Wild Jasmine by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online

come so close because the fishing is good here, Ali?”
    He nodded, afraid. She knew he should not have been there. He would certainly be punished.
    “Then tomorrow, Adali, who is the high steward of my household, shall go to the village and present your headman with my written permission for you to fish in the waters near my palace. Do you have sons, Ali?”
    “Two, great lady,” he answered her, his heart hammering with excitement.
    “And sons-in-law?” she further queried.
    “Three,” he said, suddenly realizing that what was said about this royal princess was absolutely true. She was the most beautiful female ever begat.
    Yasaman Kama Begum nodded thoughtfully, and then said, “You may bring two of these men with you if you choose, Ali the fisherman. More would be an intrusion, and none may come without you. This privilege will span your lifetime only. This is my reward to you for saving my pet.”
    “Thank you, great lady! Thank you!” His head was swimming with delight. Fishing rights by the princess’s palace, among the richest fishing grounds on the lake! He was going to be a wealthy man! “Thank you! Thank you!” he babbled. He wanted to row quickly home to tell his wife and family of his good fortune, but he would not. He had fishing to attend to.
    “It is I who should thank you, Ali the fisherman.” She smiled again. “Fou-Fou thanks you too,” she assured him.
    He would always remember her smile, Ali thought as he recalled that afternoon three years before, when his kismet had placed him in the wrong place at the right time. He had indeed grown wealthy by her kindness; but his family had many needs that seemed to grow with his fortune. Only he could fish this spot, with two of his offspring or his sons-in-law. So it was necessary to continue laboring. Now his youngest daughter was getting married, and there was a great deal his wife insisted she must have. The fisherman was just as glad to have an excuse to get away from his house and all the chattering women. His happiness had always been here on the lake.
    He gazed at the nearby palace, which in the twilight seemed to float upon the waters of the lake. There were lanterns decorating the terrace tonight, and he could hear the sounds of flutes and drums. Candles fixed into little rounds of wood had been lit and set afloat in the lake. It was most magical and a perfect way to celebrate the princess’s birthday. He knew it was her birthday because she had spoken to him when she saw him just a few days ago.
    “I will be thirteen,” she had said. “My father and brother are coming to see me. I shall be given my weight in precious jewels, Ali. I have been every year since my birth.”
    “You must be very rich, great lady,” he had observed.
    “I suppose I am,” she replied modestly.
    The fisherman smiled to himself. She was a most charming young girl, and he would always bless her for his good fortune. He hoped her kismet would be a happy one, but then why wouldn’t it be? She was a princess. Ali cast his nets gracefully and gazed toward the terrace where two figures now stood intertwined. One of them was Yasaman Kama Begum, the other a man. The fisherman discreetly turned his back upon them. He was curious, but then it was not his business.
    “Why does that fisherman come so close to your palace?” Salim demanded of his sister.
    She peered through the fast-darkening evening and then answered him, “It is Ali; the man who saved Fou-Fou three years ago. You know I gave him fishing rights.”
    “What I know is that you have grown more fair, if that is possible,” the prince replied. He drew her tightly against him and was excited to feel the soft flesh of her young breasts give against his chest.
    “Mama Begum is going to speak to Father while he is here about the candidates for my hand in marriage,” she told him, looking up into his face, her dark lashes fluttering just slightly.
    “You are too young for marriage!” he growled in an