The Song of Cacophona Part 3 of 8 Part 2 A key rattling in the lock of the door roused Mozenrath from the trance he'd put himself into. He opened one eye to watch the door as it opened to reveal Aladdin. The Captain of the Guards followed close behind. "I want to do this alone," Aladdin said Rasoul. "I can't let you do that," Rasoul growled. "I have my orders." "Rasoul, your orders come from me now," Aladdin said tightly, as if the thought of pulling rank on Rasoul disturbed him. "I am the Grand Vizier whether you like it or not." The Captain's face twisted, but he had no counter-argument. "So be it," he snarled, stepped back through the door and slammed it shut behind him. Mozenrath watched intently, his interest piqued. Aladdin exhaled loudly and turned to the bars of the cell. He regarded the sorcerer seated in a lotus position on his cot curiously, much in the same manner as someone would face a dangerous animal. "Having trouble with the hired help, Aladdin?" Mozenrath inquired. His voice was friendly, for all the world like one prince offering advice to another. "I find decapitations effective in keeping them in line." Mozenrath grinned wickedly at Aladdin's look of horror. His grin faded and he examined his gauntlet with the best bored expression on his face; he was far from bored on the inside, however. His mind was busy turning over plan after plan for some sort of escape. "You're early, aren't you?" Startled, Aladdin looked at him strangely. "Early for what?" Mozenrath kept his serene mask carefully in place. "For my execution. It's still an hour until sunset." He looked at Aladdin from under an artfully tilted eyebrow. "I must admit I didn't expect you to come for me personally. Getting impatient to see my blood decorating the execution stone?" Aladdin glared at the condemned man. "Do you always have to be so offensive?" "Yes," the sorcerer answered. "It's in my contract. Besides, I enjoy it." Aladdin scowled at him. Stepping forward, he put a hand on the bars. Mozenrath watched him out of the corner of his eye, ready to take advantage of any opportunity that might present itself. "I didn't come here to be baited, Mozenrath; I came to offer you a bargain." Mozenrath unfolded his long legs and swung them up onto the cot and leaned back. He put his hands under his head and stared up at the ceiling. "I don't think I'm interested." "You haven't heard what I've got to offer." "I don't need to. It will probably be something along the lines of 'we'll make your death an easy one if you tell us this or that.' I'm not ready to let you or the Sultan take my head, Aladdin. Believe me, it won't be as easy as you think." He put more bravado into his voice than he felt; he was running out of time. "That's not it." He paused, and Mozenrath waited. The boy seemed to be struggling with some inner turmoil. "We need your help," he announced at last. Mozenrath laughed. "Oh, that's rich. You think I'm going to help you?" He twisted his head to look in Aladdin's direction. "What do I get out of it?" Aladdin grinned unpleasantly at him. "Agree or disagree, then I'll tell you the terms and what you have to do." Mozenrath sat up. "That's hardly fair. I have to agree without knowing what you want. I could be agreeing to transport myself to the Abyss for all I know." "Come on, Mozenrath, do you really think I would try and trick you like that?" Mozenrath looked at Aladdin a moment before answering. "No." He stood and crossed the distance to stand on the other side of the bars from Aladdin. He smirked slightly as Aladdin backed away. "All right. I guess I can listen to you. After all, I am a captive audience, aren't I?" Aladdin looked relieved. "The city is being invaded." "My heart bleeds for you," Mozenrath said without pause. "I wish the invaders luck. What does that have to do with me, other than the fact I'm stuck in here and not out enjoying the fun?" "We're being invaded by mamluks." Mozenrath was careful to keep his face composed, to allow only a sardonic smile to curve his lips upwards. "I see. How thoughtful of them. I'm rather surprised, I must say, that any of them had the initiative to launch a rescue mission." He glanced up at Xerxes, who was watching with undisguised interest. "Have they demanded my release yet?" Aladdin shook his head. "I don't think they'll be demanding your release, Mozenrath. They aren't your mamluks." It was Mozenrath's turn