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  “Darling, you have danced for thousands of people when we were on tour,” Twist said, smiling to her. “You’ve danced for the king and queen of Hawaii. And you have danced for mythical beasts, atop a pillar of fire. If anyone might join a pair of gypsies in a plaza, you certainly have the right.”

  Sitting beside him, Jonas chuckled to listen to Twist, while Idris and Jeffery nodded silently.

  “I’m sure they’d love to have you, poppet,” Jonas offered to Myra.

  An excited smile lighting her shining copper face, Myra went to the gypsies quickly and bent to whisper into Harman’s ear. He paused his song and smiled to her, gesturing for her to join his son. Luca welcomed her in when the song picked up again, dancing a simple-looking folk dance with her. Myra followed his steps easily and smiled brightly as she began to move seamlessly in time with him, her flowing sari billowing and swirling with her graceful movements.

  Twist marveled at the fact that, no matter where Myra danced or with whom, her movements always did have an astounding amount of grace. It was no wonder that the theater tour they had gone on had been such a success. Myra seemed most at home on a stage, dancing for the delighted masses.

  “So, how are you liking Tamarasset?” Jeffery asked with a light air, while Idris idly watch Myra dance with pleased, golden eyes.

  “Oh, it’s rather nice,” Twist answered. “It’s certainly helpful to have someone along who knows the place as well as Jonas does.”

  “I usually know my way around most places,” Jonas said with a smile. “But you just watch, Twist. Someday, you’ll find yourself being tour guide for someone else, in some faraway, exotic land. It’s good fun, let me tell you.”

  Jonas’s smug acceptance of Twist’s compliment snagged at his attention, and Twist gave a light laugh. “No, no, I’ll leave the tour-guiding to you, old boy. I’m too modest to boast about my own geographical knowledge.”

  Idris glanced to them.

  “Meaning?” Jonas asked suspiciously, leaning closer with eyes that had gone slightly teal. Twist felt a sudden flash of excitement to see Jonas so easily jump on his bait.

  “Why, I mean nothing at all,” Twist said with his most suspiciously innocent face.

  Jonas narrowed his blueing eyes at him.

  “Well,” Twist went on, holding his friend’s gaze to be sure the color of Jonas’s eyes remained in happy hues while he devised a clever way to bait him further, “you’re a pirate, after all. That’s been well established. And pirates are known to be…well, let us say they are ‘bold souls,’ shall we?”

  “You calling my people immodest heathens?”

  “I’d never say such a thing!” Twist said primly, feeling silently delighted. “Surely not to your face.”

  Twist hardly noticed that both Jeffery and Idris were watching them now with mild alarm and taut interest.

  “You watch, you stuffy dandy,” Jonas said, pointing at Twist. His eyes had gone fully blue now in Twist’s Sight. “I’ll get you to say that you approve of pirates, one of these days.”

  Twist gave the haughty breath of an incredulous laugh and glanced away as he took on a proud pose.

  Although Twist had fully intended to taunt Jonas for his own entertainment, he didn’t quite expect Jonas to throw an arm around Twist’s throat and then turn to toss Twist down to his knees on the ground beside the bench. In the blink of an eye, Twist found himself turned again and bent helplessly backward against Jonas’s knee, his friend’s arm across his throat and his other hand holding his neck locked in place.

  “Say it!” Jonas said, holding Twist as he struggled to free himself. The grip was strong, but it wasn’t at all painful and also did little to inhibit Twist’s voice.

  “Say what? Let me go, you heathen!”

  Even through his shock, Twist’s Sight splashed patches of light through his mind, still showing no true anger or malice in Jonas. Nevertheless, he couldn’t get a good enough grip on the arm over his throat, nor could he move his body in any way that give him freedom. His left side was pinned against the bench that Jonas still sat on, and he couldn’t pull himself forward at all, locked in Jonas’s grip.

  “Say that you love pirates,” Jonas said, bending his head to speak closer to Twist’s ear.

