A Whole New World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,70

could ignore it. Add some carefully set fires…”

“Maybe one in the palace itself,” Duban said, unable to help himself. Strategizing complicated heists was his specialty. “To add to the confusion.”

“Brilliant!” Jasmine said, clapping her hands together. “This could work!”

“But what about Jafar himself, bright eyes?” Morgiana demanded. “We’re going to come face-to-face with him at some point. I can’t imagine he keeps that lamp or book out of reach, much less out of sight. What do we do to prepare for that?”

“All of his physical magic, offensive magic, seems to take time and concentration,” Aladdin said, thinking back to the Square of the Sailor. “I’ll bet in close combat he’ll have a distinct disadvantage.”

“You’re betting your life on that,” Morgiana said archly. “And what about knowing things about us and our plans? Ahead of time? Can’t sorcerers do that kind of thing?”

“The future is a realm…unavailable to him,” Jasmine said uneasily. “The only time he managed to foresee anything, it involved complicated blood magic—and the sacrifice of the one dearest to him.”

“Who was Jafar close to?” Aladdin couldn’t help asking. “He didn’t love anyone.”

“Oh, holy heavens,” Morgiana said, suddenly getting it. “The parrot. His stupid parrot. That’s why it’s on all his coins and flags and everything. That was the one dearest to him. What a complete lunatic.”

Aladdin shuddered. Before Jasmine, Abu was certainly the one closest to him…he could almost sort of see it from Jafar’s twisted perspective. Unlike Jafar, however, nothing in the world would induce him to kill Abu.

“Let’s get back to the plan,” he said quickly. “So if it comes to battle directly with the sorcerer, it will be ugly, and we will try to avoid that. The plan is to distract him and his undead troops and those still loyal to him with a direct assault on the palace itself, while the best thieves—”

“Us three,” Morgiana interrupted.

“Four,” Jasmine corrected.

“Three. You’re not a thief,” Aladdin pointed out. “We’ll sneak in the back. Each of us will have a task.…I’ll grab the lamp.”

“I’ll grab the book. You’ll free Maruf and the kids?” Morgiana asked Duban.

His face was unreadable.

“I think we should switch,” he said slowly. “I’ll…take the book. You free my family.”

“Why?” Morgiana asked, confused. “Don’t you want to be the one who saves them?”

“I—I won’t be thinking clearly,” Duban said. He clenched and unclenched his fists nervously. “It’s bad tactics. I’d be a liability to the team, putting my family before the rest of our objectives. Besides, I trust you.”

Morgiana gave a funny smile: it was surprise and sweetness and perhaps the revelation of something deeper.

Duban gave her not quite a smile back, but his face brightened a little.

“All right, this sounds like it’s the beginnings of a strategy,” Jasmine said. “But even though I’m not a thief, I could…be useful in distracting Jafar, or something.…”

“Jasmine,” Aladdin said, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Am I trying to keep you out of harm’s way because I care about you? Absolutely. But your task is also just as important as ours. You’re the face of the revolt. People—your leaders, your army, your people, need to see you. Need to know that you are the one telling them what to do. You need to stay here and organize the assault on the palace. Who else is going to do it?”

Jasmine didn’t say anything. Her hands fluttered for just a moment.

“You’re…right. This is my first job as sultana. I just…I’m worried about you guys. And I’ve lived in the palace. And dealt with Jafar. I want to be there and make sure everyone’s all right. I just feel like I could have a greater role.…”

Morgiana smiled and looked like she was almost going to touch Jasmine, squeeze her shoulder or something. “We’ll be fine, Jasmine. We have to be.”

She might have said other things, but Aladdin had noticed that once again a shadow had fallen over Duban’s face. He had gone over to the broken terrace and was looking out at the sky and the palace.

“We will rescue them,” Aladdin said quietly, coming up behind his old friend.

“Sure, Aladdin,” Duban said. He didn’t say it sarcastically or patronizingly, yet there was something not entirely honest about his tone.

“Duban…”

The thief shook his head.

“I thought Shirin and Ahmed would be safe once their father was gone. I thought they would be safe, if hungry, with my dad. I thought they would be safer still surrounded by thieves and…tigers. Aladdin—” Duban suddenly turned to look at his friend, his eyes wide and