to grin unpleasantly. "There are no other Mamluks, Aladdin, save mine." "There are now. And they're Tinnabulan." Mozenrath did not move; if possible, he went a shade or two paler. He quickly recovered himself and sneered at Aladdin. "There are no Tinnabulans, only dead ones--" the import of his words dawned on him and he trailed off. Aladdin crossed to one of the walls and leaned against it. He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked an eyebrow at the sorcerer. "It seems that Cantera is playing your game, Mozenrath." The sorcerer started visibly at that. "Cantera? She's dead-" "I hate to break it to you, but she isn't. And she wants to turn Agrabah into the next Tinnabula." Mozenrath narrowed his eyes at Aladdin. "This is a trick. Cantera can't be alive; we all saw her sucked into the maelstrom when she broke my spell!" he spat at the other. Aladdin had something up his sleeve, and that galled the sorcerer. He didn't like being put into these sorts of positions. Aladdin stared at Mozenrath with such intensity it actually made the older man edgy. In a low, serious voice he said, "Cantera survived the maelstrom and she says that Cacophona wasn't destroyed, either. She wants you, and I'm sure it's not because she wants to be reunited with an old flame." "I still don't see why I should help you," Mozenrath snarled; Aladdin's barb had clearly found it's mark. "What is it to me if Agrabah gets rolled under by Cantera? I'm in here and you're out there. If your Sultan has his way, I'm going to be dead in an hour regardless." He turned and went to the window. He put his hands behind his back and looked down on the garden. "I've heard your bargain. Tell me what I get if I help you?" Aladdin took something from his sash and held it out. "This." Mozenrath twisted around to look. "A few leaves? What do you take me for, an idiot? Go find another city, Aladdin." He turned back to his contemplation of the street. "These aren't just any leaves, Mozenrath. They're leaves from the Haoman plant." Mozenrath stiffened. "Haoman? That's--" He turned around and returned to the bars. "That's the plant from Keshvar." He reached up as if to take the bars and thought better of it. Aladdin nodded. "I was told I could take some of its leaves. These leaves." He turned them over in his hand. Even though the journey he had been forced to make to Mount Hara with Mozenrath had been many months ago, the leaves had not withered. They were as fresh as the day he had plucked them from the plant at the Well of Anahita. Mozenrath frowned at him in confusion. "I don't understand what type of incentive this is supposed to provide." "The Senmurv told me that the Haoman is a plant of healing; that there was no sickness or hurt that could not be healed by it." He looked meaningfully at Mozenrath. Realization dawned on Mozenrath. "None?" he asked. Involuntarily, he clenched his gauntleted hand at his side. "None." Mozenrath stared at Aladdin a moment more. Aladdin could see the yearning in Mozenrath's eyes. He held up the leaves, just out of Mozenrath's reach. "As I said earlier, a lot of good it will do me in here," Mozenrath said after a moment. With only a slight hesitation, Aladdin played his trump card. "That's part of the deal. I'll give you these and you can go free if you agree to help." Mozenrath turned and rubbed his right wrist through his gauntlet. He paced a moment, unsure if Aladdin meant what he said or if this was some sort of trick. He turned. "You're going to let me go, just like that?" Aladdin nodded. "Just like that. If--you help us against Cantera." When Mozenrath remained silent, Aladdin continued. "You have three choices: We can turn you over to Cantera as she's demanded; we can let you stay in here until she tears the place apart looking for you; or you can help us and regain your freedom. I think the only feasible choice is number three. If you want to stay alive that is." Unable to resist a little baiting of his own, he added, "Because somehow I think Cantera's plans for you will prove fatal in the end." Mozenrath hesitated a moment, swallowed, then nodded. "I'll do what I can." "Good." Aladdin tucked the leaves back into his sash and drew out a heavy key. He put it in the lock, but before he opened the heavy door, he reached into his sash and removed yet another item: A plain brass lamp. He rubbed it, and the familiar blue smoke issued from it. Genie