CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE—UNEXPECTED VISITOR

Shiro followed Ali to the apartments where he tried the door to Shai’na’s chambers but found it locked. He knocked three times. After a moment the door was opened, revealing Razul.

Shiro strode in, feeling dazed.

“So we have all returned, yes?” Ali asked, his tone clearly one of frustration.

Shiro sat down on a chair, confused about the ‘we’ and said nothing.

“What were you doing anyway?” he continued as he glanced to this brother.

“I was called away to a bed,” Razul said. “I am the bed—“

“Silence!” Ali commanded. “I cannot believe this. First Shiro leaves, and then you. Did you know if it were not for me, Shiro would have spilled the camel shit on this whole thing?”

Razul said nothing.

“That is right!” Ali snapped. “I found Shiro standing atop a statue nearly frothing at the mouth when Darius showed his entire court the…”

He stopped.

“The what?” Razul asked.

“The jinni!” Shiro said.

“What?!” Razul asked, his eyes wide. “Did you just say—“

“Hai!” Shiro growled. “Jessamine. She is a jinni.”

Mouth dropping, Razul took a step back and glanced between Ali and Shiro. “So that is why there has been this mysterious lack of communications concerning your woman! Now I understand.” He sounded astonished.

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“Yes,” Ali said. “Do you get it now, man?”

“Shiro,” Razul laughed. “You sly little—“

“None of that,” Ali said.

“But it is true.”

Ali growled wordlessly.

“This complicates things,” Razul said. “Now that Darius has a jinni—or should I say, always had a jinni—he is that much more powerful.”

Ali sighed.

Razul laughed.

“What is funny, brother?”

“I will be a legend,” Razul said. “The man who killed Darius, the jinni bonded sultan of the Abassir Empire. I will be known far and—“

Shiro interrupted. “Where is debaku?”

Ali looked at him. “I’m getting worried about him. He should have been here by now. I just think—“

There was a sound at the door, followed by the scraping of a large key in the lock.

Ali sighed. “Can’t anyone get a word in around here?”

I shiver of apprehension went up Shiro’s spine as the lock clicked open. But it was only Kanu, followed by Shai’na. They strode in easily.

“Oh,” Ali said. “It is good you have come.”

“Is anything the matter?” Kanu asked

“Well no, but—“

“Darius has announced a renewed effort toward the war in the south. His satraps have all promised soldiers and a renewed effort toward the war—including myself,” Shai’na said.

“Oh,” Razul said. “That shortens the time we have here considerably.”

“Indeed,” Shai’na said. “We are not prepared for this. I thought that our reconnaissance of the palace would take days, yes?”

Ali, saying nothing, turned and regarded Shiro for a moment. Shiro didn’t feel like talking. He was still recovering from what he had seen earlier and said nothing. Was Jessamine playing a part, or had she truly been embracing Darius once again?

Kami-sama…

They all turned when a knock suddenly came at the door.

“Who is that?” Kanu asked. “Are you expecting someone else?”

“No,” Ali said. “Is it one of your people?”

Kanu shook his head. “I do not think so.”

Shai’na signed. “Well, do not act like a criminal. Go answer the door, Kanu.”

Kanu did as he was bid. Pulling the heavy door open, it revealed a thin woman, beautiful, but not bedecked for the festival tonight, despite her silk robes of black material that were embroidered with slithering slashes of gold.

“Hey,” Razul said accusingly. “You’re…”

She looked at them confusedly for a moment as Razul trailed off.

“May we help you?” Kanu asked.

The woman glanced about conspiratorially, then said, “If you want to kill the sultan, you should let me in the door.”