11.
"What is it you want to say to me?" he asks, clearly enjoying your shock.
"You have a daggera"it is sacred to my people. I want it back," you say. No sense denying it now that the ruse is up.
Dastan smirks at you. "Just like that. You ask, and I"m supposed to hand it over?" He pulls the Dagger from his belt and holds it up, turning it this way and that. The jewel catches the light, sending glinting rainbows across Dastan"s face. "I kind of like it. And I won it in a fair fight."
Your heart sinks. "Asoka, my guard and advisor. Is he . . . Did you . . . ?"
"I won the fight, that"s all. What happened to him after I left I have no control over."
"I should have taken the Dagger to safety myself," you murmur. "He should not have risked his life. That is my calling, my destiny." To your horror, tears begin to fall.
"I"m sorry, Princess Tamina," Dastan says, seeming genuinely concerned. "I didn"t think my news would upset you. But it does make me wondera"what is so important about this weapon?"
This is exactly the question you"ve been hoping to avoid. You know that if he understood the Dagger"s power, he would never give it to you. There"s no choicea"you"re just going to have to take it!
You let out a shriek and fling yourself at the prince.
57.
You are almost certain Dastan knows your true ident.i.ty, and that makes you nervous. You would rather try your luck with his uncle, Nizam.
You just have to persuade Nizam that his nephew should return the Dagger.
"Please," you say, ducking your head to hide your face from them. "Allow me to speak to this kind gentleman alone. Ia"I don"t feel I can speak sensibly in front of the young and handsome prince."
You want to choke on your own words, but your performance seems to have worked. Nizam chuckles and takes your arm.
"This way, young lady," Nizam says. "Now go, Dastan. Can"t you see your charms are far too overpowering for such a simple girl?"
You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from retorting, but Dastan just looks at you quizzically, shrugs, then strolls away.
Nizam brings you to a marble bench. "Now what is it Dastan has that your mistress wants back, dear?" he asks kindly. "Her heart, perhaps? She"d rather marry Dastana"not Tus? And she wants me to intercede on her behalf?"
You fight back a laugh. How arrogant they all are. And how they underestimate you.
"No, sir," you say, speaking as meekly as you can. "She noticed that he has a certain . . . dagger."
75.
One of the soldiers stands against the brick alley wall. There"s a man beside Dastana"his manservant, you guess. Unlike Dastan, he looks concerned.
"You"ll break your royal neck, sire," the man says. "Bis, you worry too much," Dastan says. "I can do this." You hover at the edge of the crowd, wondering what Dastan is planning. You see money exchanging handsa"some sort of bet. "Ready, Roham?" Dastan asks the man against the wall. Roham grins. "Ready as I"ll ever be. More to the pointa"are you ready?" Dastan laughs. "As I"ll ever be!" He focuses on Roham. Then he charges straight at the man. But instead of crashing into him, he runs beside hima"right up the wall! One step! Two steps! Up and over Rohama"then wham! He falls. The crowd bursts out laughing and applauding, Dastan laughing as hard as the rest of them.
"I told you, sire, it can"t be done," Bis says.
"Maybe you"re right," Dastan says. "Though I"d like to see the man who can do it. In fact, if anyone can, I"ll give him anything he wants!"
You stifle a smile. Destiny continues to work in your favor.
"I can do it!" you declare.
92.
Everyone freezes. The room grows silent, as all in it wait to hear what you have to say. You raise your chin proudly, keeping your expression neutral. You must stay clearheaded; emotion cannot rule you in this moment.
"Prince Tus," you say, forcing your gaze from the handsome man gripping your dagger. "Swear to me the people of Alamut will be treated with mercy."
Tus studies you a moment, then reaches out his hand again. Suppressing a shudder, you take it.
Nizam starts to applaud, and soon the rest of the chamber joins in. You force a smile. The applause means nothing. You are too focused on trying to figure out a way to get back your dagger.
81.
"As my mistress"s request is to the prince, I shall give the message to him and only him," you say, ducking your head.
"I"m sure you can say whatever it is you have to say in front of me as well," Nizam says.
Prince Dastan c.o.c.ks his head and narrows his eyes. "No, I"ll do as she wishes," he says to his uncle. Looking back at you, he adds, "You know the palace compound better than I do. Why don"t you bring me somewhere where we can speak privately."
"Are you sure?" Nizam says. "Remember, this could be a ruse to do you harm. After all, the Alamutians have been making arms for your enemies."