formed from the smoke and looked down at Aladdin. "Did it work, Al?" he asked. "Yes." Aladdin twisted the key in the lock and pulled open the door. Before Mozenrath could move, Genie zapped him. A golden manacle appeared around his right wrist. Mozenrath held up his hand. "What is this?" he demanded angrily. "Just a little something to guarantee your cooperation, that's all. Genie's version of your anti-magic manacles." "I made it myself," Genie said proudly. Mozenrath glared at him and rubbed at it. "It won't keep you from doing magic entirely, but it will keep you from up and leaving any time you want, without completing your end of the bargain." Aladdin grinned at Mozenrath's outraged expression. "You didn't think I'd trust you, did you?" Mozenrath's expression changed as he smiled genially. "You're beginning to think like me, Aladdin. Refreshing. You know, if you didn't insist on being so pure-of-heart, we might even be friends." "Don't be insulting," Aladdin said absently as he unlocked the door to Xerxes cage as well. The eel hissed softly at Aladdin and darted over to Mozenrath to curl around his master's shoulders. Aladdin scowled as he watched Mozenrath stroking the thing as if it were a cat. "Come on, let's see what you can do about these Tinnabulans." He led the way out of the cell. Mozenrath looked up at Genie, who bowed extravagantly and gestured for the sorcerer to precede him. Mozenrath scowled at the djinni but followed Aladdin. Genie brought up the rear to make sure that the sorcerer didn't pull any tricks. *** The Sultan and Jasmine were waiting for them on the high wall that separated the palace from the rest of the city. Mozenrath's gaze raked over the two of them before deliberately ignoring them and turning to the scene on the street below. He absently worried at the manacle on his wrist as he leaned on the wall. Aladdin quietly drew Genie, Iago, Abu and Carpet aside and gave them some quick instructions. Each saluting smartly (save for Iago, who grumbled curmudgeonedly), Genie and Iago took off in different directions over the city. Abu hopped on Carpet and headed in yet another direction. Xerxes eyed them suspiciously from around Mozenrath's neck. Aladdin turned his attention back to the explosive situation he'd managed to create. The Sultan and Rasoul stared daggers at the sorcerer. "Well?" Mozenrath demanded in his most offensive manner. Rasoul growled, but a raised hand from the Sultan restrained him. "Aladdin," the Sultan said icily. "You are responsible for his--" he turned his glare on Mozenrath and his mouth twisted as if he had stepped in something distasteful, "--conduct. Do you understand? He is only here at your insistence; at the first sign of trouble, back in the cell he goes." Mozenrath snarled and would have rounded on the Sultan had it not been for Aladdin shoving him into the wall. Before he could recover, Aladdin turned to the Sultan and bowed. "I understand, Sultan." "Very well." Stiffly, the Sultan turned and headed down the steps. "I'm going to go see to our people. Rasoul, assign one of your guards to keep an eye on Mozenrath then come with me." Aladdin stepped forward. "That won't be necessary, Your Highness. Genie and I can keep him in line." "Sire, I protest!" Rasoul exclaimed. He should be under armed guard every moment he's free." The Sultan turned; his frown deepened as he saw Mozenrath leaning casually against the wall, arms folded over his chest and obviously enjoying the situation. "Rasoul is correct. He will remain under guard." He turned, a sign that he'd made up his mind, and descended the stairs. The Captain motioned to Asad, one of the younger guards, and gave him his orders, then hurried to catch up with the Sultan. Asad took up a position close to the sorcerer, sword drawn and ready to attack. Mozenrath ignored him. Jasmine, now dressed in an outfit more appropriate to the situation, looked over the wall. "What are they doing?" she asked the sorcerer. Mozenrath glanced over the wall and shrugged. "How should I know what they're doing? I would suggest you find someone with a crystal ball for information of a speculative nature. Tell me when you need my help." He turned and leaned against the low wall, arms folded across his chest and looked bored. Jasmine looked at Aladdin who looked back at her. "If this is the best he can do, perhaps he isn't quite as powerful as we thought he