The next two weeks were a maelstrom of chaos. Interrogating every noble and mage in the army was no small task, but S̆ars̆adû’s task force accomplished it in record time.

As Gūla had predicted, the nobles put on a show of resistance, voicing vociferous complaints that the king was overstepping his bounds. But, she was also right to say that there would be no serious attempts to thwart the investigation, and if there was any doubt as to the necessity of the move, the operation quickly proved its worth. In a matter of days, more than a hundred minor commanders were either implicated or had fled rather than stick around to answer the questions.

Jasper, Tsia, and Erin were also eventually brought in for questioning, but it was little more than a formality. Since the royal guard was relying on the aid of mages with truth spells, there was no need for the sort of rigorous interrogation techniques that had been created on Earth. Their interviews lasted no more than a few minutes before they were sent on their way with well wishes and their name checked off on the list.

After their interview, Jasper figured there was nothing left to do but wait for the investigation to wrap up, and then - at long last - the army would finally resume its march.

With Gūla gone, he started joining his troops again for their morning training and spent much of his afternoons attempting to impart similar training to the small squad of auxiliary troops he’d saved from the Ilābun.

He was surprised, therefore, when a few days after his interview with the guard a letter was delivered to his tent, summoning him to visit command. There was no explanation of why, or even who, had summoned, so he headed off to the villa, a touch of unease sat heavy in his stomach.

As Jasper approached the gate to the compound, the signs of spring were all around. All but the thickest snowbanks had melted, and hundreds of pale blue and white flowers had raised their heads above the damp soil, their delicate petals forming a tapestry of colors. A guard emerged from the small outpost beside the road and raised a hand for him to stop.

“Are you on the guest list, my lord?” The man asked respectfully.

“Um, maybe?” Jasper fished the letter of his bag and waved it in the air. “I got a letter asking me to come today. If on my list, my name should be Commander Yas̆peh.”

The friendliness dropped off the guard’s face and, placing his hand on his blade, he took an aggressive step forward. “Aye, Commander Yas̆peh is indeed on the guest list, but you’re not him. I’ve seen him before and he’s got dark red skin just like all the royals. I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to have to ask you to dismount and dispose of any weapons. No sudden moves - you hear?” The man added with a warning tone.

Jasper suffocated a sigh, but the guard’s reaction was understandable. “You’re right. If you’ve seen before me, my skin was a lot redder, but I really am Lord Yas̆peh. When the king came to visit a few weeks ago, he gave me another gis̆ātu leaf and it’s caused, well, the changes you see.” He held the letter out to the guard. “Here’s my invitation.”

The guard didn’t remove his hand from his weapon, but took a few cautious steps forward, and ripped out of his hand. Retreating to a safe distance, he scanned the letter quickly. His brow was furrowed as he glanced up. “Did you take this letter from Commander Yas̆peh?”

“I just explained that to you,” Jasper groaned. “If you don’t believe me, then send one of your men to ask command. General Turzu will probably recognize me. At least I hope he will, he added silently. In truth, he doubted the dismissive Djinn had paid much attention to his appearance.

But the guard shook his head. “General Turzu and his staff were replaced yesterday. But you do have the letter…” After a moment’s hesitation, he snapped his fingers and another guard emerged from the small shack. “Yaḫgur, bring me the gis̆rinnu.”

The other guard disappeared into the shack and returned a moment later carrying a small device. He handed it to the first guard, who set it down in the grass beside the gate. “If you want me to let you in, you’ll need to dismount and take the test,” the Djinn instructed him.

With a sigh, Jasper slid off Dapplegrim’s back and, joining the guard, examined the device with curiosity. It was quite simple in design, a plain box on top of which a shallow silver bowl sat. The only interesting part of the device was the intricate latticework of silver strands that was stretched across the top of the bowl, sporting a small hole in the center. The other guard returned a moment later and offered it to his commander, who slotted it into the hole.

Then the Djinn unsheathed his dagger, and flipping it in the air, offered the hilt to Jasper. “Just a few drops of blood will do.”

Jasper wanted to ask what the device did, but he didn’t want to reveal his ignorance; he suspected that if he'd spent any time at court, he would know what it did. So swallowing his questions, he accepted the dagger and, pushing his sleeve up, made a shallow cut on his arm.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

As a few drops fell through the woven silver into the basin, water - or some other clear liquid - was pumped into the bowl from the black box below. It swirled in the basin for a few seconds, mixing thoroughly together, and then the red gem began to glow.

Visible relief crossed over the guard's face, and he bowed his ehad to Jasper. “Sorry, my lord, for doubting you. You may not look like the Commander Yas̆peh I remember, but the gis̆rinnu says you’re of the Royal House and there’s only one hornless-” He froze, and coughed awkwardly.

“Yes?” Jasper asked wryly, not feeling inclined to let him off the hook.

“Uh, other than your color, you match the description,” the guard corrected himself hurriedly. “Let me get the gate for you.”

