Well...

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We set off again, unsure whether to be worried or not; after all, the object of our journey had just been handed to us by our enemies. We felt we had a right to be suspicious.

The journey back was uneventful until we reached the jungle of vines.

We camped in one of the yellow tent-like flowers again, high in the canopy overlooking the giant leaves that would be our path tomorrow. Only one more day of travel and we would be back home and Jamal would be better. Life could go smoothly once again.

We arose bright and early and broke camp, looking forward to seeing Jamal that evening. As was our habit since leaving the castle, we took the slipper from my bag to make sure it was still there. Christmas had it first, and turned it over, admiring the embroidery and beadwork.

“What do you think Jamal wants it for?” she asked, handing it to me.

“I don't know, maybe he- Oi! Star, give that back!” Star had snatched the slipper from me. She ran onto a neighboring leaf and stood at the edge with the slipper in her mouth.

“Hey! Bad girl! Come back here now!” Christmas shouted, angrily waving her arms.

Star put her head over the abyss and shook the slipper.

“No! Bad fox! Don't you dare!” we both yelled with all our might.

Star didn't move. I began to run towards her. Seeing me, Star opened her mouth and dropped the slipper. I watched in horror as it dropped down, bouncing off vines and sliding over leaves until it faded from view in the blackness of the forest floor below. Star dashed away into the jungle. We shouted as many insults as we could think of after her, but neither she nor the slipper reappeared.

It was a long climb down. The slipper could be anywhere. We searched all day but couldn't find it. Finally we found a tiny scrap of embroidered velvet on the ground by a large rock. We decided to take that back. We were a very gloomy pair that evening as we trudged down the road, past Christmas's house and up to my front door. I knocked, not expecting an answer, just out of habit, and entered. It was dark inside, but I didn't bother turning the light on. Christmas, following behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the kitchen door. The light was on and the kettle had just finished boiling.  As we neared the door we heard someone put down the jug. I opened the door. There was Jamal, calmly making himself some coffee. I was so surprised I stepped back onto Christmas's foot. He looked up as if he'd only just noticed we were there.

“Oh, hello Robert, Miss White. Did you have a nice trip?”

“A nice trip? You…”

“Oh that.” said Jamal, dismissively, “That was just to get you to propose to Miss White.”

I couldn't believe my ears.

“You… how…?  but…”

“I… I'll go back to my house, okay?” said Christmas, and left, a tiny smile on her face.

When I next spoke, my voice was angrily quiet.

“You sent us on a big long journey, making us think you were going to die, and the only reason we went was for us to get engaged?!” The last words were a shout.

Jamal was infuriatingly undisturbed.

“That's my job.”

The end