Three Wishes: Cairo (9 page)

Today in Altanan had started much the same as any other day. The farmers were in town with small wooden tables, which held the various vegetables and meats that they traded for the necessities they needed to keep their families happy and well fed. Amongst the crowd picking through these items were the palace representatives who sampled various items and purchased them (at a slightly inflated rate, of course) for the Royal Family.

King Paden was well thought of by the people in his kingdom. He charged only reasonable taxes and had provided a safe and secure haven for his people. The kingdom was quite beautiful and mostly shielded by a u-shaped mountain range. Like a silent guardian, the mountains wrapped their massive arms around three sides of the kingdom. This offered both protection from enemy forces and also from the sandstorms that raged every fall season. On one side of the kingdom, Paden's father had chartered expansive lands for both farming and livestock. The rich soil produced wonderful crops that were protected from wind by the mountains. On the other side, a dense forest butted up against those same mountains and protected the flank. No one ventured into this forest (except for Aladdin) because it was so thick with trees, brush and swampland that it was not considered safe or smart to travel there. This meant that the king could afford to be more magnanimous than most because his kingdom was protected so well by natural means. From a security perspective, it meant that he only needed to guard the front of his kingdom with soldiers. There was very little desire to expand the kingdom, as the villagers and the government were content to maintain the status quo in their cozy paradise. The natural boundaries were quite obvious.

The Sultan's wife had died recently, so he had thrown most of his energy into raising his teen-aged daughter, Enna. It was rumored that Enna was the most beautiful girl in all the land, though few had actually laid eyes on her. The Sultan was very protective of her and tasked his special advisor, Katar with her protection. Like any father, the Sultan worried that his daughter would eventually develop an interest in boys, choose poorly and fall victim to a fast-talking charmer. As she had no other siblings, the law of the land dictated that her betrothed would inherit all that the kingdom had to offer upon the Sultan's death.

For her part, Enna, like any other young woman at the precipice of adulthood, did not appreciate her father's interference and over-protective nature. She was ready for independence at just about the time her father essentially imprisoned her in the palace. She projected the brunt of her anger on Katar because she resented her father’s decision to provide a
babysitter
at this point in her life. She had begun to sneak out of her home through a secret door that her mother had commissioned while still in good health. This door was located behind a cabinet of fine china in the hallway of their private family chambers. The cabinet slid quietly to the side to reveal a private staircase that lead outside from the rear of the palace and into the forest. On the forest side, the stone was altered in such a way as to totally conceal the doorway. On beautiful spring days at sunset, while Paden dealt with matters of state in his nightly meetings, mother and daughter would sneak into the forest and to a special clearing where they would picnic, discuss life and laugh at their own private jokes.

Her mother Dina had grown up in a wealthy, but fairly normal family. She had attracted Paden with her unusual golden-blonde hair and blue eyes, which was exotic in these parts of the world. Enna had inherited that striking beauty and strength from her mother. While Dina truly loved her family, she did not have much patience for life as a royal. She had done her best to eliminate most of the formalities associated with an aristocratic life. Even with one of the most prestigious titles in government, there were still times when Dina just needed to get away for awhile. This cozy little secret hiding place was the perfect spot. She’d paid handsomely to have the door put in place while her husband and his entourage were away on business and paid even more lavishly to maintain the mason’s silence after the door was completed. She was always tickled with her own ingenuity and thrilled with the completed project. One could stare at that spot on the wall and still never see the doorway that was hidden there.

“A girl needs a few secrets,” her mother would say. “If your father knew the whole truth, he'd likely have us both sent to the dungeon. Men have their place in this world, but a man who feels confident that he knows everything and has too much power becomes a much weaker husband. We keep him strong by keeping him ever so slightly in the dark. I like when he has a confident face for his subjects, yet a confused look when dealing with me. I chose the location behind that dreadful china cabinet because no man would ever look in that direction and certainly would never explore it further.”