  “You’re a villain! A scoundrel!” Twist yelled, thrashing to free himself. Jonas’s grip hung on tightly, no matter what he did. Twist searched his memory for anything that might help.

  “Say it, and I’ll let you go,” Jonas said, his voice colored heavily with his grin.

  “Never!” Twist bellowed, making Jonas laugh.

  His mind flashed quickly with the memory of another day when Jonas had held him in a similar grip, in a lush, forest-like park in San Francisco. That time, Jonas had been standing over him, and Twist had managed to throw him off by pulling himself sharply forward. This time, forward wouldn’t help. Jonas was braced for that. But perhaps…

  “Say that you love pirates, or else!” Jonas said. Twist hardly noticed as Jeffery began to say something calming to Jonas.

  Instead of responding, Twist gripped Jonas’s arm as firmly as he could and threw himself down and to his right, pushing away from the bench with his feet. Jonas let out a startled sound as he tumbled off of the bench, dragged down to the dirt with Twist. Jeffery gasped in clear shock, while Idris cheered. The instant the stunned Jonas rolled slightly away with the motion and his grip loosened, Twist righted himself onto his knees and then sprang quickly to his feet, backing well out of reach.

  The sound of applause startled him, and he turned around to find Philippe and the two other Frenchmen standing at the edge of the plaza, smiling approvingly to him while they and Idris clapped. Myra and the gypsies were also standing close by, having stopped dancing at some point to watch Jonas and Twist. Myra clapped as well, while Luca seemed barely able to contain his laughter as he watched Jonas get up slowly and dust himself off. Harman looked only confused by the entire incident.

  “Nicely done!” Guildenstern said, stepping closer with a smile. “That was quick thinking.”

  Rosencrantz nodded, grinning at Twist as well, along with Philippe.

  Myra came close to Twist, smiling at him proudly. “I was worried for you, for a moment there. But I can see now that you could handle the scallywag just fine.”

  “Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Twist said smugly, enjoying their praise.

  “Damn it…” Jonas grumbled. Twist turned to find a disappointed pout on his face. “You just wait, you damn slippery ferret. I’ll get you to say it, one of these days!”

  Twist straightened his clothes and stood up straight. “You might try, sir. But you will never succeed.”

  Jonas made a face at him.

  Idris laughed and shook his head. “I’m never leaving you people again. You two are simply hilarious.”

  “Hey, why don’t you leave out a hat, too?” Luca asked with a jeering smile, nudging Jonas with an elbow. “I’m sure the crowds would tip a lot to see a dandy thrash a pirate.”

  The Frenchmen laughed at the idea and nodded their collective agreement.

  “And who says I wouldn’t thrash him back?” Jonas snapped.

  Twist gave a laugh, putting on the best posh air he could muster.

  “Don’t push your luck, ferret!” Jonas growled, advancing on him with a raised fist. A lick of thrilling energy shot up Twist’s spine as his limbs readied to flee.

  “That’s enough of that,” Myra said as she reached up and took Jonas’s raised wrist. His fist relaxed as he looked back at her uncertainly. “Now, you be a gentleman,” she said to him sweetly. “And you,” she said, turning to Twist and stepping closer, bringing Jonas along by the wrist. “Stop teasing the pirate, or he’ll chase you clear across the city. Now both of you, make up and be friends.”

  Twist and Jonas looked back at each other through narrowed eyes. Jonas’s eyes looked brightly blue to Twist, and Twist could almost see the effort it took him not to smile in the face of Myra’s
purely innocent solution. Twist struggled to keep his own face in a scowl as well.

  “Gentlemen…” Myra said warningly.

  “Where?” Jonas asked, looking around quickly as if searching for men who fit that description.

  Part of a snicker escaped Twist.

  Myra sighed. “Now, now, scallywags. Behave.”

  “Oh, right, that’s us,” Jonas said as if seriously to Twist.

