The Battered Lamp Ch. 32

Britney nodded, her face tight.

"Okay," Christy said, standing up and slipping into the room. Britney closed the sapphire door behind her. Aaliyah wished she could read thoughts through the door or communicate with her husband, but the blue gemstone blocked all Djinn telepathy and scrying.

"What did he say?" Fumi asked.

Britney didn't answer, her bushy, brown hair almost standing up on end. Aaliyah pushed out her thoughts, touching the Rakshasa....idiot cannot believe Kyle is considering the proposal it is obviously a trap idiot stupid moron the Marid cannot be-- The Rakshasa's thoughts went silent, and Britney fixed her green eyes on Aaliyah.

"Stay out of my mind, Djinn."

"I...sorry," Aaliyah murmured. "I'm just worried."

"You should be," Britney muttered under her breath.

Aaliyah's heart thundered in her chest. She stared at the door, her body trembling, imagining what terrible words the emissary must have imparted to worry Britney. She trembled, clinging to Fumi as the minutes dragged by. Her insides twisted over and over, growing tighter until she was sure they would rupture from the strain.

"What is going on?" Fatima burst out. "Tell us, Britney."

"Kyle commanded my silence," the Rakshasa answered.

"From us? We're his wives!" Fatima crossed over to Britney, staring with a fierce fire into Britney's eyes. "You serve our husband. Tell us now, or I'll claw it out of you!"

Her words hung on the air.

The sapphire door opened, and the Marid emissary stepped out. He was a young Marid, his dusky cheeks pale with fear, a tremble shivering through his body. "Kyle has accepted the gracious Sultan of the Hidden People's terms."

Britney groaned, "That idiot."

"What does that mean?" Fatima demanded. "Kyle! Get out here and explain right away."

"He has gone to Sahabah to surrender to my gracious master," the emissary continued. "He shall be held with all comfort to ensure your support of Rashid ibn al-Marid's continued rule as Sultan. So long as you do not raise rebellion against the Sultan's gracious rule, he will not be harmed."

"Seize this asshole!" Fatima spat as she strode into the war room. "Kyle, what is this--"

Aaliyah peered into the war room. Kyle and Christy were gone.

To be concluded...