Three Wishes: Cairo, page 15
“I know you Katar. Do not judge me by my physical presence. I know that you are about to lose your standing in the palace. I know that the Sultan has just returned from a trip with his daughter, Enna and I know that you are walking on the edge of a very thin knife.”
“Are you hiding in here?” said Katar. His eyes scanned the room for this invisible intruder and the fear he felt initially was starting to creep back in. Was he imagining things or had the room turned very cold? His worry about whether or not he was losing his sanity was now fully replaced by the instinct that he was in mortal danger.
“I have been with you for several days now. I have watched your triumphs and your failures. I know that you now sit here pouting and waiting helplessly for events to unfold, as if you have no control over them. You dream of power and fame, yet here you are, cowering in your room waiting for that child to take her place as the next ruler. I'm not quite sure you are ready for the amount of power that you thought you wanted. Perhaps you are more suited to be the gardener?”
Katar now spoke aloud for the first time. His voice rose dangerously close to outright hysterics. “YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION!” Hearing how insane it sounded to his own ears quickly brought him back to a more controlled voice. “I am not an evil person, but in my heart, I know that I could lead this kingdom better than the Sultan and his young daughter. I am simply watching and waiting for my opportunity.”
The voice again returned with just a hint of disappointment. “You won't last the week, my friend. While you wait and plan and wait some more, the Sultan is planning to augment the law so that Enna will have a clear path to take over the kingdom. You no longer need think about the fantasy of marrying the girl. She doesn't really need you. Once the Sultan makes that announcement, your time here is basically over. Also, while you fret and bite your nails, Enna edges closer and closer to unmasking your betrayal. Your end is closer than you think.”
“What would you have me do?” croaked Katar. ‘If you are so wise and so powerful, enlighten me with a plan that doesn't end with my head separated from my neck.”
“I can help you rule this kingdom. I can remove the threat of Enna. But I need a show of faith. I need you to let me join you.” The voice made it sound so easy.
“Join?” Just that word sprouted cold tiny beads of sweat on Katar's upper lip. Now a more permanent solution was being implied with conditions attached. This voice was no longer just a suggestive whisper. It was starting to demand a leap of faith. Katar’s fear was real and escalating. He wasn’t going mad, but he was certainly in danger.
“Join me? How do you intend to do that?” Asked Katar, though he wasn't really sure he wanted to hear the answer. “You're already in my head. I don't think there's enough room in my shirt for you as well. I can hear your voice just fine. I think it would be best if you talked me through this.”
Almost hypnotic in manner, the voice replied, “I need more control than I can get from this vantage point. I have to be a part of your thought process so I can help you avoid the pitfalls you've already stumbled into. I need you to let me join you.”
Katar was not sold. “I don't feel comfortable with this conversation. You've proven that you can monitor my life and see what I see. I just don't understand why you need to join anything. That sounds very strange indeed.”
“Have it your way,” said the voice. “But let me see if I can predict your immediate future. Shortly, the king will change the laws to reflect his wishes and Enna will be made the supreme ruler of the kingdom. You have gone so far to antagonize her, that your time is already limited. The young man you tried to eliminate has escaped. Once he and Enna have a conversation, your time will run out. You will either be banished from the kingdom or hanged for treason. Either way, the story pretty much ends for you. But in case you're interested; once you're gone, Enna will marry, rule for many successful years and have bountiful grandchildren to entertain the Sultan in his waning years. It really won’t take much time at all until your name becomes a punch line for private jokes told amongst those who still even remember you. You will be a cautionary tale about how power can corrupt an otherwise honorable servant?”
“Stop!” shouted Katar. He wasn't even worried that anyone wandering the hallways of the palace would hear his cries. “Stop, Stop, STOP! I won't hear another word. I have given this kingdom my life and my loyalty. I will not go quietly into the night and let those… those children run me out! Banish me from this kingdom? I BUILT THIS DAMNED KINGDOM! No. I will not have it! You will join me. YOU WILL JOIN ME!”
Out of breath, with his heart racing, Katar instantly noticed a calming and warming difference throughout his body. He smiled, as he felt almost instant relief from the pressure he had been under. He took a deep breath, and, as his lungs filled with air, he noticed a subtle presence in his mind that started pushing. It was gentle, yet persistent. It was almost as if his very consciousness was being slightly nudged to one side of his brain. It was not altogether an unpleasant experience, yet it also exhibited a persistent push for control. As Katar reflexively pushed back, it became stronger and stronger and soon, he was fighting for control of his own body. The feeling resembled a trip to a local stream he had made with his father when he was very young. He had waded into the water and began walking but had become frightened as the water deepened. He tried to exit by climbing up a slippery rock, but it seemed as if the faster his legs carried him, the further back into the water he went. Katar felt the same uneasy panic as he continued to fight for control.
And then it happened.
Katar glanced into his mirror and saw his reflection actually wink at him. This sent a chill through him as his own fear began to send him into a desperate panic. And then the voice; that voice which was barely a whisper in the back of his mind now broadcast with equal intensity to his own thoughts. Katar wanted to scream, but could not. He again glanced in his mirror and saw his own lips moving without his control.
