The journey to Dūr-Ēkal had taken a little less than two weeks. The trip back to the capital took nearly two months. True, for most of that journey they had ridden long and hard, sleeping only when their mounts were unable to continue on, but still Jasper hadn’t expected the return trip to take quite so long.

Since neither the scouts nor the guard owned mounts, Jasper had realized, of course, that the party could not keep the same frantic pace he and his friends had maintained. Still, it wasn’t until he saw how fast the stamina of the troops was worn down that he truly began to appreciate just how quickly he had leveled up and just how big of a difference those levels really made.

Fortunately, the initial clashes between the Djinn scouts and the S̆addu’â had gradually simmered down into a mutual dislike. They weren’t going to be fast friends any time soon, but at least Jasper wasn’t forced to mediate nightly disputes.

The only high point of the trip was when they passed through Tabīnat again. This time they spent two nights in the city of towers, putting up in one of the nicest taverns in the city, one with a beautiful overlook of Lake Yarhab. The cost of the place was nearly enough to make Ihra, who was ever loath to loosen the purse strings cry, but the cozy bed and good food made it more than worth it to Jasper. The wisdom of his decision was only reinforced on the second night when he finally got to see a squad of firebirds soar across the nighttime sky to roost on their lofty perches.

Thus, when the twin bridges that barred the way to S̆addānu finally stretched in view, he felt that familiar feeling of relief that sweeps over you when you pull into your drive after a long, hard day. Home.

It was a nice feeling, but Jasper did his best to suffocate it. Despite the roots he had begun to grow here, he knew his uncle’s plans would soon send him out of the province altogether - it was best not to let himself get too attached.

They earned more than a few stares as they rode back to the palace. It wasn’t too unusual to see nobles riding through the busy lanes of the capital, even ones decked out in the colors of the royal house, but a troop of armed S̆addu’â marching through the streets was another matter altogether. Some stared back with blatant hostility, others with mere curiosity, but nearly all in the crowd turned to gawk at the strange parade even if none dared to question them

The guards at the palace gate, however, were not so agreeable.

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“I don’t understand, my lord.”

Jasper tried not to sigh as he stared down at the third guard he’d spoken to. This one was some sort of captain who had arrived after the first two guards he’d spoken with had refused to let the S̆addu’â enter. The man had the mustache of a walrus, but his figure was lithe and trim, rippling with the quietly restrained strength of a skilled warrior.

The captain shook his head with a grimace. “Why do you want to bring these…these S̆addu’â into the palace? Can you not just stash them in some tavern by the docks, my lord? Surely that would be a more fitting place for them.”

Jasper’s eyes glanced past the man, hoping to see some sign that Annatta had returned with authorization from his uncle, but the forest trail beyond the gate was still empty. Instead, he was forced to repeat the words the Djinn had coached him on during their trip back.

“I already explained, captain. During my mission to rescue some imprisoned scouts, I also rescued these S̆addu’â-" he thought it best to leave out the little fact that they had been the ones who had imprisoned the scouts in the first place - “and decided to recruit them as auxiliary troops under my command. There is no reason that they should be unable to enter with me. Surely you are not afraid that a few scrawny soldiers will be a threat to the palace?” he asked with a smile.

The captain chewed on the edge of his lip, getting a good helping of his hefty ‘stache. “Well…” he hesitated. “Of course not, my lord, but they are S̆addu’â. They are not citizens of our kingdom-”

“Which is why I recruited them as auxiliary troops,” Jasper smoothly interrupted. The man frowned again, but Jasper stopped caring as salvation appeared on the horizon.

Annatta was riding his way, accompanied by a particularly svelte Djinn on a horse. When S̆arrābī arrived, the captain could not have been more obsequious. Jasper found it both amusing and a bit annoying. Though he may have worn the royal colors, he was not well known amongst the guards or the nobles of the palace. S̆arrābī, on the other hand, commanded instant respect.

Within minutes they were all ushered inside and, led by S̆arrābī, were headed down the sylvan path to the manors.

It was a long, quiet ride. Despite a few aborted attempts by Jasper to start up a conversation, his uncle did not speak at all until the two were alone together in his studio, with the enchanted door firmly shut.

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With a sigh, his uncle settled into his plush, leather chair, and cast a quizzical look at Jasper. “Care to explain how you ended up rescuing the scouts and their captors,” he asked, raising his eyebrow imperiously. "You do know the S̆addu’â are not exactly well-loved in the capital, right?”

Jasper could feel his cheeks burning but, fortunately, his red skin was at least useful for something. He met his uncle’s eyes steadfastly and lowered his voice. “The chieftain was going to kill all of them,” he explained. “I don’t know how much Annatta was able to tell you, but they’re basically kids. I couldn’t just let them die.”

His uncle humphed. “You could have - you chose not to. And speaking of kids, I was also quite surprised when a young woman of, well, let’s just say, uncertain character arrived at my doorstep with a child in tow and my name on her lips. Kaṣî was the only one at home when they arrived and it was a very frosty evening until the woman clarified that it was in fact you who had sent her.”