Dina’s death had robbed the castle of its light. Though shattered by her mother’s untimely passing, Enna vowed to continue her "little secrets" in order to keep her father strong. Plus, she liked sharing her special quiet time with the memories she had created over the years. It wasn't the total freedom she desired, but it did keep her sane and even-keeled. Strangely, when she sat in their private sanctuary, Enna never felt alone and continued long and deep conversations with her mother.

Her father had assumed a more active role as a parent when Dina had passed. It was a bad time for both because not only was Enna becoming a woman, but they had both lost the common link between them. Though he tried his best, he really was an awkward substitute for the graceful and knowledgeable teachings of his wife. Not only was Paden used to having his commands obeyed, but he was not used to the typical teenage fits of rage that accompanied each request. He knew that her mother’s absence had left a hole that could never be replaced. He did try to add friendship to her life by acquiring a new puppy to keep her company. When she’d seen the scraggly bundle of fur that seemed to possess endless energy, she had named her Hanif and the two had instantly became fast friends and constant companions.

The relationship between a father and daughter always navigates a few rocky years as the daughter begins to grow into a young woman and the father realizes this fact and tries to hold on to Daddy’s girl for just a few moments longer. Their relationship had been no different and the fights were loud and spirited. When Paden had announced that Enna was expected to accompany him on his next royal visit and that Hanif would
not
be allowed to go along, she had thrown a royal fit.

The rift between Enna and Paden only deepened when they had returned after that trip last year and found out from Katar that a guard had mistakenly let the dog escape and that Hanif was likely lost in the forest.

Enna had grown frantic and demanded an immediate search party. At Paden’s insistence, Katar had taken several men and combed the immediate forest, only to return later in the day with the disappointing news that her young friend had been found dead and had been buried in a nice clearing. He told her that he didn't think Enna would have wanted to see her favorite animal in the condition Katar had found it. Enna always suspected that Katar had returned a little too quickly. His sickly sweet attitude also made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She didn't trust him and didn't particularly like him much either.

Life eventually returned to normal in the palace and Enna continued to push against the boundaries her father set up for her. Those boundaries were policed by Katar. He seemed to constantly stand in the way of her freedom at every turn. She maintained her secret garden and was now spending a great deal of time there alone.

Enna was on her way to that very place when she had mistakenly bumped into Katar on his way out of the family's private sleeping chambers. She was slightly taken aback by this intrusion because normal operating procedure dictated that no one beside the royal family was to have access to this hallway.

“Katar, what do you think you are doing in here?” she said.

“Your father asked me to check and see if you planned on joining him for dinner this evening. He is expecting a report on your studies and an update on your life,” he smirked. He enjoyed the control that the Sultan had given him over Enna. In his eyes, she was a wee bit feisty and it was very much fun to put her in her place. He was also impressed with the young beauty that was blossoming before his very eyes. He had actually entertained a fantasy where he would become her husband and more importantly, the next Sultan.

“My life? You can tell my father that I will be at dinner, but thanks to him, I have no life to report on. You can also tell him that I don't really appreciate his errand boy entering our private chambers to spy on me under the guise of passing on a message. I too need privacy, as I'm no longer a child.” Content that she had made her point, she moved off toward her room.

“Perhaps he would treat you as an adult if you started acting like an adult.” He couldn't resist one last dig in her direction. He watched as she stormed off and admired the view. Katar was loyal to the Sultan, but he was only human and quite tempted by thoughts of power. He also realized that should the Sultan die and Enna marry another, he would instantly be removed from the palace. There was no love lost between the two, and Enna made no secret of the fact that she didn't trust him. Katar smiled. He had to give her credit. If Paden could read his mind, Katar knew he'd likely be the first member of the kingdom put to death. Her instincts about him were spot on though there was little she could do about it. The King had shown little respect for his daughter and was very uneasy about her womanhood. He seemed content to let Katar do the parenting. This situation was perfect for Katar.

He would return to the Sultan and make the report.

Three for dinner.

