“We were on our way to claim it,” I took over, a half-formed plan in my mind. “My men are waiting with the coin outside the city walls, but we’ve been unfairly detained. The lamp is yours if you can get us out of here.”
“And to our horse and cart as well,” Arie said.
When I shot her a look,she added. “What? I’m assuming Gideon is quite skilled.”
“The question isn’t whether Icanaccomplish your request,” Gideon replied. “Rather, are you truly being kept here outside of the law, or did you possibly do something to deserve this cell?”
That blasted Jinni code was going to stop him from helping us!
I acted on a gut-feeling. Leaning toward Arie, I stage whispered through the bars, “I don’t think he can do it.”
Thank the stars, she was quick. She even turned away from him before she whispered to me, “You might be right. Well, I guess the lamp will just have to wait for us to pick it up.”
I nodded, then shook my head tsking, “It could take weeks for us to get out of here.”
Arie turned back to Gideon, as if he hadn’t heard our discussion, saying to him in a normal voice. “It’s such a shame we won’t be able to get the lamp to you sooner then. But of course, we understand if you’re unable. We will contact you again once we’re rightfully released.” And she bowed low in dismissal.
“I’m perfectly capable of getting a hundred men and horses outside the castle,” Gideon snapped. He cleared his throat, straightening his jacket. “Since you would eventually be released, I see no harm in making it sooner rather than later.”
With one snap of his fingers, the cell shifted, turning into the forest outside of the castle—outside of the city entirely. The lights twinkled in the distance.
Even though I knew rationally that I had moved, it felt as if everything had materialized around me. It threw me off balance, making my head spin and my stomach react.
“Your wagon and men are waiting alongside the road, just a few short paces from here,” Gideon told us in a bored tone. The light of the moon was strong and I could make out his face clearly.
“Many thanks,” I told him, and Daichi echoed my words.
Arie stepped forward, stopping to press her hands together as if she’d been about to hug him. “Truly, Gideon, thank you. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Gideon nodded in response, but even in the dim light, I could see his cheeks darken. Was he blushing? Maybe the Jinn were more human than I’d thought.
“I’ll take the lamp now,” Gideon said to me, clearing his throat and straightening his vest and jacket once more. “Shall we drive to the auction block to collect it, or shall I meet you there?”
“As soon as you honor the bargain with Arie, we’ll give it to you,” I replied, nodding.
Daichi began to back away from us, paling at the mention of the deal changing. “Did you say they’re—the men—the others are, um, around the corner? I’m just...” He pointed behind him, disappearing around the bend behind the trees. Coward.
“I do believe you changed the agreement,” Gideon argued, ignoring Daichi’s retreat and growing quite still. “You stated it would be mine if I brought the three of you outside the castle.”
“But I didn’t saywhen,” I reminded him. “It was no change to the original agreement—I was simply saying we couldn’t get you the lamp while still inside the castle, could we?”
Gideon’s mouth fell open. “Why, the audacity... you thought to fool one of the Jinn?” Was it my imagination, or was he now turning an almost ashen-gray, like a storm cloud about to release a tempest.
“Never!” I was quick to protest, wide-eyed. “I think you read into it.” It was daring to accuse him of being at fault. But I held my ground with a look of innocence. “My sincerest apologies, of course.”
“Of course,” he muttered, seeming unconvinced, but his normal color began to return as he calmed himself. He squinted at me, straightening his vest with a sharp tug. “Do not think to pull something like this so easily in the future. When the lamp is in your possession, contact me again.”
And before any of us could answer, he vanished.
