing thin. If you’re not back in time”—he looked down at Jamaal, his expression darkening—“this boy is dead.”