was," she said. "Don't do it," Aladdin growled at Mozenrath, who had been about to make some scathing comment of his own to the princess. Mozenrath turned his icy gaze on Aladdin as Xerxes hissed. Unfazed, Aladdin stared back. Silence. It lasted long enough that Asad started making nervous gestures with his sword and Aladdin thought Mozenrath might actually renege on their deal. At last, the tall sorcerer turned and looked down into the street, looking all the world like someone who was enjoying a parade or festival of some sort. "Well, well, well," he drawled. "They're looking for something, aren't they?" He folded his arms and leaned on the wall. "Any ideas for what?" Aladdin asked with infinite patience. Mozenrath shrugged. "Who knows?" "You should. She *was* your girlfriend, remember?" The sorcerer stiffened at that remark. He turned to Aladdin, slow and deliberate, and fixed him with his black gaze. "Let's get this straight right now, Aladdin: Cantera never meant anything to me. Saying I was in love was a ruse to convince you to go into the Cave of Wonders after the Harp. Nothing more; nothing less. Are we clear?" Aladdin just gave him an insolent grin. "Whatever you say, Mozenrath." A slight tightening of the sorcerer's mouth was his reward. "I think it's time to start concentrating on what's going on down there," Jasmine interjected with stern looks for both of them, "and not bickering among ourselves." To Mozenrath she said, "And you'd better start cooperating or I'll have Asad take you to the execution block immediately." The guard rattled his sword gleefully to emphasize her point. He gave her a look that would have chilled a lesser woman's blood. Twisting his lips, he turned and gave his attention to the goings-on down below. "Could be anything or nothing. They might be looking for a good taxidermist. They aren't going to last very long without one." Aladdin and Jasmine both perked up at the first useful thing Mozenrath had said. "What makes you think that?" Mozenrath gestured towards the street with his manacled hand. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? These are simply re-animated corpses, pulled from the sand that buried Tinnabula. How Cantera got them here from Tinnabula is a mystery to me, however." He thought a moment, rubbing his chin in thought. Shrugging, he continued. "Among necromancer circles they're commonly referred to as ghuls. The former spirit is pulled back into the dead body and it can function again, after a fashion. Very inefficient; it's not a true resurrection but rather just the spirit re-animating the body they once inhabited. They're still dead. They don't usually last very long, and are relatively fragile, but when they're fresh, they're very strong." He sounded all the world like a teacher lecturing his students. "Aren't your Mamluks the same thing?" Jasmine asked. The sorcerer reared back as if genuinely offended. "My Mamluks, the same as those...*things*? It does *not* take a sorcerer of *my* caliber to re-animate a corpse!" She just stared at him, waiting for him to answer the question. Assuming his normal calm as easily as slipping on a mask, he deigned to explain: "My Mamluks aren't just undead; they're a class of ifrit, spirit demons given a physical body. That the body is made out of spare parts doesn't matter to them, they need only something physical to house them; the ifrit provides the strength and motivation. The ifrits' power preserves the bodies so they last many times longer than normal. Of course, since they don't heal, they have to be constantly repaired." He turned his attention back down to the street and sniffed disdainfully. "These type are fickle when it comes to--" Pushing away from the parapet, he straightened and backed away into the shadows of the enclosure. "It's her." he said. Aladdin looked into the street and spotted the blond-haired priestess astride her white horse. "Cantera," he said. She had shed her white muslin robes; her golden skin and hair were unmistakable. She shouted something at the Tinnabulans and gestured. Several shambled off into the streets to continue their mysterious search. Mozenrath cautiously approached the parapet, taking care not to make any sudden moves that might attract attention. Leaning on his left hand, he balled his right hand into a fist and summoned his power. He gasped and shook his hand to dispel the pain of his short-circuited power. Rounding on Aladdin, he demanded, "How do you expect me to help you with my power crippled like this? It affects even my undersenses; I feel as if I'm blind and deaf!" That last part was perhaps exaggerated a little, but it gave him a bit of a weapon against them. A weapon, no matter how small, was a weapon. "Get used to it. