Because we'd given them no notice, we remained where we had arrived—in the middle of the courtyard before the palace—and stood still, making no aggressive movements while we waited to be approached. It didn't take more than a few seconds; the guards on door duty saw us arrive and rushed forward to confront us. Curved swords slid free of sheaths and eyes full of flames narrowed at us as demands were made in a language I didn't recognize but assumed was Jinn.
“I am Queen Elaria of Kyanite and these are my husbands,” I announced. “Please tell Their Majesties that we would like an audience.
I'd taken to calling Gage my husband just to make introductions easier. He didn't seem to mind. To a Griffin, the words mate and husband were practically the same thing, with mate ranking slightly higher.
The Jinn guards straightened in surprise and one of them ran back to the palace while the other stood his ground, keeping his sword lifted. Smart. Claims from strangers are meaningless until proven true; we could have been anyone. If my guards had let a bunch of unknown people into my castle simply because they claimed to be royalty, I'd have been pissed.
A few minutes later, Prince Saif himself strode out of the open doors with a wide grin plastered on his face. He opened his arms wide in welcome. “My friends! What an honor!”
The remaining guard sheathed his weapon and returned to his post as soon as his prince confirmed our identities.
“Your Highness,” I said with matching warmth. “Thank you for being so gracious about our unannounced arrival. I'm sorry; I had no way of requesting a visit.”
“Nonsense!” Saif embraced me then went on to embrace all of the men. “All of Zuja owes you a debt. You are most welcome in my home. Anytime. Please, come inside, my parents await us.”
Saif escorted us into a grand entry hall with nearly every inch of wall painted in detailed designs. Fretwork bordered the murals and their horizontal lines drew us deeper into the palace. The embellishment didn't stop there but got even more intricate as we progressed. Gold accented the murals, carvings hung like icicles in arched passages, and sunshine filtered through stained glass skylights. The tiled floor gleamed cobalt beneath lush rugs and potted trees added freshness to the air.
We followed the Jinn Prince deep into the palace, past several guards who stood at attention in vibrant uniforms, and then into a vast suite of rooms that I could only assume was the Royal Residence. At last, he brought us into a magnificent space of low couches and high ceilings, adorned with jewel-toned fabrics, gold fretwork, and silk carpets. Tall, slender, arched windows lined an entire wall, their diaphanous curtains undulating in the aromatic breeze. A collection of copper and stained glass lanterns hung from the ceiling on long chains but they remained unlit. Sunlight did a more than adequate job at lighting the entire room.
In the center of this, on a carved and gilded couch padded with cushions stuffed so full that they bulged like balloons, sat the King and Queen of Zuja. Their fiery, Jinn eyes managed to convey both peace and delight. King Baha stood to greet us then we all went to kiss Queen Sabah; my men on her hand and I on her cheek. Saif poured tea from a tall pot with a slim neck while his mother filled tiny plates with a sampling of sweets. The refreshments were set on the edges of the oval copper table between our seats then we sipped and nibbled and murmured nice things as my stomach tightened, begging for action. But royalty expects certain things of each other and if you happen to be a royal who wants a favor, playing the part is important. After the niceties were finally seen to, we got to the point.
“So, have you come to offer us a way to repay you, Spellsinger?” the King asked shrewdly.
“I dearly hope so, Your Majesty,” I said, earning a quizzical look from him. “I'm not certain you'll be able to help us.”
“What is it you require?”
“One of your people has a vendetta against my family,” I started. “He was involved with a woman named Petra Demos. She was a criminal; a particularly nasty one who enslaved and murdered people in addition to other terrible things. Her entire family ran a crime syndicate in the Beneath.”
“Fascinating,” Prince Saif noted. “Did you war with this syndicate?”
“We did,” Darc took over. “And we triumphed. However, Petra escaped us with the help of her lover. We found her eventually and killed her. To be honest, we did so brutally, in retaliation for her crimes.”
“I see,” the King murmured with a look at his wife.
Queen Sabah, a gorgeous, voluptuous woman with deep golden-brown skin and a wealth of hair that would make a mermaid weep, did not simper or shy away from the talk of violence. Instead, she nodded as if she understood it. Then she declared, “You killed a Jinn's lover. Do you know if he gave her his name?”
“He did,” Darcraxis confirmed. “He said as much when he vowed vengeance upon us.”
“Then he will not stop until either all of you or he is dead,” King Baha declared soberly. “He will see this vengeance as his sacred duty. The connection between named lovers is profound.”
“I'm sorry that we destroyed such a bond,” Torin said diplomatically. “But we also had a duty to stop Petra.”
“I do not condemn you for your actions, Your Majesty,” King Baha quickly replied. “Only warn you of what you are up against. Now, how can we help?”
“My consort”—I used the term that would be
