“Welcome, all of you,” Glinda said. “Please, join us.”
We took seats on one of the vertical extensions that branched off of their horizontal stretch of table. Nigel sat with us.
“Nigel has told us of the Jinni in the Zone Lord and your growing problems with the Rooster Spell,” Odin began. “Let's address the Jinni first.”
“Any help you could give us would be appreciated,” Darc said.
“Frankly, we're baffled,” Vivian confessed softly. She usually spoke softly but never had a problem with being heard. “Jinn are not capable of possessing a Beneather.”
“And yet, one did,” Odin took over. “So, we must conclude that either, he's had some help, or our previous assumptions were wrong.”
I blinked. “I didn't consider that he might have had help. Who could give a Jinn the power to possess a Beneather?”
“A Witch could, if they were powerful enough,” Glinda said. “Other than that...” She shrugged. “It would be a complicated spell; one to increase the Jinni's power and protect him in spirit form, making him strong enough to fight Beneather magic within its host.”
“Slate was able to break free a couple of times,” I offered. “In fact, that's how I escaped him. He took over long enough for me to use my traveling stone.”
“You didn't tell us that,” Torin murmured.
“Yeah,” I whispered past the lump in my throat. “I wasn't ready to talk about it.”
“That's good.” Odin leaned forward onto his beefy forearms. “It means that Slate's magic may have a chance of expelling the Jinni, even without interference.”
“But I wouldn't count on that,” Osamu added. “Better to free him as soon as possible.”
“How?” I asked eagerly.
The Leaders looked at each other and then at me. It was Odin who answered.
“There's only one way to control a Jinn.”
My heart sank as I stared blankly at Odin, knowing exactly what he'd say next.
“You need his name.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“And how do you propose we get that?” I asked irritably.
“We were going to visit the Jinn Prince, maybe he can help us,” Banning suggested.
“The Prince will surely know how to acquire a Jinni's name,” Gage added hopefully.
“I wish you luck of it,” Odin said with far less hope. “I have no idea how to get a Jinni's name. There's no spell that can compel them to tell you.”
“You can't craft one?” I asked.
“Magic doesn't fix everything, Elaria,” Vivian said gently.
“I know that,” I said without bitterness. “I was just exploring every option.”
“I could work on such a spell for centuries and not be successful. A Jinn's name is tied up in his essence. It's...” Odin scowled and tried again. “Our bodies are controlled by our brains; that's a fact of nature. It's physical. But the Jinn aren't purely physical beings. Their brains work like ours do when they are in physical forms but their name has more of a sway upon them; it's like the brain of their soul. Their name controls them in every way; their actions, emotions, and will. Just as the body protects its brain with a skull, so does the soul protect its name with magic.”
“What about all those stories about sorcerers who force Jinn to give up their names and then enslave them?” Banning asked.
“They are just that; stories.” Vivian shook her head. “The dark dreams of spellcasters.”
“If the Jinni did possess Slate on his own, and even if he didn't”—Glinda grimaced—“it is now a problem for the entire Beneath.”
The Witch Leaders shared a heavy look.
“We need to destroy the Jinni and his possible cohort before others figure out that it can be done,” Osamu declared.
“And that brings us back to the issue of his name.” Odin sighed deeply. “Although I doubt we'll have much success, we will look into a way to acquire his name, Elaria, but let's move on to your other issue for now. The Rooster Spell is gaining power. Nigel reported that you wish to cast a suppression spell on it but one that won't repress its beneficial aspects.”
“Yes, can it be done?”
“We discussed it a little before you arrived,” Vivian said, “and, in theory, yes; it can be done.”
My men and I let out relieved breaths.
“But that is only theory,” Odin added gruffly. “It would be a difficult casting at best.”
“And we believe that it would take all four of us working together to accomplish it,” Glinda concluded.
“If you would undertake it, you would have the gratitude of three Shining One kingdoms,” Darcraxis declared. “And we would express that gratitude with a wealth of jewels.”
“Please”—Odin held up a hand—“you do not have to pay us. We are family.”
“It would be a gift,” Darc insisted. “Appreciation for your hard work.”
“As if you haven't toiled on our behalf.” Odin raised a brow; oddly enough it was over the eye patch.
“Half the time that was in response to trouble I brought your way,” I said with an affectionate grin.
“At least one of us owes you, Elaria,” Osamu said gravely. “I would take it as a personal favor if you would allow me to make recompense.”
I stared at Osamu a few moments and then nodded.
“This is all moot if we can't cast the spell,” Odin reminded us. “Let's not get distracted by trivial matters such as payment. We would not attempt it for promised wealth. We will try only because we care for Elaria.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. Then I strengthened my voice and looked at Osamu, “Thank you all.”
“Go to the Jinn,” Odin urged. “Hear what they have to say then return here. Hopefully, we'll have a plan in place by then.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
There was no way to request a visit with the Royal Jinn Family or even warn them of our arrival. Well, there must be a way
