“Mmmhmm,” she agreed absently. “He’s bound to come by soon. Be patient and you’ll get to meet him.”
“That’s what you said last time,” I whined, too frustrated to censor myself. “You really don’t know how to reach him?” In the large room, my voice echoed.
Arie’s eyes lifted to meet mine. Toss me on land and take my tail, it was so hard to keep a secret! I stretched my lips in a smile and shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome, but I so badly want to meet a Jinni before I go home.”
A wrinkle formed between Arie’s brows and she sighed, letting the papers fall to her lap. “Last time we wanted to find Gideon, we searched for a Jinni artifact. They naturally call to the Jinn. The problem is, I don’t know if they need to be close by to sense it. I don’t even know if they call to every Jinni or only some. Not to mention, I don’t even have the artifact anymore—there are so many variables, I honestly wouldn’t know where to start.”
I mulled that over. Something old from Jinn? Did my Key count? It was undoubtedly Jinni, not to mention ancient, and terribly powerful at that.
I grinned as my hopes rose. I bet it would be strong enough to call to Gideon like the artifacts Arie described.
But it was currently hidden from prying eyes, including the Jinn; my mother had made sure of that before I’d even learned to swim by putting a cloaking spell over the Key. I held in a groan. How do I uncloak it? I’d never thought to ask.
I couldn’t sit still anymore. Standing, I clutched my thick human skirts as I paced.
An idea came to me, and I paused. “You said ‘we.’ Does that mean others were looking for artifacts as well?” Maybe I can get them to help me.
“Yes...” The corners of Arie’s mouth turned down. “Kadin and I—and his crew, of course.”
I grinned. That was perfect. One of Kadin’s crew members, Bosh, came to the castle almost every day to give updates; I could ask him for help.
Arie’s frown deepened as she stared out the window.
“You don’t like Kadin very much, do you?” I asked, feeling proud of reading her well for once. In my opinion, Kadin and his crew were all far nicer than any Mereman. But Arie had let me stay here and helped me navigate the human world, so if she didn’t like him, I’d stand by her.
“What?” Her brows rose and I had her full attention now as she unconsciously crumpled the papers in her hand. “Why would you say that?”
“I can tell from the way you won’t talk about him, won’t let him come visit, and you always look unhappy when people mention him.” I ticked the reasons off on my fingers.
“Ah...” she stared down at her papers, not shuffling them anymore. “I don’t hate Kadin at all,” she finally whispered. “The opposite. But I have to do what’s best for both of us.”
The opposite. I scrunched up my nose. Humans were riddled with inconsistencies.
Without thinking, my hand lifted to the Key around my neck. I waited until Arie was engrossed in the papers again before I wandered past the thrones toward a window behind her. Once out of sight, I wrapped my fingers around the spine of the Key and whispered her name.
Arie.
When we’d first met, the Key had shown me her father in good health. But people often had more than one desire, and sometimes the stronger ones would battle for priority. Maybe Arie’s had changed.
The inky vision appeared before me with Arie on the same throne, but my lips parted when I saw the man sitting beside her: Kadin.
“You... love him?” I muttered to myself as the vision faded away. Interesting.
Making my way over to the thrones, I dropped into the one beside Arie, ignoring the way she stiffened. No one else was here; who cared if I sat on a throne? I leaned on the arm, propping my head in my hand. “Why do you love Kadin?”
She sputtered. “What? I never said I loved him.”
“But you want to be with him,” I said, frowning. “Isn’t that love?”
Arie regained control of her emotions, lifting her chin as she returned her focus to her work. “I think you’re reading into what I said quite a bit.”
I couldn’t tell her about the vision, but I knew what I saw. Another thought hit me. “Do you think he loves you?”
“I have no idea,” Arie snapped. She was sensitive for someone who didn’t care.
I thought of Gideon again. “Have you ever been in love?”
Exasperated, Arie dropped the papers in her lap to rub a hand across her forehead. “Love is complicated. I barely know Kadin so how could I love him?” She stood, taking the papers with her. “Clearly I won’t be getting anything done here today. I’m going to retire to my chambers.”
I SNUCK INTO ARIE’S rooms in the middle of the night, passing the outer chamber where her servant snored. Crawling into the bed the way I had back home with my sisters when I’d been a little-Mere, I poked Arie’s shoulder.
She squeaked as she jumped away from me. “Who’s there?”
“It’s just me.”
“Who is... Rena? What’re you doing here?” Arie reached over to light a candle. I’d forgotten she couldn’t see in the dark. My eyes could make out the room just fine. Born in the depths of the sea, the cozy darkness almost made me feel like I was back home instead of in this castle. Which was very dry.
For a moment, I was sidetracked, picturing a lovely late-night bath. Just a couple minutes. A tiny soak. But the servants probably wouldn’t appreciate that. They found my constant immersion strange.
A hiss of a match striking was followed by a warm yellow light burning bright between Arie’s fingers as she lit the candle on her bedside table. It lit up the little circle of space around us, illuminating Arie’s big canopy bed and her worried face. “What’s going on?” she repeated, now that she could see me.
