Page 78 of The Wishless Ones

Jafar couldn’t tamp down a smile.

“She’s not Hulumi anymore. Or Maghrizi,” the first man said. “I forget what they decided to rename the combined kingdoms.”

The drummer sighed. “Everyone gets what they deserve.”

They sipped their tea and exchanged solemn nods.

Jafar watched them sitting around their cups of tea with dusty clothes and the opinions of kings. He had seen every side of life: from the perspective of a thief to that of a middle-class merchant’s son, from a House of Wisdom apprentice to nearly a prince,betterthan a prince.

People were always the same. Opinionated as royalty, petty as thieves.

Jafar set down his empty tea glass, rattling the cardamom pod that remained at the bottom of it. The sun would set soon; the air was already turning cool. It was Rohan’s favorite time of day.

Despite what the men said, Jafar knew Queen Yara hadn’t taken Rohan prisoner. Iago had watched her reach for Rohan’s hand and pull him close, letting him walk beside her as his equal. They had much to bond over, after all. No one but Yara knew who Rohan truly was, and Jafar was a large part of both their lives, even if the time he’d spent with Yara had been short.

An oath is an oath,Jafar thought. In the end, he’d taken care of his brother well, and now he was done with him.

Something told Jafar Yara would not be attempting another royal marriage anytime soon. Understandable, for her hands were full with two kingdoms now—and a budding new love.

Jafar licked the crumbs of a honey cake from his fingers and rose from the table, leaving a handful of dinars behind. “That was good cake.”

“It really was,” Iago said, his beak sticky. Iago loved any food that wasn’t crackers.

Jafar rolled his eyes and saddled his camel, checking to make sure his water was full and his bags had not been touched. They were all he had, though that made it sound like there weren’t enough coins in those bags to make him richer than his baba had ever been.

“Where to now?” Iago asked as they headed in the direction of the setting sun, leaving the small village behind.

“I was thinking,” Jafar began, as Iago perched on his shoulder. “I can’t go back to life outside a palace. There’s just too much I miss.”

“Like squabbling with your brother and kissing princesses in dark corridors?” Iago asked.

Jafar cut him a look.

Iago squawked. “Too soon, too soon. I hear you, though. I do miss those soft sheets and good food.”

“Precisely, my pet,” Jafar said, as the sands ahead burned orange with the sunset. Dunes spread out as far as he could see, like piles of gold.

“I don’t know, though. Shouldn’t we lie low in case Yara comes looking? Especially now that she and Rohan are best pals?” Iago asked.

“We’ll just have to be more powerful.” He tucked his staff against his side and held up some of the scrolls he’d taken from the House of Wisdom. This camel was laden with them, and would be until Jafar found a place safe enough to store them. “The chance of finding another queen in need of a replacement for her son is fairly low, but I’ve been told a genie might help our cause.”

“Thought we didn’t like genies,” Iago commented.

Jafar looked down at his staff, where the rubies glinted in greeting. “I think I’m clever enough to figure out a way to control one, don’t you?”

Iago unfurled one of the scrolls, where Jafar had marked the location of half of a scarab beetle. “Oooh, I was told Agrabah is mighty exciting this time of year.”

“Mmm,” Jafar said, lips curling. “I love the way your foul little mind works.”