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pained her to steal from an honest soul, the temptation of the jewel was too great.
    "When she arrived in Askar to learn the kindly sheikh and his son had been murdered by a vicious rival, she became even more determined to steal the jewel. But the usurper was careful, and no serving girls caught his eye.
    "Inaya Al Hurra began to think that she would have to leave without the Palm when one day, her master told her to deliver food to the prisoner in the tallest tower."
    "Was that here, in the Red Palace?" Noelle couldn't stop herself from asking.
    "Yes, the very tower above our heads now. The jailer had fallen ill and Inaya Al Hurra had been such a good worker that she was the only one that could be trusted with this task. She was warned that the prisoner was a shape-shifting djinni who would take any form to gain her sympathy. But she was also told that the evil sheikh had put a spell on the door so that only he could open it."
    "Djinni? The one in Walid's bloodline?"
    "No," Faridah said. "This was before his dynasty. The rule passed out of their hands many centuries ago."
    "So you are free to marry Sheikh Walid," growled Suzette.
    Noelle managed not to roll her eyes. The grizzly woman actually shared her niece's overly romantic ideas.
    "That is true. Inaya Al Hurra would not be his ancestor," clarified Faridah.
    Before Noelle could again mention that she really wasn't a legendary pirate princess reborn, Faridah continued. "When Inaya Al Hurra arrived at the jail cell, she didn't find a genie, but a man as beautiful as the stars in the sky. The parts of him she saw through the cracks in the door, in any case."
    She was starting to see the shape of this story. "Let me guess--the prince who was supposed to be dead."
    "Exactly!" crowed Faridah, her dark eyes lit from within. "Your heart tells you this story is true. You feel it in your soul."
    You're not going to win this one, Bonnie stated.
    I haven't won anything since I got here , Noelle pointed out. "Anyway, please go on."
    Faridah went on. With a vengeance. "With the help of the staff in the kitchen, to whom she revealed the plot, Inaya Al Hurra drugged the food of the prince's guards. But as they were trying to break down the door of the cell, the evil sheikh discovered them. He reminded Inaya Al Hurra that he was the only one who could open the cell door, and he threw her inside with the prince."
    Oh no! said Bonnie. Don't let this story be one of those ones that doesn't have a happy ending. Noelle, do something!
    "When Inaya Al Hurra found herself locked in the chamber with the prince, she saw that he was the most beautiful man who had graced the earth."
    "Except for Sheikh Walid," Suzette said grumpily. And Noelle didn't know if that was for her benefit or just Suzette's own opinion.
    "Even in his ragged state, Inaya Al Hurra saw that his legs were well formed and his shoulders wide. Though his hair had not been tended for many months, it was thick and dark. And the prince's eyes danced at the sight of Inaya Al Hurra as well, though many had considered her plain and she had always encouraged that. The best thieves are always plain. He kissed her hand with royal civility and wished that he could offer her better hospitality.
    "But Inaya Al Hurra was far more clever than any evil sheikh. She unwound the sash binding her waist to reveal a sturdy rope long enough to reach the ground."
    I knew it! Bonnie said.
    "Long rope," Noelle noted. That tower had to be ten stories.
    "All along, Inaya Al Hurra's plan had been to get inside the bespelled door. Together, she and the prince climbed out the window and to freedom. When the people saw their prince had not been killed, they rose up against the evil sheikh and returned the true ruler to the throne of Askar."
    But what happened to the pirate princess? insisted Bonnie.
    "In return for saving him, the prince offered Inaya Al Hurra the Palm of Askar. She refused. He offered her a palm full of gold. She refused. He offered her a