Aladdin and Darius had a good head of steam and were running effortlessly. Though Aladdin was no longer an official thief, he still was
borrowing
items that he needed to complete his home. When he sprinted by the guards, they weren’t even aware that he had stolen anything. But they were giving chase because that was what guards did when you ran by and didn’t stop when they told you to. He had easily passed them and gained a safe enough distance so when he rounded the corner of the palace and saw clear sailing ahead, he simply ducked into the forest and was deeply immersed before they even turned the corner. He slowed to a walk, lifted the hood he used to shield his face and made his way quietly through the bramble on his way home without giving his pursuers a second thought. He was hungry.

He rested quietly for a few hours after the day’s activities. His bounty had been a beautiful vase he had seen on the front porch of the local tax collector. No, he wasn't going soft and planning some sort of wildflower haven for his fireplace. Instead, it was simply a very nice way to haul water from the stream into his house. He could drink from it, bathe from it and store several helpings of water in his home to avoid so many trips. This vase was fashioned from glass, so it was easier to clean and maintain than the crude wooden bucket he had used while building his residence. The clarity of the glass also made the water taste like water, rather than wood. Now that his home was completely furnished and he was quite comfortable, he really didn't have a plan for the rest of the week. He had enough food to feed Darius and to keep his stomach full. It was a simple life and he was quite content in the bed he had cobbled together. It was to be an easy low risk day.

He decided to take Darius for a bit of exploring in the forest to check his traps and perhaps develop a new secret trail in the event an escape was necessary. He would start with the premise that an attack would come from the rear of his residence and plan accordingly. This would be his first foray escaping
toward
the palace. He had mapped out the thick undergrowth of his wooden fortress pretty well, but was quite excited about the prospect of a new direction.

He had
borrowed
a very nice sword several years ago from one of the palace guards and he had built up the handle so that he could hold it easily and comfortably with two hands. This had the effect of making it more of a tool than a weapon. When he scouted a new area, he cut a fresh path through the underbrush as he went. Not only did it make it easy to proceed, but also made his return trip a breeze. He was very careful to cut enough undergrowth to be able to recognize the path and remove anything that would trip him up, but leave enough so as to not advertise the path to an untrained set of eyes.

As he sliced his way through this new territory, his danger sensors immediately kicked in and he stopped breathing. He had come across a clearing with two simple carved benches, a small wooden basin with clear fresh water and some ornamental grape vines that blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest. If he hadn’t accidentally stumbled directly into this little grove, he would never have seen it at all. This whole scene unnerved the young man, as he had been so confident in his dominance of this tree-populated paradise. Who was trespassing in his forest? If finding this oasis hadn’t completely unnerved him, the raised voice of another human being certainly did.

“What are you doing with my dog?”

Aladdin froze. All of his preparation assumed that he would be fleeing from some unseen assailant and that he would laughingly be leading them astray through his own private maze of brush and trees. This shock rendered him completely unable to react.

“I said what are you doing with my dog? I'm assuming that you can hear me can't you, boy?”

Aladdin turned slowly. He was now standing directly in front of the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Enna's beauty did nothing to help loosen his tongue. When he saw her eyes focus on the sword in his hand, he realized the implications and dropped it harmlessly to the ground.

When he tried to speak, it came out a jumbled mess, “I… I don't know… dog?”

Darius reacted quite differently. He confidently ran into the young woman's arms with nary a thought for his own safety. Dogs have a way of breaking down barriers by bounding
tongue first
into any situation. Enna was so happy to see her long lost friend that she instantly forgot that she was staring into the face of a total stranger who had invaded her private garden carrying a weapon. She was knocked to the ground and covered in dirt and dog kisses.

Aladdin stared transfixed. He couldn’t believe his eyes. His loyal companion; the dog he had saved from certain death and the dog he had had to prove himself to, was volunteering himself to the first person he met.

“Darius, what are you doing, you traitor?”

Darius barked and wagged his tail. He left Enna and walked to Aladdin's side. A brief lick of Aladdin's hand was meant to soothe any hard feelings.

Enna was quickly brought back to her senses. She rose and again tucked her long golden hair behind her ears and resumed her most royal disposition. She cleared her throat as she again began to size up the young man who stood before her.

