Melt by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton [Carlton, Demelza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2018-04-02T05:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

Another day, another master…or the same one in a different guise, but it mattered little. One master was the same as another, issuing orders and expecting miracles. Amani braced himself for being sucked through the spout again. The discomfort had become one of the least demeaning parts of his servitude.

He placed a private bet with himself that this new idiot would ask for all the riches in the world before the day was over. He'd lost the wager when it was Philemon, who'd turned out to be too much of a fool to think of asking for such a thing. So this one would have to be truly stupid to do worse than Philemon.

"I am the servant of the lamp. What do you wish of me?" Amani said grandly. He'd found he could vary the words if he wished, as long as he said something suitable when greeting a new master. If he began before the magical compulsion hit him, he could even make himself sound impressive, retaining some of his former glory, instead of presenting himself as a cringing, servile mouse.

He found himself facing a peasant woman. One who backed away from him in terror, clutching the lamp in her clawed fingers.

She tripped and knocked herself unconscious, which brought a ragged boy to her aid. Now both of them were ignoring him.

So much for making a grand entrance. Amani sighed. "I said: what do you wish of me?"

The boy – nay, a man, though a young one, turned angry eyes on Amani. "You frightened my mother and now she is hurt."

Amani opened his mouth to say it was her own silly fault, releasing a djinn she had no idea what to do with.

But her dutiful son snatched up the lamp, and continued, "I wish you would fix the mess you have made." His expression challenged Amani to refuse. Almost as if he knew the horrible headache that would ensue if he did.

It had been many years since Amani had healed someone, but he did his best for the woman. When he had stopped her head from bleeding, he turned his attention back to the man. His new master, for the man's hands were firmly wrapped around the lamp as though he knew what power he possessed.

Grudgingly, Amani said, "What else do you wish of me?"

He would not blame the boy for asking for riches. Living in this hovel, a bag of gold might change his life.

But the boy surprised him again. "Answers. What are you?"

"I am the servant of the lamp, and my master is whoever holds it in his hands."

The boy nodded, as though he already knew this. "So you are a djinn?"

"Yes."

"You can perform magic? What sort of magic can you do?"

The boy had met djinn or enchanters before. He must have, for only people who knew magic well knew an enchanter's powers were strong in some areas and weak in others. If Amani had been able to render himself invisible, he would never have been caught with Briska and he wouldn't be in this mess.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.