CHAPTER FOUR—ENTER DARSHUUN
“Why have you asked that I climb this hill?” Shiro said as he breathed heavily.
You will see, Jessamine insisted. Just keep climbing. It’s not far, now.
With deep breaths, Shiro continued up the steep trail. He suspected it was a goat path, but that didn’t change how difficult it was. Glancing behind, he saw the winding road surrounded on both sides by green grassy hills and palm trees.
Over the hills to his right was the Urmia River, the very same river that travelled through Darshuun, according to Jessamine. They had almost bought passage aboard a pole barge, but they were so close to the capital now, Shiro didn’t see the point.
Almost there.
He stepped over a rock stuck into the dry dirt. Behind them black storm clouds rumbled above the mountains on the horizon, bringing in a cool wind that made the hot summer day more bearable.
Continuing to put one foot in front of the other, Shiro conquered the winding path up the steep grassy hill. In the passes, there were pools of water and small rice patties with farmers toiling about as they harvested the grains. The hills and the rice patties were much like some of the steep hills—almost tiny mountains—of his homeland in the Mikuma Empire.
Wherever it is, he thought.
Shiro wiped the sweat from his forehead and swallowed. He would take a drink of water from the skin hanging at his waist when he reached the top.
You’re there! Jessamine conveyed excitedly.
As Shiro crested the hill the main city of Darshuun came into view. “Wow,” he said, his eyes widening. From first glance, he could see that the city was one of commerce, trade, entertainment and riches.
The river travelled through the city winding only slightly with a wide cobbled thoroughfare on both sides leading in and out of the capital. Shiro could see thousands of travellers on those roads, green grasses and palm trees shading them the length of the water.
A plume of blue smoke appeared and then dissipated to reveal Jessamine standing in the air as if she were walking on level ground. She flourished her hands and gestured to the city. “Did I not say it was magnificent, Shiro?”
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“You did,” he said.
The structures of Darshuun were far taller than he had seen anywhere in the various towns and cities in these lands. Luxuriant palaces were easily distinguishable among the other structures, many of which were impressive in their own right with columned porticos, walled gardens and pools of blue shimmering water.
Shiro regarded the city for a few more moments then he finally said, “How long has it been since you’ve been here?”
“Hmm,” Jessamine said, thinking in a manner that seemed a little overly dramatic to be real. “At least sixty years.”
“Nani?!”
She laughed.
“Sixty years. Truly?”
“According to our current year, Shiro, deer,” she said lightly, “it has been fifty-eight years since Darius took me from Darshuun and imprisoned me within Mebkubazir.”
“Oh. I see.” He looked at her then. She was so young.
“I’m an immortal spirit, Shiro!”
“If you are a spirit,” he said, “how do you take physical form?”
“Because I’m corporeal as well as incorporeal.”
“Uh, hai.”
“You have no idea.”
He scratched his head.
“Anyway!” she said emphatically. “We’re here! Darshuun! Shiro, we are about to have the time of our lives.”
“Hmm.”
“Oh, even you can’t say no to that.”
“I thought we came here to kill Darius and sever your bond to him?”
“Yes,” she said. “That too. But are we in a hurry?”
He looked at her. “Aren’t you?”
She laughed. “I’ve spent nearly three-score years locked away in a dark, dank dungeon, Shiro. I can wait a little longer.”
He nodded. “Mm.”
“Don’t mistake me,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Should you fail, my brave adventurer, I go back to my dungeon, surely. I wish to have some fresh air before we take that risk.”
“Oh,” he said, feeling rather insulted. “I see.”
“Now, now, Shiro,” she said consolingly, though she did little to hide her bad acting. Was it that her acting was bad, or that she wasn’t even trying to sound convincing? Shiro thought it the latter.
“Do not be upset,” she continued. Then her tone changed completely to one of nonchalance. “Don’t worry. I will see that you are ready to face Darius. I am his bonded jinni after all and I know what he’s capable of.”
“Mmm,” he noised, but it was more of a dubious-sounding growl.
“Look,” she said, pointing to the city. “The lights.”
Regarding the city, Darshuun was indeed becoming lit for the night as the skies darkened and the cool wind continued to blow in.
“Is it not beautiful?”
“Mm. It is very beautiful.”
She sighed heavily as she brushed back a thick strand of dark hair behind her ear. The wind was picking up, making the hem of her green dress billow in the breeze.
Looking away from her, Shiro wondered why she chose that particular cut of dress. It accentuated her form too well. The neckline was too low and her big—
“We should go,” he said, purposely cutting off his own thoughts. “We need to find a place to stay for the night.”
“Well you do,” she said. “I’ll be cozy as I ever am.”
“Hmph.”
“Oh, why did it have to be such a grumpy adventurer that rescued me?” she complained dramatically. “Why couldn’t a tall, muscular prince have been the one to come for me?”
“Are you trying to upset me?”
She laughed. “Is it working?”
Of course it was.
“No.”
“Ha!” she said lightly. “All right, let us go now. I think I still know my way around the city. Oh—there’s so much to see, so much to do!”