He and his men continued to walk, though Bosh broke the unspoken agreement between them and glanced back at me multiple times as the space between us grew.
Good. Let them stew a bit longer.
Why hadn’t I just asked Gideon sooner? It had only taken me a few short minutes to work it out. I would start by appealing to his Jinni code,I’m sure the Jinn dislike humans stealing their abilities. And then, straight to the point:I don’t even want my Gift and would like to request a Severance...No... maybe a bit more formal. He seemed to appreciate formality:I would like to beg you to consider providing me with a Severance...I could improvise that part...In return, I’ll sign the lamp over to you.A willing subject asking for their Gift to be removed? How could he say no? But the only way it would work was if I could get away from the crew and it didn’t look like Kadin was going to let that happen anytime soon.
“If I’m staying with you, I’m keeping it,” I finally called out after them as I started to walk. I slipped my hand into my pocket, clutching the small pebble before I caught myself. Making every effort to avoid rubbing it, I carefully let go and pulled my cloak around me as if that would stop them from taking it. I could only trust Kadin’s thought earlier would hold. He didn’t want to harm me.
I stopped in front of him. “Gideon gave it to me.”
We stood at a crossroads in the streets, literally and figuratively. I could tell he was frustrated, as much as he tried to hide it. The way those golden-brown eyes squinted at me. But I didn’t back down.
“Fine,” he said, after a long moment. He turned, leading us through the narrow passages between tall buildings, winding this way and that, until I was thoroughly lost.
The men kept me in the center of the group, and no one said another word until we reached the now-familiar green door of their small dwelling. They didn’t trust me as much now.We’ll have to keep an eye on her at all times,Naveed signed and they nodded agreement.
Everyone kept quiet as we entered, sensitive to the strange mood that had settled over us.
I didn’t care.
I had nothing to say, so I stayed silent as well.
We sat down to the piping hot stew that Naveed had put together before we left. I sat on the far side of the sofa from Kadin. We ate in silence that grew more awkward the longer it stretched.
Why doesn’t she want to help us?I tried to ignore Bosh’s thought, holding my bowl out to Naveed and gesturing for a refill. I’d eat until I couldn’t take another bite. At least then I’d have a full stomach when I snuck away later.
“Please, Arie,” Bosh surprised me by speaking up. “I know you don’t want to stay with us. But we’re not all bad. We can be quieter and Naveed’s food is really good and—”
“Shut it,” Daichi growled. “She doesn’t care about us.”
Ryo smacked him across the head. “Not you at least, if you go around talking like that.”
Kadin cleared his throat. “What they’re trying to say, so poorly—” he lifted one eyebrow at the men and it disappeared under his long hair, “—is that we really need a Jinni’s help. It’s not right what these princes get away with. No one stands up to them. We just want justice.”
I accepted the second bowl from Naveed slowly.
His eyes pleaded with me.
Glancing around the room, I saw that all of them hung on my reply. Daichi restlessly played with his doorknob, while Ryo chewed his lip. Illium scowled, even grouchier than usual; he’d already made up his mind that he didn’t like me. Kadin wouldn’t lower himself to beg, but his eyes implored me to reconsider, almost as if he knew what I was planning.
Lowering the bowl, I stared down at the food in thought, avoiding their gaze. I’d grown up with the princes and their foolish, power-hungry ways. At least I’d been somewhat protected, as a princess. What must it have been like for these men, for them to venture out on a quest for vengeance?
Glancing up again, I caught the men signing to each other, but whatever they were saying, it wasn’t about me because the thoughts stayed a wordless hum. Bosh’s head whipped back and forth, watching Daichi sign, then Illium and Kadin respond. Naveed joined in, hands moving faster than all of theirs combined. Bosh squinted, looking as confused as I felt.
My mind drifted back home, to the reminder of my own power-hungry, unwantedfiancé, King Amir. I imagined Gideon teaching him a lesson that would send him running back to his castle, leaving my father in peace. That alone made me reassess my decision.
Maybe it was possible to do both; to help them convince Gideon and to convince Gideon myself. I didn’t really have anywhere else to go. No one was hiring. I didn’t have any coin. Better to stay with this small group of people whom I half-trusted, where I could get a warm meal. If I helped them first, and asked for Gideon’s help later, it would give me time to get to know Gideon too. That seemed reasonable.
“IfI stay long-term,” I began, and Bosh and Ryo cheered. “Then I get paid as a partner. Whatever the rest of you earn, that’s what I’ll earn too.” I had no idea how much that might be, but judging by their clothing, they had to havesomecoin. If I was careful, I could save my pay and make it last. No one would steal from me again without serious consequences.
“Agreed,” Kadin said. And this time everyone cheered. Except me.
I paused in chewing. “So howareyou going to pay for the lamp?” I asked. “Because as you said, I obviously don’t have enough.”
Out of everyone here, I should’ve been most able to afford it. I ignored the urge to mourn the loss of my tiara and jewels once more. “Do you have some treasure hidden somewhere that I don’t know about?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Kadin said, waving off my concerns with a smile. “It’s something we know how to do.”
