“Your wisdom is a beacon to us all, O most glorious of Jann,” Cari said. “On my own behalf as well as my master’s, I thank you for sharing your knowledge to enlighten our darkened thoughts.”
Then she was gone, with a speed only the young found practical. The shaykh was left to muse on the thought that mankind might indeed be Oromasd’s weapon to defeat Rimahn, but still no good could come of Jann associating with them.
***
Cari returned to the carpet as the darkness of night was claiming the valley where Jafar and his daughter rested. Jafar had curled the magic carpet around him for warmth, but poor Selima had no need of such protection and sat next to him on the grass. Cari materialized beside her master and made the appropriate salaam. Jafar anxiously asked her what she had learned, an
