Page 75 of Silver & Gold
“I think they prefer to observe. The figure I kept seeing? It was real. He was real. It was Tarjan.”
An unpleasant feeling wormed its way into Seth. “Who’s this Tarjan you keep mentioning?”
“He saved your life, Seth. Not just your leg. Earlier, when we fell off the wire? The roc that caught us, that saved both our lives, did it for him.”
“The giant bird? I thought I dreamed that.”
Raider looked around. “I don’t think they mean any harm.”
“Hm.”
“Would you relax? Can’t you tell how good this place feels?”
Seth took a deep breath. He could not tell that actually, but he said, “Yeah. Okay. I’ll try.”
Raider went to sit on one of the cushions before the laden table. He removed a wooden cover from a platter, revealing an artful arrangement of seared fish and poached eggs garnished with dill and pickled capers, and dusted with paprika. Steam billowed out, filling the air with mouthwatering scents. Another platter held buttered toast. A glass bowl held creamy yogurt.
“Somehow I’m surprised to think that the djinn eat food like this,” Seth commented.
From beyond the pergola, someone chuckled. Seth spun as a blue-skinned male djinn mounted the steps. He was tall and handsome and wearing only a white sarong with a belt of emeralds. Sapphires hung from his pointed ears, but he wore no other adornment, no necklace or bracelets. His dark hair was clubbed at his nape, and his eyes glowed faintly gold.
The djinn spoke to Raider in the trade tongue. “He is very suspicious.”
“Tarjan,” Raider greeted him and started to get up. Tarjan waved him down.
“The djinn do not eat such food,” Tarjan said in response to Seth’s comment. “But we can acquire it. Someone’s dinner may be missing a plate or two.”
“Ah. Thieves.” Seth looked at Raider. “You should fit right in here.”
Raider patted the cushion beside him. “Come sit down and eat, so you can stop being so cranky.” To Tarjan he said, “Seth is always cranky when he’s hungry.”
Seth scowled, not liking the familiarity between Raider and Tarjan. Who was this male anyway?
“Are you the authority here?” Seth asked as he went sit beside Raider.
Tarjan sat on the other side of the table. Not exactly sat. Cross legged, he hovered several inches above the ground.
“There is no authority in Jannat. The djinn do not accept that concept.”
“Then how is conflict resolved? How are decisions made?”
Tarjan looked at Raider. “He is so human.”
“And Raider isn’t?” The words were automatic, but as soon as Seth said them, he froze.
Tarjan held Seth’s gaze with his golden eyes. Golden. Like Raider’s right eye when it flashed. Raider didn’t seem to notice the look that passed between Seth and Tarjan. Like he’d missed the significance of Seth’s question entirely.
Seth had assumed that Raider knew about Kahzir’s speculation. But … did Raider not know that he might not be human? That he might be … djinn?
Seth stared right into those glowing eyes. “So why were you watching Raider? Earlier. He saw you.”
Seth jumped when Raider pinched his hip. “I think what Seth meant to say was thank you. For saving his life.”
A wide grin split Tarjan’s lips, revealing sharp canines. “I don’t think that’s what Seth meant to say at all.”
“I’ll thank him when he answers my question.”
Tarjan’s eyes stayed locked on Seth. That was good. Seth preferred that to having Tarjan looking at Raider.