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Zand stepped forward. "Dark magic needs to beeliminated."
Dahvi nodded. "Wrap the skulls in cloth. Have them smelted to eliminate itspower."
That idea filled me with a buzz. I’d do anything to prevent someone else from getting hurt by creeps like the vizier. Once the sultan found out about the vizier’s death, the sultan would most likely put the skulls in his cave with all his other treasures. That left them open for someone else to steal. Someone who knew dark magic. No. Noway.
"It’s settled then," I said with asmile.
“Hurry back, my desert queen,” warned Zand, limping as he carried my brother toward thestaircase.
I took off, in search of the mysterious skulls. In the next chamber, I located them sitting on an altar covered in burning incense and candles. I wrapped them, along with a few rings and broaches, in silks and carried them back to Dahvi and Kaza who waited for me at the top of thestairs.
By the time we emerged out of the tunnel, the afternoon sun sat directly overhead, glaring down on us. Even with his darkened skin tone, my brother lookedpale.
“Wait for me by the river,” I said to the genies andAli.
Zand limped forward in protest. “You can’t goalone.”
I had to. Zand, Kaza, and Ali were weak. They needed Dahvi to watch over them. Me, on the other hand, I was used to going things alone. With the vizier gone, I wasn’t worried about the consequences. I kissed Zand’s hand, my brother’s forehead, and gave the other two genies a quick smooch on thelips.
“If I’m not back in two rotations of the sand glass,” I said. “Come looking forme.”
* * *
Sometime later,I arrived at the smelter on the outer limits of thecity.
Before I entered, I removed the rings and broaches and slipped them into my pocket. Thick smoke piped out the furnace on the roof. The place stank like fire and moltenmetal.
“Hello,” I called out, admiring the metalworking tools and a raging furnace inside the workshop. The heat was intense, bringing on an instant sheen of sweat all over mybody.
A middle-aged man with a stiff hip appeared a few moments later, carrying a freshly forged sword like those used by the palace guards. He dipped the glowing orange metal in a well of water, and it hissed and cooled. His skin was covered in grime and glistened withsweat.
“What can I do for you?” the metal smelterasked.
I pulled the skulls out from the silks. “I’d like to smelt these in exchange for one thousandmarkos.”
The blacksmith’s eyes widened, and he reached out a hand. “Where’d you getthose?”
“Do you want them or not?” I folded one edge of the silk over theskulls.
“Don’t be hasty,” said the trader. “I’ll give you five hundred markos forthem.”
Five hundred? What a joke! Did he think me a fool? A thief like me knew the value of gold and other such treasures. I wrapped the goods and turned toleave.
“Eight hundred,” the traderstuttered.
I considered the offer for a few moments. The broach and ring should cover the additional two hundred markos I needed for Ali’s medicine. But I had extra mouths to feed now. The genies, my brother, and I also needed some food andwater.
I turned to face the trader. “Nine hundred and you have adeal.”
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “Give me a moment.” He shuffled away and returned a few seconds later carrying a velvetpouch.
We exchanged the items. I loosened the strings on the bag and tipped it upside down, spilling the coins in my palm. I counted them. Nine one-hundred markos.Perfect.
“Thank you,” I said, returning the coins to thepouch.
The smelter was transfixed with the gold skulls. “Pleasure doing business with you.” The way he said this raised my suspicions, but I didn’t stop to contemplate his meaning because I had to get to the pawnshop, then the apothecary for Ali’smedicine.
I ran as fast as I could through the city, pushing my ankle and lungs to their limits to get to thepawnshop.
