“He put the magical ring in there,” he pointed at one door nearby, “and got a new one out. Perhaps he stores his carpet there as well.”
He pulled open the oak door, only to confront a large, angry Jinn holding a gleaming scimitar. The Jinn was instantly hostile to the intruders, raising his weapon and advancing on them ominously.
Jafar slammed the door, but there was no bolt to keep the Jinn inside. He leaned against it with the full weight of his good right shoulder while he tried to think of another plan.
“Go back to the stairway,” he whispered to Selima. “I’ll let him open the door and I’ll hide behind it. Let him see you start down the stairs and hope he follows. Run down and unbolt the door there, and hide tightly behind it as it opens. Maybe the tiger and the Jinn will kill each o