A moment later, Jasper was on his way again, and the villa was not much further. When he arrived, a waiting servant took his horse and, after flashing his letter, he was ushered inside.

As the servant led him down the richly frescoed halls, they passed the war room where he’d met Turzu; from the door, he could see a handful of Djinn gathered around the table with their backs to him. But the servant continued past the room without stopping, and, turning down a smaller passageway, stopped outside a second door. “General Ardûl is waiting for you in there,” he said, with a slight nod of his head.

The room was not at all what he’d expected. Instead of a meeting room, the chamber was a lavishly appointed bedroom. A pillared bed big enough for four occupied the heart of the room, facing a massive marble fireplace in which a cheerful fire flickered. Beautiful frescoes adorned the walls and beneath the windows on the far side was a black lacquered desk with a plush leather chair currently occupied by a man who could only be the general.

He too was not what Jasper expected, for his fair skin and silvery eyes were those of a Moon-kissed. Compared to Turzu, who had been a bull of a man, Ardûl seemed almost effeminate. His frame was large but willowy, his jet-black hair fell halfway down his back, and his lips were so red that it almost looked as if he were wearing lipstick, though Jasper guessed that was a trick of the light.

“General Ardûl, I presume?” Jasper greeted the man, bowing his head respectfully to the left.

The man cocked his head to the side with an inquisitive look. “You know, S̆ars̆adû hinted that you might look a little different soon, but it seems he understated things. Are you still a Djinn?”

Circling around the enormous bed, Jasper perched himself on the edge closest to the commander. “I am,” he replied. Choosing to offer no further details, he got down to business. “What I can help you with, general?”

But the Djinn ignored him. “So you’re a Djinn but not a Higher Djinn?” The man pressed.

Jasper frowned. “Do we really have to discuss this?”

Ardûl shrugged. “Have to? There are very few things in life we have to do. But, if you'll forgive an old man’s curiosity, I'd very much like to know.”

“Old man?” Jasper echoed skeptically. It was, of course, always hard to judge the ages of beings who could potentially live for hundreds of years - if not longer - but the man showed no obvious signs of age, save for the faint crinkle of crow’s feet at his eyes.

“You flatter me,” the commander replied, “but as it happens, S̆ars̆adû and I were childhood friends.”

That put it in perspective. Jasper couldn’t remember exactly how old the king was, but he was pretty sure the Djinn was in his seventh century or more.

“I’d still rather not discuss it,” he replied stoically.

The silvery eyes sparked with interest. “You’re something new, aren’t you? S̆ars̆adû and I had placed bets on whether you’d get a simple upgrade or a complete change, and it seems I have a bet to cash in. Do tell me the name, won’t you?”

His eyebrows lifted. “This is just a stupid bet?”

“It’s hardly just a bet - it’s a rare day when I get one over on S̆ars̆adû. Name?”

The question felt invasive, but after getting off on the wrong foot with General Turzu, he didn’t want to repeat the mistake with his successor. “It’s called a Dayyāmūt Djinn,” he said with a defeated sigh. He watched as the general, as smug as the cat that caught the canary, jotted it down before rising from the bed. “Was that all you needed, general?”

“Bah, that was just curiosity,” Ardûl replied. “You didn’t think that was the only reason I summoned you, did you?”

“Uh-”

“Sit, sit,” the man commanded impatiently, and he settled back down on the bed. “I’ve read the reports Captain Gūla left, and I’ve thumbed through a few of S̆arrābī’s as well. You’ve done a great deal in a short time, Yas̆peh.”

“I’ve just done what’s necessary,” Jasper demurred, but the Moon-kissed shook his head.

“You’ve done far more than that. Your deeds in Naḫas̆s̆innu alone are remarkable, especially given your low level. General Turzu may have had his head up his ass, but I can recognize potential when I see it. I’d like you to join my staff,” the man continued.

“Join your staff?” Jasper echoed. “What exactly does that entail?”

“You’ll take a role similar to what Captain Gūla should have been granted. An adjutant will be assigned to command your troops in your absence, while you help me with special projects.”

“I won’t lie,” the man continued. “It is not only you I hope to recruit, but your companions as well. I don’t know a princess of Sapīya managed to sneak past Dūr-S̆innu, but by all accounts, she has shown such talent that she may one day eclipse even her mother.”

“In that case,” Jasper replied, “It seems like a decision I should probably discuss with them.”

“Of course,” Ardûl agreed smoothly, “And as an added bonus, this room would be yours until we leave the city."

“And if I…don’t want to,” Jasper asked tentatively.

“I won’t force you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” the general replied. “But I think you’ll find that things are quite different without Turzu around.”

“Then I’ll ask them,” Jasper replied. “But there is one problem. Kas̆dael gave me a quest that would require me leaving the army for a little while. I think it's something that would help the war effort, but...”

Ardûl leaned forward, interest sparking in his eyes. “Do tell,” he commanded.