Thus it was that plans were made to guard Jafar al-Sharif and his companions from the sight of Aeshma, thus protecting them from one serious source of evil along their mission. The humans, however, would find more than enough other problems to occupy their minds.
Chapter 16: The Hairy Demons
When Aeshma, king of the daevas, broke off his duel of sorcery with the wizard Akar to rescue Hakem Rafi from the flames of the burning palace, he swooped quickly through the thick black smoke, cradled the thief securely in his massive arms, and flew off into the clear sky with him once more. The daeva had abandoned his form as a tower of blue fire and instead was in his more natural shape, manlike and gigantic with pitch black skin and glowing, fiery eyes.
Below them, the magnificent palace of Rash
