She hit instead upon the solution of asking Prince Ahmad to read aloud to her, while she looked over his shoulder and tried to recognize what words she could. They spent many nights sitting late into the evening beside the camp fire after their companions had retired, with the prince reading passages of history and poetry to her, and with them discussing the works afterward.
Jafar and Leila were also growing closer as their journey progressed. Though they ostensibly had separate tents, Leila would visit Jafar’s tent every night for longer and longer intervals. At first she tried to be discreet about it, but when it was clear that everyone else knew what was happening she abandoned all pretense and spent her nights with Jafar.
This development evoked varied reactions from the others in th
