“Tell me,” I began as I took a bite. “How long have you been away from home?” The food here was flavorless, but my stomach growled and I continued.
When he frowned, I paused, feeling guilty. “I apologize, if that was insensitive...” Had I already offended him? Why did I have to be so stupid?
“Not at all,” he said. So formal. He touched the napkin to his lips before folding it in his lap. “I suppose I’m not used to conversation. Most people fear my kind.”
“I’ve noticed.” I took another bite. “I don’t get it. You seem perfectly nice.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as Gideon turned back to his food as well, and there was a comfortable silence. “To answer your question,” he began, “I’ve unfortunately lost my ability to return home. I’d prefer not to discuss the circumstances.”
I nodded.
He sipped his coffee, before continuing, “It’s my hope that the lamp you possess might help me return. I’ve lived among the human kingdoms for the better part of a year now.”
I slowed in my chewing. He couldn’t go home? We had more in common than I’d realized.
Gideon tipped his head once, almost as if in a nod. Had he overheard?
I cleared my throat, feeling vulnerable, and said the first thing that came to mind. “Can I ask what brought you to our lands?”
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew I was prying. Would he take offense? But Gideon’s expression didn’t change. He lifted his cup to drink again. Only after finishing the glass and setting it down did he answer. “I’ve been... tasked with finding ancient artifacts.”
“I see. They must be important?” I wanted this conversation to be over. It’d been a mistake to think I could make my request while in a public place; I couldn’t hear my own thoughts above the noise, much less form an appropriate question. I set down my spoon.
“Very.” He nodded, carefully folding his napkin and placing it on his plate. “Artifacts all enhance or add to a Jinni’s Gifting.”
“Enhance...” I had to ask. “You mean it makes Gifts stronger? Or better?”
“Both.” He turned to face me. “In some cases, they provide a new Gift altogether.”
“Do the artifacts work on humans too?”
Gideon didn’t confirm or deny it, only staring at me with those unblinking eyes.
Understanding bloomed at the secret I’d just uncovered. I whispered, “They do, don’t they? That’s why it’s not common knowledge. They must be terribly powerful.”
Could an artifact give a half-Jinni like me some sense of control? Help me muffle thoughts in a crowd so I didn’t feel like I was losing my mind?
Gideon turned away without a word, still not denying it, and pulled out coins from his pocket to pay for his meal.
“Even if humans did find the artifacts,” I spoke my thoughts aloud since he could hear them anyway, “they wouldn’t know they had something of such value. And if they did, they wouldn’t know how to work it. I mean, with the lamp, I’m sure it’s not as simple as merely lighting it...” I trailed off, watching him.
He paused in the middle of setting some coins on the table before he stood.
“Or... I suppose it could be that easy.”
He still didn’t answer.
“Gideon,” I pushed, standing as well. “What does the lamp do?”
He only shook his head, picking up his cane and moving toward the door without using it once.
“I’m not going to light it,” I teased. “But you wouldn’t want to risk my using it by accident, would you?” I followed him out of the room.
The pressure of thoughts lifted as we entered the hall. I flashed him one of my most charming smiles. No prince alive had ever resisted.
Gideon, as otherworldly as he was, was no different. He smiled back at me slightly. “It isn’t a violent Gift,” he admitted, now that we were out of earshot from the others in the common area. “I suppose there’s no harm.”
I smiled, ducking my eyes for a brief moment, before staring up at him in rapt attention, going for irresistible. “No harm at all,” I encouraged.
