“Away with you!” he shouted. “Trouble another if you must, but leave me be! I have had my share of djinns and their curses to last alifetime!”
The voice fell silent, but Rolfe intended to put as much distance between himself and the vessel as possible. He flung the bottle through the air, no longer wanting to take it home. It did not travel as far as Rolfe might have hoped before bouncing in the snow. Another muffled squeak had Rolfe reaching for his saddle, tail orno.
He had no intention of waiting like a fool to see what this djinn’s response mightbe.
A rosy cloud unfurled from the bottle’s mouth this time, making the air around Rolfe and his destrier glow like the first light ofdawn.
It was notunpleasant.
Rolfe found himself glancing back over his shoulder in curiosity, one foot in thestirrup.
“Much better, oh yes, much better indeed,” that feminine voice declared. “What a relief it is to have room tostretch.”
The glow grew high and wide, stretching out to encompass all of the surrounding woods, before rolling back into a tight orb. That sphere radiated an opalescent light, but beyond its periphery, the sky grew steadily darker. It was as if the moon floated before Rolfe, or a small version ofit.
Rolfe leaned closer then there was a loud crack that made himjump.
A plump woman of indeterminate age sat on the upturned bottle. She smiled at Rolfe and propped her chin on her hand to study him, as if there was nothing unusual about her sudden appearance atall.
Rolfe blinked and she smiled athim.
She wore the sheer trousers and upturned leather shoes like those he had seen in Outremer, topped by a high-necked, heavily embroidered tunic. Her hair was dark and hung on either side of her face in thick braids. She wore a round fur hat with red woolen balls dangling from its rim, and those balls danced as she moved her head. A broadsword much like Rolfe’s own hung by herside.
She returned his regard intently for a moment then suddenly stared down atherself.
“Oh, my,” she whispered and one hand rose to herlips.
A shimmer of light blinded Rolfe for a moment. He blinked, and incredibly, in that short interval, the woman’s garbchanged.
She wore a fitted blue kirtle over an undyed chemise and a fur-lined cloak that fell all the way to her boots. She looked like any noblewoman Rolfe might have seen before, with the exception of her strange hat whichremained.
She touched it and smiled at Rolfe’s glance. “It is warm,” she informed him. She had a certain girlish charm, but he would not be swayed from hissuspicions.
“Are you another djinn?” he asked, realizing that his tone washostile.
“Yes, that I am.” She drew herself taller. “I must say your manner is decidedly forward, if notrude.”
“My manner is nothing compared to that of the last djinn I met,” Rolfe declared. “How many of you are inthere?”
She looked startled by his question. “Only two, mercifully, for she was company enough for me.” She sighed. “I can tell you that centuries take considerably longer to pass than one might think when the company is less thanideal.”
Rolfe had no idea how to reply, but she continued as if not expecting him to doso.
“I am so relieved to be released. I should even grant you a wish.” She frowned and tapped one finger on her lip. “Was that how it worked?” she mused to herself. “One wish? Three wishes?” She flicked a glance at Rolfe. “One must follow the rules, youknow.”
The last djinn had spoken similarly just before she had taken her vengeance uponRolfe.
Clearly, it was time toleave.
“It does not matter,” he said hastily. “I thank you, but have no need of any favors from djinns.” He took several quick steps backward and reached for his saddle once more. Could he mount and ride away without her stopping him? It was certainly worth atry.
“Oh, but I mustinsist—”
“No, it is best saved for another. If you will excuse me?” Rolfe pivoted and had one foot in a stirrup before she clicked hertongue.
“Oh, she is good,” shesaid.
Rolfe knew this djinn had spotted his tail and he felt his neck heat in embarrassment. Something tingled at his fingertips before he could speak, and he glanced down to find his nails had turneddark.