“I couldn’t sleep.” The truth was I’d been trying to figure out how to unveil the Key so it could call Gideon, but I hadn’t made any progress and was hoping Arie might give me a clue.
Arie fell back against her pillow with a sigh. “So you decided I shouldn’t sleep either?” she mumbled, covering her face with her arm.
“Tell me more about Kadin,” I said, ignoring her complaints. “Is he still in town?”
Arie stilled. “I don’t know.”
“But you’re the queen.” I pulled back the blankets so I could put my feet underneath and warm my toes. When I tucked myself in, it almost looked like I had a tail again. “Shouldn’t you know where your subjects are? He wouldn’t leave, would he? Or does he not care as much as—”
“Okay!” Arie interrupted, dropping her arm, fully awake now. She sat up and leaned against the headboard next to me. “He’s here in town. In the Khov Inn.”
I smirked. “So you do keep an eye on him.”
She shrugged.
“Does that mean you might love him after all?”
“Rena, we’ve been over this.” Arie played with one of the colorful threads decorating her blanket. “You have to know someone to love them, and they have to know you. And how could we possibly have had time to do that when we met barely more than a month ago?”
I sighed. She sounded like my sisters. That was ridiculous. I already knew I loved Gideon, and there was a very good chance he loved me too.
“I might... like Kadin...” Arie added, not looking up from the thread she was unraveling.
I wiggled closer, eager to hear more. “What do you like about him?”
She paused so long I wanted to shake her, until finally she exhaled and the corner of her mouth twitched upward as she said, “Everything.”
Chapter 6
Arie
I LEFT MY FATHER’S room the next morning. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but he was a shell of himself. So small and thin in his big bed; he looked like a fragile stranger. It hurt to see him like that. His mind was so scarred by King Amir’s influence, that he’d disappeared somewhere inside it. The castle healers told me he hadn’t stirred in almost two days. Rena staye
d with him—her presence sometimes brought back hints of him—but I could tell it was losing effect.
Kadin had vowed to search for help, sending his crew across the kingdoms on my behalf, while Gideon searched for a Jinni cure.
I paused by a window to rub my tired eyes. I couldn’t let myself think about Kadin, or I’d begin to question my choices regarding him.
It was for the best. I lifted my chin and moved down the hallway, not sure where I was going, just knowing that I needed to keep moving. Kadin might not understand, but if King Amir or other kingdoms looking to prey on Hodafez found any weakness in me, they would exploit it. Besides, I told myself as I slipped inside my chambers and made my way out to the private balcony, I doubt Kadin will wait around for me. He’s probably already moved on.
Being on the balcony only reminded me of meeting Gideon there, a few days after my coronation. He’d taken the small green lamp I’d owed him, bowing over it as he promised to help: “Whatever I’m able to do, it will be done.”
I wasn’t entirely certain what that meant. Or how much time he truly had to spare while still on his urgent mission.
Frustrated, I left the balcony and made my way to the throne room instead, needing something to do. Something to take my mind off these morbid thoughts.
Entering the throne room, I made my way to the smaller room at the back where my father used to spend his days. After an hour or so of pacing, Rena poked her head through the door and slipped inside to join me.
For some reason, Rena had latched onto me during her first week on land and I had yet to shake her. Most of the time, though, I didn’t mind. Her idle chatter took my mind off everything else I was dealing with. A kingdom that hated me—hated my Gift. No one wanted to even be in proximity of the Queen who could read their minds.
I would’ve liked to reveal that I could only hear the thoughts centered around me, which would’ve been true only a short month prior. But lately I could hear more and more. Every thought laid bare, no matter how simple or complex, how kind or cruel.
The line for me to listen to the townsfolks’ requests was nonexistent.
But Rena, the tiny girl from the sea, didn’t mind my company at all. She dropped into a chair by the window, happy to watch another rainy day as if it was a play.
As a Meremaid, she was immune to my Gift, a surprising relief. The pocket of silence surrounding her gave me a much-needed reprieve from the chaos swirling around my mind in everyone else’s company.
Today, she listened to me debate what to do about King Amir’s letters, chiming in with an “I don’t know,” or a “not sure,” every so often.
Yesterday’s letter from King Amir asking to meet had not been the first. And staring out at the empty throne room again today, I finally made my decision. Better to deal with the kingdom of Sagh while my father was still alive. I felt a twinge of grief at the thought—but once he was gone there was no guarantee they would still want peace.
Striding into the hall, I called for someone to send a scribe. Once he was seated in the back room with inkwell and parchment before him, I began.
“To King Amir of Sagh. I’m sure you can understand why your presence is unacceptable in Hodafez at this time.”
Though the scribe paled, he began to write. I knew it was unusual. But I couldn’t be bothered with the appropriate political phrasing and circling around the truth. For a moment, the only sound was the scratching of the quill on parchment and my footsteps as I paced.
When it stopped, I continued, “I’ll allow you to send ambassadors on your behalf. No more than two. And no soldiers.”
Furious scribbling filled the air. Two was generous.
“Sign it.”
Taking my father’s seal, which rested in a drawer in his desk, yet another reminder of his condition, I waited for the scribe to drip hot wax over the fold before I pressed the top of the ring into it with the Hodafez seal.