"I think I can handle her," Prince Dastan says with a laugh. "Come."
You"re about to protest his ordering you about, then remember your disguise. You drop a pa.s.sable curtsy to Nizam and trip along beside Prince Dastan.
"In here," you say, gesturing to a small alcove off the plaza. "I"m sure we won"t be overheard."
Prince Dastan steps into the enclosed s.p.a.ce. "Good," he says. "Because I"m guessing you don"t want anyone to know that Princess Tamina is skulking about dressed as her maid."
You gape at him. He knows!
122.
The group charges you. You let out a shriek and race back into the twisting tunnels of the cave. Astrella gallops ahead of you.
The corrider and cave walls look different somehow. You"re worried that you"ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. But you make it back to the cavern where you entered. You pick up the tiny boxa"only it seems bigger now. How is that possible?
At least the rain has stopped. You step out of the cave with Astrella. You know you can"t stay a moment longer in that cave. Who knows how far the Dagger"s effects can reach? You have to get away from here.
You climb onto Astrella, surprised that even though she"s just a little filly, you still have a good seat in the saddle. You"d think your feet would nearly touch the ground. Can"t worry about that now, you tell yourself. You have the Dagger to protect.
You ride a while and stop at a stream to drink. You bend over the clear water and notice your reflection.
You gasp. You"ve turned into a child! The cave looked different because you"re shorter! The box looked bigger because your hands are smaller!
You grin. What a great disguise! No one will ever guess you"re Princess Tamina, Guardian of the Dagger of Time! And once you place the Dagger in its sacred resting place, you will have a very long life to look forward to!
Yes, it will turn out all right in . . .
THE END.
You decide your best bet is for Kartosh to impersonate you. Watching the genie turn into you is very disconcerting. First he shrinks to your size, then his features shift and his clothing changes. Gone are the bracelets and the gold skin. What stands before you is your exact likeness. Even his mud horse resembles Astrella now.
"Go," he urges, "quickly. And no matter what, don"t look back. They can track your fear. Move forward with conviction."
You nod and jangle Astrella"s reins. You gallop away.
You hate not being able to turn around to see what"s happening. But you must follow the rules Kartosh has set. You force your eyes forward.
After traveling for hours, it"s no longer a struggle to believe in your success. Whoever was following you took the bait and went after Kartosh.
You arrive at the Guardian Temple unharmed. The Guardian priests greet you happily and take you to the temple where you put the Dagger away for safekeeping. You step outside and find Kartosh waiting beside the village well. He looks like his old self.
"They really don"t grant wishes," he says, nodding at the well. "Not unless there"s a wish-granting water genie inside."
"You"re all right!" you exclaim. "I was so worried! And so grateful!"
"Then I"m sure you"ll come up with an excellent reward for one so worthy as I!"
"I"m sure I will." You laugh. "Since I"m sure you"ll tell me exactly what you want!"
THE END.
"Princess Tamina," she greets you.
"Youa"you know my name?" you ask.
"I know all the Guardians of the Dagger of Time. Each generation. But you are the first who has had to make the journey north. Does this mean that Alamut is threatened?"
"Yes," you tell her sadly. "The Persians have invaded, and I fear it is the Dagger they seek."
She nods. "You have it with you, then?"
"Of course," you reply. Your fingers automatically finger the Dagger, hidden in your garments.
"Good," she says. "You may give it to me now."
This surprises you. Why would she want the Dagger? But she is the original Guardiana"in a way, the Dagger is really hers.
You don"t know what to do. You don"t want to offend her, but it has been so ingrained in you never to give up the Dagger without knowing why.
If you think you should give it to her, 30
If it seems wrong to give her the Dagger, 37
There is a small group of people standing beside the pool. They turn and wave at you. A young woman approaches you, smiling. "Welcome," she says in a melodious voice. "I am Chazika. If you found us and our little paradise, you must have been led here."
"I-I don"t know," you say. "What is this place?"
She smiles at you. "We call it Eternal Springs, for time stands still here."
You stare at her. Can she be telling the truth? She radiates an otherwordly calm as she nods knowingly. "You don"t believe me. I understand. But it"s true. We"ve been here over one hundred years." She laughs at your shocked expression. "I know. I don"t look that old, do I?"
She frowns and touches her temple, as if she had a headache. "I"m sorry. I suddenly feel a bit . . . dizzy."
Astrella whinnies beside you. You glance at hera"then do a double take.
Instead of your powerful, steady mare, you"re standing beside a young, excited filly!
94.
end.