He pulled back, giving me an indulgent look. “Don’t tell me you still fear enchantments?”
“And so should you,” I snapped back. “Seeing this only confirms my fear. Nothing about this cave seems natural.”
“Of course it’s not natural!” Ali cried. “We have found the second fabled treasure cave—leftovers from the vast empire that once stood where the Great Desert does now. Could a natural cave preserve these fine carpets like this? Why, look at that bolt of silk! Anyone would think it delivered from the weavers yesterday.”
“Perhaps it was,” I said coolly. “Those thieves are bringing something here.”
“Nonsense!” Ali said. “You are too cautious, my dear.”
Stooping too quickly for me to prevent, he snatched up the golden necklace on top of the closest chest and threw it to me. I reacted instinctively, snatching it out of the air as it sailed toward me.
He didn’t even hear my cry of protest, having already turned back to the chest. After a breathless moment, I relaxed, forced to acknowledge that no immediate calamity had befallen us. The ground didn’t rumble beneath us, and the roof of the cavern showed no sign of collapsing on our heads.
Ali glanced back at me. “You see, Zaria! There is nothing to fear here. We have stumbled upon good fortune beyond imagining, and you mustn’t look so glum!”
I dredged up a smile, but the churning in my gut continued. As I stared down at the necklace, I tried to trace the source of my discomfort. Why was I so sure this wealth wasn’t the free gift it appeared?
The necklace was elaborate, studded with small gems and wrought by the hand of a master. Even in the meager light of one lantern it glittered and shone. It was easily the most beautiful jewelry I could remember seeing.
But every instinct in me wanted to cast it away, distrustful of its excess. I walked over to Ali, returning the necklace to the chest it had come from. But even as I straightened, my eyes lingered on the necklace’s beauty.
Immediately I knew why I felt a mistrust Ali did not. This was the second time I had held an impossibly beautiful product of a magical treasure cave in my hands. And last time, the dress had faded away, too good to be true, just as it had first appeared. And even the princess who had given it to me hadn’t understood the enchantment it was under. Wealth generated from enchantments could not be trusted.
“Wait here!” Ali instructed, the smile plastered across his face losing none of its width. “I will fetch the donkeys, and we may then fill their baskets.”
“You’re going to take it?” I asked, alarmed. “Baskets full of it?”
“And why not?” Ali demanded. “There is so much here that even were I to take ten baskets full, no one would notice any lack.”
I considered his words as he hurried outside for the donkeys. It was possible he was right. There certainly were riches beyond counting here. On the other hand, the thieves would surely come again. And if they did notice the cave had been disturbed, how great would their wrath be? It wouldn’t be so hard to trace the theft back to Ali—not when he was about to go from poverty to vast wealth in one impossible day.
“Please think this through,” I begged Ali when he reappeared. “How will you explain your sudden good fortune? What if the thieves track you down?”
Ali paused but only for a moment. “I am sure we will think of something,” he said. “Navid is always singing your praises, so perhaps you can help me come up with a convincing story.”
“Me?” I gaped at him. “What possible story could explain such an overnight change in fortunes?”
“Who said anything about overnight?” Ali scooped gold coins into the closest basket, only giving me half his attention. “I will bury these coins and bring them out slowly, increasing my wealth over time.”
I sighed at his heedless method of scooping up the gold, unable to resist getting involved. “At least spread out your theft. Don’t take so much from one chest. If you take only a little from each one, perhaps the thieves will miss its absence after all.”
“An excellent suggestion!” Ali moved immediately to the next chest, and I followed behind, trying to smooth over the depleted chests he was leaving in his wake.
In a surprisingly short amount of time, the baskets were full. I stood back and surveyed the cave while Ali artfully arranged pieces of firewood on top of the baskets to obscure the gold underneath.
To my inexpert eye, the cave looked undisturbed. Catching a stray coin out of place, I scooped it up and reached for the closest chest.
“No, no!” Ali protested. “You must keep something for yourself. A single coin cannot bring disaster.”
I paused. I wanted to ignore him, but if I did, he might try to foist the necklace back on me instead. I had no desire to linger here, caught up in an argument.
“Very well.” I slipped the coin in my pocket. “Can we please leave now?”
“Certainly!” Ali gave the treasures of the cave a final glance. “I feel sure these coins will keep me going for a long time indeed. But if I do find myself in need again, there is plenty more here.”
“In need?” I stared at him. “You’re takingsixbasketsof gold coins home.”
He chuckled. “It seems like a dream, does it not? I just wish I could fit that painting into one of the baskets as it is just the sort of beautiful thing I would like to see every day. Do you think if we removed it from the frame and rolled it up, it might be possible to—”