“I asked you a question, boy. What are you doing with Hanif? More importantly, what are you doing in this forest, why are you trespassing on this land and why are you calling my dog Darius?”

Aladdin still stared at the blonde and curious creature before him. Who was this person?

He had never experienced this feeling before. Though he had been caught and was being questioned by this person, her sharp tone had caused him to be a little defensive. His normally sharp mind had stumbled but eventually, he crafted a plan as he rose up to his full height and stared down at her.

“Boy? I can assure you that I am no boy. I am the caretaker for this forest and you, young lady are trespassing on land under my care. I am assigned this task by the King Paden himself. The dog that you refer to as Hanif has a name and you will refer to him henceforth as Darius. Now run along before I report you to King Pa…”

“To my father?” she interrupted. She was enjoying just how uncomfortable she had made him. Lately, Enna had not been very thrilled with being the daughter of the King. But at this moment, she wouldn't want to be anywhere or anyone else.

But to Aladdin's credit, even with a minor setback, he was not yet willing to yield. He decided to try a different tact: the truth.

“You are simply too beautiful. I am unable to think of anything witty to say right now.”

Now it was Enna’s turn to redden. She had no experience with handsome young men who afforded her compliments. Momentarily, she wasn’t sure if she should giggle or lash out in anger. “Don't try to flatter your way out of this situation. I asked you a simple question. What are you doing with Hanif?” she stammered.

“I am sorry, Princess, but I am not able to refer to Darius, obviously a strong male dog, with a name that means
lady
. Only a terrible person could be so cruel as to shackle this poor proud animal with such an embarrassing name.”

Darius whimpered at his former owner and wagged his tail lightly.

“I named her, uh, him… before I knew what the name meant. How did you come into possession of my friend? Please tell me that you didn’t steal from me?”

That question raised Aladdin's hackles.

“My dear lady, I have stolen many things. I'm not proud to be a thief, but unfortunately, not all of us are born into a life of posh primpery. In the past, I have stolen to survive and quite frankly, targets such as you are always my first choice. I feast on the pompous and pretentious members of society so that I can help feed those who aren't born with a silver spoon around their neck!”

The Princess nervously stroked a small silver spoon necklace the currently adorned her slender neck. She was both excited by this young man and angry to be spoken to in such terms. She really had led a sheltered life and had virtually no interaction with people her own age. Why would her first encounter have to be with someone so dark and handsome, yet so aggravating? Finally she too found her tongue. “Are you quite finished?” she asked.

“No, not really. I found this wonderful dog a long time ago trapped in the forest and saved his life because his former owner didn't care enough to take care of him. He apparently was just another possession for someone who already had too many. He was likely hours from death when I found him, fed him and nursed him back to health. You might want to try thanking me rather than accusing me of thievery!” Aladdin was quite proud of his response. It had taken him a bit to get up to speed, but he had once again assumed control of this situation. That was, until he saw a single tear move slowly down her face.

He could tell that he had upset her and immediately deflated his arrogant stance, went to her side and put his hand lightly on her shoulder. “It’s okay, I’m sorry.”

“I was told by several advisors that Hanif had been killed mistakenly by hunters after she had escaped. I cried for four days straight. She was my only friend after my mother died.”

“Whoever told you this dog was dead and buried is not a good person. Who would say such a thing, Princess?” Aladdin was already feeling protective of this person with whom he had developed an instant chemistry.

“It doesn’t matter now. We will not mention this to anyone. It will be our secret. And by the way, primpery is
not
a word.” She managed a tiny smile while he just watched her and smiled right back.

Enna quickly realized that she had overstayed her allotted time in the forest and rose to leave. “I have to get back or I'll be missed. Take care of my dog for me. I will expect you to be here tomorrow in the late afternoon so that we can discuss Hanif's future.”

“I will be here tomorrow as you wish, but I will not refer to my dog as Hanif. Of that, you can be sure.” He smiled at her and then she was gone. Aladdin watched her disappear in the direction of the palace. He even watched the spot she had vacated for a few minutes just in case she came back.