“I’d assume you’d just been a bit indiscrete, but you haven’t been in this world long enough to make that sort of mistake. At least, not one that old.” The Djinn squinted up at him. “You are amassing quite the collection of S̆addu’â. You don’t have some sort of fetish for them, do you?”

“What? No,” Jasper gasped out hastily. “I, I-” His stutter stopped as he noticed the spark of humor in his uncle’s eyes. “Selene’s grace, no,” he laughed. “I was just trying to help.”

But the humor in S̆arrābī’s eyes faded away. “You do realize you can’t adopt every stray you meet?”

Jasper winced. “I know, I know but they needed help. What I was supposed to do, just let them die?”

The old Djinn sighed. “You can’t save everyone, Yas̆peh. I will let you attach these S̆addu’â as auxiliaries to your detachment of scouts but I’m afraid I will not be authorizing their payment from royal funds. If you wish them to accompany your command, their pay will have to come out of your pocket.”

“Why not?” Jasper blurted out in surprise.

“The S̆addu’â bear no loyalty to our house, Yas̆peh. I will admit, they seem to bear you in some regard. I’m even impressed you managed to get them and the scouts back to the capital without any bloodshed, but they cannot be relied upon as troops, nor were you authorized to recruit them in the first place. If they prove their loyalty after a year or two of service, perhaps the question of their pay can be revisited, but until then, it's on you.” A brief smile flitted across S̆arrābī’s black lips as he gazed up at Jasper. “Next time, perhaps you will think twice before you volunteer my resources to pay for them.”

Jasper opened his mouth to protest but closed it just as quickly. His uncle had a point. “You know what, that’s fair,” he agreed. “I was the one who offered them shelter, so I should foot the bill. But I’m still going to try to save people,” he added.

His uncle nodded wearily. “I’m sure you will. If you are even half as stubborn as your mother, you’ll probably adopt the next stray you meet out of pure spite.”

“I don’t think I’m that stubborn,” Jasper protested with a laugh.

His uncle shrugged. “And what of the woman and her child? What are your plans to take care of them?”

Jasper hesitated. “Uh, I hadn’t really thought about it. I guess she could, uh, cook? If she knows how?”

S̆arrābī smiled. “I doubt you want one of the S̆addu’â to cook for you. Their cuisine is a bit of an acquired taste.” The man hesitated a second, before continuing. “Have you considered taking her as your mistress?”

“What? No!" Jasper gasped incredulously. "Just because she was a whore-”

“Yes, because she was a whore. You do realize, Yas̆peh, that she has virtually no marriage prospects? She is a destitute S̆addu'â woman with a bastard child and a past few men would overlook. I am quite certain the woman would happily welcome such an arrangement and it would be to your benefit as well. It would be wise for you to sire an heir.”

“Sire an heir?” Jasper stared at his uncle in shock. The man has lost his damned mind. “You wouldn’t take a mistress to have more heirs. Why the hell should I take one?”

“My personal affairs are not under discussion,” his uncle replied frostily. “Nor are they comparable. I have both a wife and an heir; you have neither.”

“But-"

S̆arrābi cut him off with an exasperated sigh. “Perhaps I broached the subject poorly. Tell me this, Yas̆peh, how many times since coming to our world have you come close to death?”

Jasper paused. The Atrometos. The dead god. The dorēsah. His severed head bouncing down the rampart of Gis̄-Izum. “There might have been a few times,” he admitted soberly.

His uncle nodded. “It’s only going to get worse. We will be sending the reinforcements to the empire soon, Yas̆peh. You’re headed to war.”

“Many people, when they find themselves facing mortality, start to think of what legacy they might leave behind. For many, they think of a child.” The Djinn’s black eyes bored into Jasper. “I won’t command you to sire an heir, Yas̆peh. Make this woman a cook or pay her to do nothing - I don’t care. But I hope that you will seriously consider what I said.” The man sighed. “It’s a shame your little fling vanished into thin air. Clearly, she managed to attract your interest somehow.”

The memory of Laylah’s sensuous curves flashed through his mind, and Jasper was glad he couldn’t blush. Shaking his head, he rejected his uncle’s suggestion. “I’m not planning to have kids right now, and I’m certainly not taking advantage of that poor woman.”

S̆arrābī frowned, but he didn’t push the issue. “That reminds me, Yas̆peh. Kaṣî insisted on having you and your elf friend over for dinner again.”

“You mean Ihra?” Jasper asked, annoyed his uncle hadn’t bothered to remember her name.

“No, I meant exactly what I said,” his uncle rejoined. “I’m fairly certain Kaṣî has already arranged another round of suitors eager to marry a fair elven maiden.”

Jasper groaned. “I really don’t think Ihra’s looking for a mate.”

“Probably not,” his uncle agreed, “but I am not going to be the one to tell Kaṣî that.”

“Do we have to come?” he asked.

The man shrugged. “It’s not the only reason for the dinner. Or have you forgotten the weapon she was crafting?”

Jasper perked up. “She already finished?”

His uncle smiled. “I had a feeling that would lure you out. I guess your elven friend is going to be meeting some more Djinn.”

“I guess so,” Jasper agreed shamelessly. If I can talk her into it, that is.