“You will not regret your decision, my friend. We are now partners. Your body will remain in this palace. We will do things that you didn't have the guts or the power to do. Of course, your mind will need to be sacrificed, as I can't have both of us in here bumping into each other. But no worries dear Katar, you're really better off this way. You didn't have the proper fortitude needed to really succeed with your plan anyway.”
Katar was fading fast. He soon realized that he would never rule this kingdom; he would never again smell the flowers in his garden. He had made a dreadfully horrible mistake by inviting this creature into his conscious. He could feel the control slipping but was powerless to fight it. He was about to fade from existence. He then had one last look in the mirror while he barely still controlled that function. He could see his lips moving yet again. He also felt a faint burning sensation and smelled skin. His last thoughts were of his hand as he noticed a half moon scar appearing there as if burned there by the fires of hell.
“Before you go, I think it only fair that I thank you for the use of this body and introduce myself. My name is Alchemy and you, Katar will be instrumental in the final phases of my plan. I will not soon forget your sacrifice.”
Katar felt as if his eyes were now just distant windows that were barely letting light into a long hallway. Mentally, he knew he had to move quickly toward the light, but he was losing ground by the second. With each mental step he took forward, his conscious took two steps backward. His final scream was muted as he drifted down the long corridor. Like a drowning man who finally gives up the fight, Katar let go and faded quickly to the background.
A Great Idea
A gentle motion roused him from a deep and much needed sleep. As the motion became more vigorous he realized that he was now fully awake. Before the Genie exited the comfort of his sleeping chambers and again appeared out in the world, he saw Aladdin staring into the lamp as he polished it. The boy was fully concentrating and intently watching for any signs of life.
“Genie; hey Genie, are you in there?”
When the transition came, even though his was expecting it, Aladdin was still startled and dropped the lamp on the ground as the smoke and an amazing light display again filled the room.
The Genie looked a little perturbed. “Aladdin, my boy, where else would I be? How long have I been asleep?”
“Almost two hours now,” said Aladdin excitedly.
“Well, thank you so much for giving me a full two hours of rest. I don't know what I did to deserve such pampering. And dropping the lamp with me still in it was a very nice touch. I always wondered what my top lip tasted like,” the Genie smirked.
“Didn't you just sleep for almost fifty years? I would think you might have grown a wee bit weary of that much rest. Besides, I have a great idea.”
“My son, I am still weak from being imprisoned for all these years. But please fill me in on your great idea.” He was becoming more alert now that the bonds of sleep had released their grip him.
“We're going to Egypt,” Aladdin said proudly.
“And why are we going to Egypt, pray tell?” the Genie was intrigued.
“A history lesson,” said Aladdin.
“I'm not sure if I follow you. I am history. Why would I need a lesson on it?” the Genie raised his eyebrows to question his young master.
“Your history, Genie… Khayri. Most of your story; at least the part you didn't participate in, happened in Egypt. Your love, your friends, all went there when you disappeared. Besides, it's a simple six day trip and Enna won't be back in town for ten or more days. I have two more wishes to spend, well, one more if you count the wish I'm using for your freedom. I am just interested in what happened to the Ameerah and your friends. It also seems as if I'm sort of in demand around here with the prison guards. It might be a good time to check out a place where I'm not quite as popular.”
“What a wonderful and unselfish idea, Aladdin. I just don't know if it's prudent. I too am interested in what happened during my time in the lamp, but poking and prodding the past may not be the best idea. We are talking about dangerous forces that you can't even begin to understand. Somehow, my friends were able to defeat Alchemy. If he was not completely destroyed, I would imagine that this didn't sit too well with him. And by not sitting well, I mean fire, brimstone, death and other nasty things.”
“Is he really that dangerous?” asked Aladdin.
“I’m not sure. I guess I never really knew what he was capable of until it was too late. He was so civilized and wise that he was perhaps, the worst kind of evil,” answered the Genie. “He appeared to be loyal, trustworthy and honest, while he was secretly planning to overthrow me and kill everyone who meant anything to me. Beneath a kindly and fatherly exterior beat the heart of a traitor, who despised all mortals. I trusted him with my deepest thoughts and he smiled while planning my downfall.” The Genie reflected as he stared at his lamp, “I'm not sure I want to drag you into this situation, Aladdin. This is magic gone very very bad. I wouldn't even want to predict what he's planning if he’s still able.”
But the Genie’s serious tone did nothing to sway Aladdin's good mood. After that whole cautionary tale, he was still grinning at his new friend. When he spoke, it was still with youthful exuberance, “Gone bad or not, I'm not worried about this wizard. Remember, you are now equal to this traitor. He made the mistake of giving you power. Some small part of him must have felt something for you, or you would be dead. One other important fact; he snuck up behind you while your back was turned. You have a great advantage when your opponent doesn't know that they're in a fight. He no longer has that advantage. Plus… your friends defeated him with no magic whatsoever. He's likely been dead for many years.”
