The African magician never woke from the Princess’s sleeping powder. But far away, his younger brother sensed his death. He was as skilled in magic and even quicker to seek revenge.
He travelled to China and asked who was most admired in the capital. People told him about Fatima, a holy woman whose prayers were said to cure headaches and aching knees.
The magician found Fatima’s lonely house, stole her veil and robes, and disguised himself. The next morning crowds bowed as he shuffled toward Aladdin’s palace.
Princess Badroulbadour invited “Fatima” inside. The false holy woman praised every arch and fountain.
“Only one thing is missing,” the magician said softly. “Hang the egg of a roc from the centre of the great hall. Then no palace could equal this one.”
That evening the Princess repeated the idea to Aladdin. Wanting to please her, he rubbed the lamp and asked for the enormous egg.
The spirit’s voice shook the room.
“You want me to hang my master above your ceiling? The African magician’s brother planted this thought. He is inside your palace disguised as Fatima.”
Aladdin understood. He went to bed pretending to suffer from a headache and sent for the holy woman.
The disguised magician entered with a dagger hidden beneath his robe. As he bent close, Aladdin caught his wrist. Guards rushed in, removed the false veil, and carried him away to prison. This time no spell, powder, or flying palace could help him.
Aladdin told Badroulbadour everything about the cave, the lamp, and both magicians. She listened with folded arms.
“That would have been useful information before I traded it for a shiny saucepan,” she said.
Together they sealed the lamp inside a stone chamber with a door only they could open. They kept the ring nearby for emergencies, though Aladdin’s mother said no sensible household needed two spirits crashing through the ceiling.
Years later, Aladdin became Sultan. Badroulbadour ruled beside him, quick to notice any suspicious trader, saint, basket, lamp, or unusually large bird’s egg. The jewelled palace still shone over the city, its twenty-fourth window indistinguishable from the rest.
And in the marketplace, whenever someone offered a bargain that sounded impossible, the children laughed and checked their old lamps very carefully.