“Is this creature disguising itself, then?”
“My ignorance betrays me, O master, but—I do not believe this magic is self-controlled. It feels more like a spell or a curse placed upon this creature by some outside force, much like the curse that was placed upon your daughter.”
Jafar shivered again at the reminder of that horrible curse. If this monkey were under some similar constraint, he could almost sympathize with it.
The monkey stood still some fifteen cubits away, watching them watching it. It made no movement either to run away or to come closer. It was waiting for them to do something.
Prince Ahmad leaned over toward Jafar. “What do you make of this creature, O wizard?”
“There is some strange magic about it that I cannot fathom, Your Highness,” Jafar replied, repeating Cari’s an
