Oddly enough, it had been easy to find out where Jasmine had gone to. A lone traveler, on foot and without much in the way of provisions, could only have gone to the village of Dashun or the White Oasis - the first or last oasis on the caravan route (depending on weither or not your going too or from Agrabah). So...using no disguise (deciding that his current appearance was perfect for the job - "Have you seen a girl who looked just like me?") he entered the only tavern in Dashun and asked about for information, claiming to be looking for a missing sister.
Iago thought this was as stupid a plan as he'd ever heard, but Jim (armed with the sort of mentality created by a life spent in a western society where the police are only a phone call away) marched in and began to ask questions.
It was Iago who spotted the three men who gaped at her. After pointing them out, Jim sauntered over and started-up a conversation. "Hi! I'm Princess Jasmine of Agrabah. I wonder if you've seen a girl who looks just like me? She's a magical creature who escaped from the palace. If you'll help me get her back I'm sure I could reward you."
It was at this point that Jim pulled a bag of gold coins out and tossed them up and down in her hand, smiling the whole tim. Iago rolled his eyes and waited outside for them to come out.
"Oh yes! We've seen her, haven't we Iban?"
"Yes! Yes! We shall take you to her!"
And now, almost two days later, she was starting to realize that she might not see home again. Iago (that useless parrot) sat perched on her backside, utterly ignored by the bandits. From everything they'd said durring the trip Jim guessed that they hadn't recognized Jasmine as a Princess and were both kicking themselves as fools and worried about what this Amin'Dahmoud would do once he found out that his Jasmine was a fake. Once or twice they'd almost decided to just kill her and dump her in the desert. Still...the thought of what Amin'Dahmoud would pay for a real princess urged them on. Iago seemed to know something about Amin, but was not willing to share the information. From the Bandits Jim was led to believe that he was a sorcerer of some kind - very old and very powerful. He'd lived in the Golden Fortress for centuries and was always in the market for young women. Some said he ate them...
Jim shuddered at the thought. Iago had been right about the foolish nature of his plan. The problem was that he'd only been a female for a few days now, and was not yet used to this worlds opinion of woman. And what about Jafar? Shouldn't he be watching him ore something?
"We are here." the lead bandit said, and Jim looked around. They were standing beside a gong at the mouth of a canyon. The leader looked nervious and, swallowing hard, he dismounted and struck the gong with his fist. The resounding *BONG-G-G-G-G!" echoed through the canyon for a moment before a face formed in the opening.
"Who are you?" the face asked in a commanding tone "Why have you come to the lands of Amin'Dahmoud?"
"We...we have a girl for you." the leader said in as strong a voice he could muster.
"I only buy from certain people. You must seek out the flesh merchant..."
The bandit interupted "We've already sold you this one. She is Princess Jasmine...and she claims that she is looking for an escaped creature that looks just like her. We were wondering...if you'd...want the real one?"
Amin'Dahmoud frowned at this. His spells had proved that his Jinga had been the actual Jasmine, and that this girl was actualy a transformed man of non-arabic origins. He gave her mind a quick scan and smiled. She was not only not arabic, she was not even from this dimension. What was she doing here? And what was Jafar thinking? Sending him out here in that body was an obvious invitation for trouble.
After a moments thought the face said "Follow the path through the canyon." as a golden road suddenly appeared. "Do not stray from it or you shall be lost forever in the great maze of passages. At the end of the path is my home. Enter...and be welcome."
Amin'Dahmoud goes to Jinga and probes her mind for information first.
Amin'Dahmoud greets his guests and questions Princess Jim.
Iago has had enough of this and returns to Agrabah.
Iago flys ahead and enters the Golden Fortress alone, only to find a most fetching Bird of Paradise preening herself in her nest.
Jinks has been listening to Amin'Dahmoud from outside the hall.
Something Else
Sat Nov 24 13:10:34 2001