diamonds. And what wasn’t made of diamonds was replaced by rubies and emeralds and jewels with colors I couldn’t name. I felt unworthy of being there and wanted to curse Irving for bringing me. Why was it so important I meet the Sultan, that he would bring me into this realm and taint it with my commonness?
Giant tapestries made from silk decorated many of the walls we passed, but the walls leading to the assembly chamber were the most spectacular. They were palatial water walls, back lit with the most serene glow. The water drained into a steel basin that ran along the bottom edge of the wall. Where it went, I couldn’t tell, but who cared? They were beautiful and the trickling sound of the water made me want to curl up on the comfy floor and nap forever.
Four guards stood at the end of the corridor in front of a set of humongous doors. Each was bare-chested with a saber hooked to their waist. They bowed as we approached and pushed open the doors to let us through.
“The Sultan is referred to as ‘Your Grandness’.” That was the only thing Irving said to me before we entered the assembly chamber.
The Sultan sat alone at a desk in a chamber so big my parents’ entire house could have fit inside it. The lush red carpet continued on inside and spread over the space, closing it in a bit. Statues, paintings and books filled up the space, and as with the rest of the palace, gold covered everything. Even the Sultan’s marble desk and throne were accented with the stuff.
At our approach, the Sultan lifted his head, which was shiny and bald. A smile lit up his aged face.
The first thing I noticed was that the Sultan’s left eye was amethyst, just like Irving’s. His right eye was an iridescent marble surrounded by a gold-plated eyelid. The Sultan had a mechanical eye. I shivered to think about what could have happened to his real eye and wondered if no one had ever considered just giving the Sultan an eye patch. It would have been far less creepy than what he had going on now.
“Irving, my boy!” Setting aside his work, the Sultan stood with the help of a cane and stepped around his massive desk to greet us. Pure white robes edged in gold lace adorned his thin frame and on his feet were equally white slippers that curled up at the toes. I almost laughed. His shoes were just so… genie.
“Hello, Uncle!” Irving exclaimed, opening his arms to embrace the Sultan.
I started, forgetting all about the Sultan’s shoes. Uncle? This lying bastard ass Djinn…
I glared at Irving while I dipped into a little curtsy for the Sultan who was staring directly at me.
“Whatever is the problem, child?” the Sultan questioned me as he pulled away from Irving. He gave me a small smile and I immediately felt at ease in his presence.
“I apologize, Your Grandness,” I said. “I was just a bit surprised. Irving didn’t tell me he was your nephew.”
“Didn’t I?” Irving said with a smirk.
I wanted to throw decorum out of the window and punch him in the ribs. After a moment, I decided that I would. I punched him. “No!”
The Sultan burst out laughing. It was a hearty laugh for a man so frail. “I like your human already. It is about time you met a female not afraid to put you in your place!”
Irving tried to scowl, but his smile broke through. “Your Grandness, this is Glory St. Pierre, my master in more ways than one.” He winced and rubbed his ribs. I rolled my eyes at him. He wasn’t hurt and he knew it.
The Sultan smiled and his marble eye rolled toward me. “I have heard much about you, Glory St. Pierre.”
“Have you, Your Grandness?” I side-eyed Irving. “How bad was it?” Irving snorted and waited for the Sultan to reply.
“I have heard nothing but wonderful things about you,” he said. “Irving is quite the admirer.”
“Watch out, Uncle. This one has an ego and already thinks quite highly of herself. Please do not encourage it.” Irving threw me a playful wink and I stuck my tongue
Giant tapestries made from silk decorated many of the walls we passed, but the walls leading to the assembly chamber were the most spectacular. They were palatial water walls, back lit with the most serene glow. The water drained into a steel basin that ran along the bottom edge of the wall. Where it went, I couldn’t tell, but who cared? They were beautiful and the trickling sound of the water made me want to curl up on the comfy floor and nap forever.
Four guards stood at the end of the corridor in front of a set of humongous doors. Each was bare-chested with a saber hooked to their waist. They bowed as we approached and pushed open the doors to let us through.
“The Sultan is referred to as ‘Your Grandness’.” That was the only thing Irving said to me before we entered the assembly chamber.
The Sultan sat alone at a desk in a chamber so big my parents’ entire house could have fit inside it. The lush red carpet continued on inside and spread over the space, closing it in a bit. Statues, paintings and books filled up the space, and as with the rest of the palace, gold covered everything. Even the Sultan’s marble desk and throne were accented with the stuff.
At our approach, the Sultan lifted his head, which was shiny and bald. A smile lit up his aged face.
The first thing I noticed was that the Sultan’s left eye was amethyst, just like Irving’s. His right eye was an iridescent marble surrounded by a gold-plated eyelid. The Sultan had a mechanical eye. I shivered to think about what could have happened to his real eye and wondered if no one had ever considered just giving the Sultan an eye patch. It would have been far less creepy than what he had going on now.
“Irving, my boy!” Setting aside his work, the Sultan stood with the help of a cane and stepped around his massive desk to greet us. Pure white robes edged in gold lace adorned his thin frame and on his feet were equally white slippers that curled up at the toes. I almost laughed. His shoes were just so… genie.
“Hello, Uncle!” Irving exclaimed, opening his arms to embrace the Sultan.
I started, forgetting all about the Sultan’s shoes. Uncle? This lying bastard ass Djinn…
I glared at Irving while I dipped into a little curtsy for the Sultan who was staring directly at me.
“Whatever is the problem, child?” the Sultan questioned me as he pulled away from Irving. He gave me a small smile and I immediately felt at ease in his presence.
“I apologize, Your Grandness,” I said. “I was just a bit surprised. Irving didn’t tell me he was your nephew.”
“Didn’t I?” Irving said with a smirk.
I wanted to throw decorum out of the window and punch him in the ribs. After a moment, I decided that I would. I punched him. “No!”
The Sultan burst out laughing. It was a hearty laugh for a man so frail. “I like your human already. It is about time you met a female not afraid to put you in your place!”
Irving tried to scowl, but his smile broke through. “Your Grandness, this is Glory St. Pierre, my master in more ways than one.” He winced and rubbed his ribs. I rolled my eyes at him. He wasn’t hurt and he knew it.
The Sultan smiled and his marble eye rolled toward me. “I have heard much about you, Glory St. Pierre.”
“Have you, Your Grandness?” I side-eyed Irving. “How bad was it?” Irving snorted and waited for the Sultan to reply.
“I have heard nothing but wonderful things about you,” he said. “Irving is quite the admirer.”
“Watch out, Uncle. This one has an ego and already thinks quite highly of herself. Please do not encourage it.” Irving threw me a playful wink and I stuck my tongue
Similar Books