“Never underestimate the power of ambition” said the Genie. “This is a proud individual and one of the most powerful wizards in the land. He is nothing to be trifled with. That being said, you have made a good point, Aladdin. If you want to go to Egypt in the morning, I would be happy to accompany you. As a matter of fact, I'd be honored to accompany you on this journey. And, I again thank you for being a friend. Now, if you can just try to contain your enthusiasm for the next few hours, I'd like to actually add to the generous two hours of sleep you've provided me.”
With a tiny crackle of light and a sizzle of ozone, he curtly disappeared back to his tiny home.
They were going to Egypt.
An Egyptian Surprise
Redemption would be sweet.
Sure, he had made mistakes but he had learned from them. Perhaps he had miscalculated the loyalty of the human species? He knew now that he certainly had misjudged the mortals who surrounded him in his earlier form. He still could not believe that he had been banished from his own kingdom and forced to claw and fight to survive as nothing but a mere spirit.
For years he had crafted The Plan. While doing so, he always had a nagging feeling that Ameerah would be a problem, yet he had done away with her quite easily. Khayri had never even had an inkling what was running through Alchemy’s mind. He had never seen it coming. For all of his strength and loyalty, he was powerless where Alchemy was concerned. Alchemy still felt a small tinge of guilt when he thought about the young man. Certainly he had surprised the Prince with his betrayal. But now, Khayri was all-powerful. He had taken, but he had also given the young man a chance at immortality. That had to be worth something, didn't it?
Though his time as King had been relatively short, Alchemy had been a natural leader. His council of advisors was both loyal and a bit frightened of him. It was a perfect recipe for getting things done. They knew that he was a civilized leader, yet with one stare, he could put the fear of the gods into anyone who disappointed him. They also knew that he could erase you from this world with a simple sweep of his hand. Nothing breeds more loyalty than a pinch of mortal fear.
In five short years, Alchemy the king had done more than five previous regimes had been able to accomplish. He had wiped out the kingdoms of Borador to the south and Kelsius to the west, thereby tripling the lands of Transjordan. Those battles were short and almost without casualties for their side. A wizard king, who possessed no feelings of remorse and tremendous powers, made for some very easy battles. Once word spread to the neighboring regions, the leaders of those nations became very flexible and accommodating to his desires. It was painfully obvious that their very lives depended on cooperation. He had emissaries from smaller neighbors lining up to negotiate by his mere reputation alone. Most of these leaders realized that having a piece of their kingdom was far superior to simply being dead. Alchemy had always thought of himself as a lion and he was enjoying this rapid ascension to the top of the food chain!
He had been so engrossed in the expansion of his power base, that he was completely blindsided when he was told that an Egyptian delegation was hoping to meet with him personally. "So they have heard of me," he said quietly to himself upon news of the meeting.
Truth be told, ever since Alchemy had been a child and heard stories from his grandfather about the magic and mystery of Egypt, he had always held special admiration for them. His neighbors to the west were an advanced culture that relied more heavily on science and medicine than simply building bigger armies. They not only outmanned their enemies, but outthought them as well. Alchemy never even considered war with Egypt because he was more interested in partnering with them. He was fascinated by their unique history and unexplained power. Of course, he hoped to eventually rule them as well, but he was in no hurry. He had time on his side. He was actually flattered that they had traveled here to meet with him and was genuinely nervous at the chance to sit across a table and converse with their delegation. He normally entered the room a few minutes late after a foreign delegation had arrived as a show of power and self-importance. But he had decided to be humbly seated when the Egyptians were brought in. He would show them respect in the hopes that such a meeting would plant seeds and eventually bear the fruit that would further broaden his influence in the region. His outlook could only improve with new allies at his side.
He almost fell off of his chair when Ameerah, Atiene and Rorgue strolled into the room. Though the look on his face had to be complete and utter shock, Alchemy recovered quickly to present a face of forced happiness. His mind raced with one hundred different thoughts. How had these three defeated his trap and returned?
They looked like mere shells of their previous selves. All were thinner than he remembered and they all had wind-worn skin from their extended time in the desert. Ameerah had become the woman Alchemy had always imagined, though the years in rugged terrain had robbed her of that child-like innocence around her eyes. Alchemy flinched reflexively in his chair as Ameerah walked directly up to him and looked him square in the eyes. “So you are what is passing as royalty these days?”
“Welcome back to the land of the living. I’m so happy to have you here,” Alchemy said with as much false enthusiasm as he could muster. He certainly hadn’t expected this turn of events, but was recovering from the initial shock of seeing these ghosts from a previous life. He wasn’t frightened or intimidated. With a simple snap of his fingers he could crush these insignificant creatures. It is amazing what a little supernatural power can do for your self-confidence. But he did have appearances to keep up, so he spoke to the servants in the room, “Please make our honored guests comfortable. They likely won't be here for long, but I certainly want them to have a memorable visit.”
Alchemy did take note that his servants didn't even recognize the former princess and two friends of their departed former king. The three seated before him had spent years making their way back. In the interim, he had removed anyone he thought had been too close to the former regime. There was really no mortal that he feared, but having Khayri loyalists serving him could have proven to be bothersome, so it was just easier to eliminate them. And time, like the sands in the desert, is a wonderful eraser.
