Midnight At The Oasis by Justin Gustainis

Author:Justin Gustainis
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Solaris

Twenty-Four

AT ONE O’CLOCK, Nasiri was standing before an exhibit of medieval Arabic art when Uthman appeared at his elbow.

“Peace be upon you, my brother,” the wizard said quietly.

“And upon you, too.” Nasiri also kept his voice down, even speaking Arabic. In this building, in this city, Arabic was more likely to be used than English. There were perhaps a dozen other people in the large, open room, but none of them stood nearby. If someone did approach the art exhibit, Nasiri and Uthman would casually move on to another area, far enough away from other people to keep them safe from prying ears, regardless of the language they used.

“What did you wish to discuss with me so urgently, my brother?” Nasiri asked.

Uthman took a moment before answering. “It concerns... Rashid,” he said.

“I surmised as much,” Nasiri said, and waited.

“I allowed him egress from the lamp, last night – after first surrounding it with an unbreachable barrier of magic, of course.”

“Again? Why must you continue to do such things?”

“For the same reason that a lion tamer works with his big cats on a regular basis, brother – to remind them who is dominant. Otherwise, he may face an unpleasant surprise on the day he performs before the crowd.”

“I am not certain that I find such an analogy convincing,” Nasiri said.

“I believe it is very appropriate,” Uthman told him. “The fragment of Great Suleiman’s Seal that we have is not very large. As I have explained to you, the size is directly related to its power.”

“I hope you are not about to suggest that we secure a larger relic for you – even assuming that one could be located somewhere.”

“No, brother – I am aware that that would be all but impossible. My own resources – which are considerable, I may say – have been unable to uncover any other verified fragment anywhere.”

“Very well, then. So you let our friend out of his container, to re-establish your dominance over him. What is the problem that caused you to get in touch with me?”

Uthman hesitated again, and Nasiri felt a worm of unease begin crawling through his guts.

“The comparison of my work to that of a lion tamer was perhaps more apt than you realize, brother,” Uthman said. “In both cases, a degree of caution, or restraint, is called for. The man in the cage has his whip and chair, perhaps even a revolver. However, the power these accord him is limited. One can push a lion or leopard only so far without risk of bloody rebellion. The same is true of our friend in the lamp, despite my possessing a piece of Great Suleiman’s Seal.”

Nasiri kept the irritation off his face, but allowed it to show in his voice. “Brother, if there is something you wish to tell me, I think it would be a very good thing for you to say it outright.”

Uthman nodded nervously. “You recall, I am sure, that... expedition that three of us – led by myself, of

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