The Journey by J.R. Rain & Piers Anthony

Author:J.R. Rain & Piers Anthony [Rain, J.R. & Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-08T16:00:00+00:00

***

Floyd was pleased to see the little fair maidens giggling once Faux had relayed his last line. He caught Jonathan’s and the captain’s gaze, both of whom encouraged him to continue. Floyd gathered his thoughts and continued his tale, well aware of the emperor, who sat upon a portable throne and was guarded by dozens of his finest knights, staring at him from under his crown.

Floyd swallowed, and continued his tale:

***

“You have the gift of second sight, I assume,” said the little djinn who, now that he was just a few feet from Truly’s face, she could see was quite cute. He had little pointy ears and a neatly trimmed goatee that also came to a point. His cheeks were round and ruddy, but nothing was rounder than his belly, which Truly suddenly wanted to tickle.

“Go ahead and tickle it,” said the djinn.

“You can read my mind?” asked Truly, who reached out and tickled the chubby rolls.

When the djinn was done giggling, he said, “Only with those who make contact with me.”

“The knight seems unaware of your presence,” said Truly.

“Your second sight is strong.”

“I watched you single-handedly dispose of the bandits. The knight, if anything, appeared to be in the way.”

“That’s because he is a doofus. If not for me, he would have been dead a thousand times over.”

“Why do you help him, then?”

“Do you see that ring on his finger?”

Truly looked again at the big emerald ring gleaming in the fire light. She’d noticed it before, as it was hard to miss. “Yes.”

“That ring binds me to him.”

“How did he find it?”

“By pure luck. As a boy, he came across my dead charge.”

“Dead charge?”

“The man I had been bound to before. He had been a charlatan, and knew of me, and used me to steal from the pockets of his customers. I stole money and wristwatches and heirlooms, many he kept and many more he held for ransom, until the owners could pay him. He was a bad man. I was pleased when he had drunk himself into a stupor, and pleased further when he suffocated on his own vomit. The boy Longmire had come upon the charlatan’s weathered bones in a field.”

“You stayed with the body long after death?”

“I stayed with the ring, Your Highness.”

“And Longmire is unaware of the ring’s true purpose?”

“He sees it as good luck.”

Truly thought about it, then walked over to the sleeping Sir Longmire, reached down, and pulled free the ring. The knight barely stirred and only smacked his lips. Truly held the massive gem in her hand, marveling at its craftsmanship. Then slipped it onto her own finger. The little djinn, who had been hovering over the fire, flew to her and alighted upon her shoulder. From the corner of her eye, she could see him bow deeply.

“Your wish is my command, Your Highness.”

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