Magic Under Stone

“I’m looking for Erris Tanharrow,” the jinn said. “Do either of you know a gentleman by that name?” He spoke very calmly, as if he already knew we did.

“You’re a jinn,” I said. I wanted to be sure of this before I thought what to do, although even then, I was not at all sure if my knowledge of jinns was true or formed by the exaggerations that inevitably come from tales carried by trade routes.

Violet was breathless, staring at him as if hypnotized. “A jinn…”

Possibilities raced through my mind. Jinns were bound to their master until they granted three wishes. At least, that was what most of the stories agreed upon, although I had heard tales of one wish, five wishes, limitless wishes. I also had no idea how powerful these wishes were.

What if the fairy king had wished for this jinn to harm Erris? Would any force keep him away? Jinns in stories always granted their wishes; they never said, Oh, I tried to grant your wish but a couple of young ladies prevented it.

“Why do you want Mr. Tanharrow?” I asked.

“The fairy king wants him, and that’s all I know. I won’t harm him.”

“But what of the fairy king?” I said. “Will he harm him?”

“I cannot vouch for him, but I will not harm him.”

None of us here had magic. Erris had brute strength in his metallic body, but what was strength against magic? Especially without particular training. This jinn had unknown abilities.

For a split second, I pushed him from my mind. If I get out of this, I swear I will never be caught helpless again, I thought. But how could I get out of this? Would the Queen of the Longest Night help me now as she did when I gave Erris life? But I had time to summon her properly, then.

Perhaps I could lead the jinn in the wrong direction? But Erris would have no idea what I was doing, so he wouldn’t know to hide.

I was in the middle of these thoughts when Violet made a sudden dash for the jinn. Maybe her knowledge of the protective spell on her made her foolishly brave. She grabbed the hem of his tunic. “Nimira, run away!” she shouted.

“Violet! What on earth are you doing?”

“The jinn can’t hurt me, so you just go!” The jinn himself did look startled by this turn of events. If I was going to run away and warn Erris while the jinn was distracted, the moment was now. What would Celestina say if I returned alone and Violet was gone? But I didn’t know what else to do. I turned and bolted back to the house.

Stupid, stupid girl! She really should know better than to test her magical protection against a jinn. If I had to choose between Erris and Violet, of course I would choose Erris… yet, it nagged at me even as I ran. Violet seemed so innocent-if irritating-and truly living. Not to mention she was the precious daughter of the man who would hopefully save Erris.

Maybe Erris would have some idea, I thought wildly, without even a guess as to what that idea could be.

I burst through the kitchen door. Celestina was sweeping the floor.

“Is Erris here?” I cried.

“He’s outside, just like you were. What’s wrong? Where’s Violet?”

“There’s a jinn,” I gasped. “At the bluff. Violet wouldn’t come with me.”

“A jinn? And Violet is still there?”

“It’s Erris he’s come for, but she ran up to him, and… I guess she’s all right, if that protective magic holds, but-Well, I just don’t know what to do!”

“I’d better go after her. If something happened to her…”

“And I need to find Erris. Hide him, or something. I don’t know how strong a jinn’s powers are. But you be careful.”

“All right,” Celestina said. “You go to the shore and I’ll go after Violet. If I find Erris first, I’ll tell him what’s going on, and we’ll meet back here. When we can.”

I nodded, and took off again down the path to the shore. It slanted ever so slightly downhill as it wound its way through the apple orchards, forest, and meadow, making it a little easier to hurry. Still, my heart was leaping from my chest.

I was not surprised to find Erris at the shore. Watching the water was one of his favorite things.

I shouted a brief version of events to him as I scrambled over the rocks.

“Luka has a jinn?” His face drained of color.

“Yes. You have to hide.”

“If a jinn wants to find me, where can I hide?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not about to turn you over without a fight. Maybe we could hide you in one of those shut-up rooms in the house. Maybe… or maybe in the cellar? Behind crocks of pickles?”

Erris looked understandably skeptical. Supposing we even had time to get him back to the house without running into the jinn, surely he would search the house. There must be places to hide in the woods, but I couldn’t think of any offhand, and did we have time to find one?

“You know,” he said, “I don’t actually have to breathe.” He looked at the water.

“Underwater? But-will it damage your clockwork? Salt water?”

“I don’t know, but if there’s one place he won’t think to look for me, I bet it’s underwater. From all I’ve read, jinn have more natural power than any other being. But they are fire spirits. If anything will foil them, it’s water.”

“But… it’s so cold,” I said, looking at the waters that suddenly seemed too dark. The waves were gentle, but I didn’t trust the water with Erris.

“Nim, do you want me to be carried off by a jinn or not? I’ll hide behind that rock there.” He pointed. “At least ’til the tide goes out. If I hear anyone coming too close, I’ll duck underwater, so shout when the coast is clear.”

I had no better plan, and I couldn’t dither here forever, so I briefly squeezed his hands, praying the water would be kind to him, and nodded.

“I’ll be all right,” he said.

“You’ll ruin your suit.” I smiled a little, and he smiled a little back, but our eyes were sad. If his suit was the only thing to come out of this worse for wear, we would both be lucky.

He turned to the water and I turned to the trees. I couldn’t watch the water lapping at him.

ORDORIO VALDANA’S MANSION

As the young woman with the dark braids ran away, Ifra stared at the girl holding his arm. She was small and pale, with her hair in bows. She looked afraid too, and the way she peered up at him made him feel sheepish. Her hands encircled the cuff at his wrist, but when he looked at her, she let go.

“Where are you going to take Erris?” she asked softly.

“To the fairy king.”

“Can you take me instead?”

“Why? Who are you?” Ifra hadn’t heard anything about a girl.

“I’m his niece.”

“His niece? You are a Tanharrow too?”

“Yes. I’m Violet. My mother was a Tanharrow.”

“Luka didn’t mention you,” he murmured, and he wondered why. Was it because she was a girl? But fairy society had not struck him as especially patriarchal.

“He doesn’t know about me,” Violet said, her voice flattening. “No one does. My father asked the Queen of the Longest Night to put a spell on me so no one would remember me or know I exist. So the fairy king couldn’t hurt me.”

“Then why would you want me to take you to him?”

“Because… I want to know… where my mother comes from. She died when I was little. I don’t know anything about fairies.”