“I’ve faced magic before and survived,” Jafar said haughtily, though his heart felt less confident than his words proclaimed.
King Armandor was silent for several minutes, and Jafar al-Sharif had to fight to stifle a yawn and keep himself awake in the royal presence. Finally the king said, “Well, if it is kismet that you shall journey to Punjar, neither I nor anyone can stop it. But let me present you with a gift that may help along the way.”
He held something out and Jafar reached over to take it. It was a heavy piece of fabric folded over several times, but Jafar couldn’t tell in this dim light precisely what it was. “I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s favor,” he said, “but I admit I’m not sure what you’ve given me.”
“Many decades ago my great-great-great-great-grandfather, a king named
