EIGHT
As Philemon returned to his apartments, he found his people staring at him. They'd all heard his argument with the enchantress, then.
"I will address the people of the city at sunset, in the great hall cavern," he said, repeating the words over and over as he ascended the tunnels to his own dwelling.
It wasn't until he reached the privacy of his own chambers that he allowed his stiffened shoulders to slump as despair overwhelmed him. What was he to do now?
Philemon heard the crash of the main gate slamming open. No one but the djinn door guardian should have been able to do that.
A lesser man would have sent a servant to investigate, but Philemon was the Prince of Tasnim, and he would confront this threat head on.
He rubbed the ring, summoning the djinn guardian. Just beca