WHEN A SERVANT KNOCKED to say the ambassadors of Sagh had arrived the next morning, I choked on my breakfast. It was almost a whole day’s ride. Did they leave immediately and ride all night? I shook my head as I dressed in a hurry, making my way down to the throne room to officially greet them.
When I entered the throne room, the two ambassadors of Sagh, dressed in the dark purple and blue royal colors, stood to face me. They were surrounded by flashy gifts from King Amir, most of them made of gold, although I felt confident it was only a thin veneer over wood or other materials. The politics of those gifts alone was enough to overwhelm me, as I tried to decipher if it meant the king truly wanted peace or if he was trying to conceal other motives—but for the first time in weeks, I also felt distracted by a heavy buzz of thoughts. There were at least two dozen citizens of Hodafez in attendance. No doubt drawn by the ambassadors passing through the streets on their way to the castle. They were willing to brave my Gift to see what the visitors had to say.
“Many blessings and favor to the lovely Queen of Hodafez,” the ambassadors began before I’d even sat down. “The king of Sagh wishes to extend his warmest thanks and also condolences for your father’s condition.”
Pretty phrases that meant nothing. Both men were tall and gray-haired, tipping their chins to me in a small bow, but their disrespectful gaze irked me. Do this for the kingdom, I reminded myself, folding my hands in my lap as I stared at them. For father. He would want peace.
“We look forward to discussing how our two kingdoms might align for the greater good,” said the same man, the leader of the two. He pushed his spectacles higher on the bridge of his nose, turning to the other ambassador, who pulled out a small inkwell and some parchment. “Perhaps we could discuss the issues between our two kingdoms privately?” He gestured one arm in a billowy sleeve toward our small audience in the surrounding chairs.
I willed myself not to react. They hadn’t even fully introduced themselves yet and already they were jumping into the negotiations? It was undeniably rude, but refusing would be equally rude. Their sly request would set me against my people, asking the few gathered here for the first time in weeks to leave, and yet I couldn’t refuse either, without damaging the proceedings before they’d even begun.
“Of course.” I nodded, turning to the small group of people seated around the room. “Thank you all for coming.” I made an effort to smile at each of them. “I will have the castle staff feed you a warm meal before you go as a thank you for your attendance and support during this hard time.”
They stood with some shuffling, mumbling to each other as they slowly made their way out of the room. I cleared my throat and called after them as they streamed out the main door, “As soon as we are able to share the results of the negotiations with the public, I’ll let you all know.”
The room grew quiet as the two ambassadors shifted. The second man cleared his throat, staring pointedly at Rena, who still lounged on the side of the room. “Your majesty,” he spoke up, “we must insist on speaking solely with the crown of Hodafez...”
“Yes, of course,” I said on a sigh. “Rena, could you check on my father again while I speak to these gentlemen?”
The two men stood before my throne, eerily still, as they waited for Rena to leave the room. Something prickled on the back of my neck. I swallowed and looked away, watching Rena’s back instead as she stepped through the wide double doors at the far end of the throne room.
With a deep breath, I returned my gaze to the men and gasped. The air shimmered around them and as I watched, they changed from regular human men to something unmistakably other: Jinni.
I panicked.
“Don’t do anything rash,” the first Jinni said as I opened my mouth to yell for help. I found myself gasping for air instead, unable to move from my throne. What are they doing to me? I clawed at my throat, eyes wide.
One of the men—or rather, Jinni—stepped forward. Fear and lack of oxygen blurred my vision but when the tightness in my throat eased up, I coughed and blinked away tears, until he became visible.
<
br /> It was Enoch.
I’d know his purple eyes anywhere. What was he doing here with the other Jinni?
Still unable to speak, I tried to imagine myself open to them and their thoughts, to let my Gift help me. But there was only dead air around them. The Jinni knew how to protect themselves from other Gifts. If only I’d learned to do the same! If only Rena would come back and help me!
Enoch took his glasses off and put them in his pocket. “As I was saying, we come before the Queen of Hodafez as ambassadors.” His voice was monotone, and his eyes dull, same as the last time I’d met him.
No. I wouldn’t let this happen again. I stood, but only managed to take two steps before the air around my legs became thick as mud and solidified so that I couldn’t move.
“We are not here on King Amir’s behalf,” Enoch continued, as if nothing had happened, “but rather the Queen of Jinn.” He didn’t give me time to process before he added, “You, Queen Arie, are now her happy subject.”
There was a sweet melodic tenor to his voice that lulled me into contentment. Happy subject. Of course I’m loyal to the Queen of Jinn. After all, I should align myself with other Gifted beings. My left eye twitched. I should go to bed early tonight; I’m not getting enough sleep.
“You’re also going to let the ambassadors from Sagh stay in your home for the next few weeks.” Enoch pointed to himself and the other Jinni who stood comfortably, hands crossed, smirking at the two of us. I didn’t appreciate his attitude. I might ask the Queen of Jinn to send a different ambassador in his place in the future.
I gave myself a mental shake. They were waiting on my answer. “Please do,” I began, smiling at them. Why can’t I move my feet?
The Jinni Key Page 5