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't remove it without Genie's help, and he's not here right now, so you'd better find some other way to get your information." Glaring at the street rat, Mozenrath thought a moment about the possibilities. He pulled a dozing Xerxes off his shoulder and tossed him into the air. The eel spun around as he caught himself from plummeting to the street below. "See if you can get close enough to Cantera to find out what she's looking for," Mozenrath ordered. Xerxes nodded and was about to fly away when his master stopped him. "Use a different form, Xerxes! She'd spot you for certain like that." The eel grumbled but poofed into the shape of a raven. He spread his wings and glided down to the corner of a nearby building. The rest of them watched in silence. A pair of Tinnabulans approached Cantera. She turned her horse to face them; they gestured excitedly back down the avenue along which they'd come. They could hear Cantera's triumphant shout, but could not make out the words. At her signal, one of the Tinnabulan ghuls hurried to the group standing guard in front of the great gates to the palace, while the other led Cantera down the avenue. Half of the guarding force spread out through the streets, spreading the word, so it seemed. Jasmine looked up as a shadow passed over her. Carpet flew up and let Abu scramble off onto Aladdin's shoulder. Iago was not far behind; he flapped to Jasmine's shoulder and landed; he panted a moment before muttering, "I'm getting too old for this." Jasmine smoothed his feathers while he caught his breath. Before he could speak, however, Xerxes, still in raven form, landed on Mozenrath's shoulder. "Euww, who let that filthy bird in here?" the parrot muttered. Xerxes squawked at Iago and assumed his natural form. "I shoulda known by the smell." "They find something," the eel croaked. "Cantera excited. Order all go." Iago nodded. "Oh, they've found something all right," he added. "*Only* the entrance to the lower city." Jasmine raised her eyebrows and looked at Aladdin. "What could she want in the lower city? There's nothing down there, but dust and ruins." "Obviously, there *is* something down there that interests her," Mozenrath said dryly. "I don't like the sound of this," Aladdin said. "We need to know what she's planning." "There's one way to find out," Mozenrath said conversationally. "I told you, Mozenrath, we're not taking that manacle off of you." The sorcerer grinned. "I was thinking you could simply go ask her." "Very funny, Mozenrath," Aladdin snapped. Mozenrath's only response was a crooked smile. Further comments were stifled by Genie's sudden appearance. Wearing a military costume featuring tight breeches, knitted sweater and stockings of a drab olive color, and a soft round cap that flopped over one side of his forehead and sported a round badge with the letters UNIT, the djinni stood straight and stiff in front of Aladdin. "Recce completed successfully," he announced in an oddly accented voice as he saluted Aladdin. "Ready to report findings, *sir*!" Aladdin waited. When Genie said nothing, just continued to stand there stiffly, he sighed. "Report, Genie." Saluting again, Genie rattled off his report in a monotone. "Tinnabulan mamluks have found entrance to lower city, *sir*--" "They aren't Mamluks," Mozenrath interrupted. Ignoring him, the Genie continued. "Unable to get close enough to entrance to find out what exactly it is they've found, *sir*! Suggest finding another way into lower city and investigate, *sir*!" "There are tunnels that connect to the lower city underneath the palace," Jasmine said. "Through the dungeons." "How very convenient," the sorcerer muttered. Aladdin sighed and turned to Genie. "Take us to the palace dungeons, Genie. We'll start there." "Yes*sir*!!" Genie shouted with a smart salute. He pulled a small, round device from his belt, grabbed a ring on its side with his teeth and pulled. Throwing it on the ground, the thing exploded, spreading a cloud of blue smoke around the group. ***** MORE TO COME...