  “Yes, I’d say so,” Twist responded. He held out a hand to Jonas, finally letting his smile out. “Shall we make up and be friends now, or continue to test the princess’s wrath?”

  “I’m good with now,” Jonas said, taking the handshake. “But I’m still going to make you say it, someday.”

  “Game on, sir,” Twist responded with a grin.

  “Good heavens,” Myra said, sounding exhausted. “What ever am I going to do with the two of you?”

  Luca gave her a pitying look. “Laugh or cry, dearie,” he said with a long-suffering sigh. “Laugh or cry.”

  Most of the rest of the day was spent in languid and mild entertainments. Twist, Jonas, Myra, Idris, and Jeffery shared a long lunch in the late afternoon. Later they strolled through the bazaar once again and sat to listen to an impromptu concert of local musicians in one of the plazas. Although it could be rather enjoyable to engage in playful violence with Jonas from time to time, Twist decided not to taunt him anymore. In the meantime, Jonas’s mood remained bright, proving that he had indeed enjoyed the silly fight just as much as Twist had.

  When a sudden, wailing tone rang out through the underground city, many of the people gave a hearty cheer. Twist and his companions paused in their promenade to look around at the happy crowds curiously, but Jonas joined in the cheer himself.

  “What’s all this about, then?” Twist asked him.

  “The sandstorm is ending,” Jonas answered. “They blow that horn when the visibility outside begins to clear up. The storm should be calm enough for people to begin to leave in about an hour or so.”

  “Oh, wonderful!” Myra said happily. “I do like this city, but I’d rather we were on our way to France soon.”

  “As would I,” Twist agreed. “Do you think the repairs to the Vimana might be nearly finished?”

  Jonas shrugged. “Let’s go check on them,” he suggested, already heading toward the train to the airship cavern.

  As everyone else in the city seemed to have had similar ideas, the train was nearly filled to capacity when they got to the station. Twist and his companions snatched up a handful of the last few seats, while lines began to form on the platform behind them. When the passengers spilled out over the station at the other end on the line, Twist heard someone call out Jonas’s name. He turned to find Luca hurrying closer to them, coming from another car of the train.

  “Do you know if the airship’s ready to fly?” Luca asked as he came to join them.

  “We were just on our way to find out,” Jonas answered, ushering Luca to walk with them toward the ship.

  “You know,” Luca said as they walked, “what with chasing down that potion in Mexico, and going to help Aazzi, and getting stuck here, I’ve been away from home for nearly a month. I can’t wait to get back.”

  “Landlubber,” Jonas sneered at him.

  “Damn straight!” Luca responded with a wide smile. “I’m really not cut out for all this country hopping. Sure, the troupe will move around a bit from time to time, but we always take home with us.”

  “Oh, how pleasant,” Myra remarked as she and the others began to climb the metal stairs up to where the Vimana was docked. “That sounds like a very comfortable way to travel.”

  “Exactly!” Luca said brightly. “You sleep in the same bed, see all the same people, and do all the same things every day, no matter where you are.”

  “So boring…” Jonas sighed unhappily at the idea.

  Luca shot him a knowing look but said nothing else as they all climbed the last few steps and boarded the Vimana. There was no one out on deck, but they found Howell and Arabel in the opulent dining room on the airship, where a number of large, detailed drawings of the Vimana had been laid out on the table. Howell stood leaning over the drawings, while Arabel stood nearby with a pen in one hand and a pad of paper in the other.

  “How’s the old girl feeling?” Jonas asked, walking into the room with the others.

  “Pretty well, I’d say,” Arabel responded with a smile, while Howell nodded. “We just heard the signal as well. Uncle and I are just double-checking now, but we were actually ready to leave an hour ago.”

  “Yes, we can head out once they sound the all clear,” Howell added.

  “You’re finished already?” Myra asked, sounding impressed. “That was rather quick.”

  “The Vimana might not be the fastest airship in the sky,” Howell said with a warm smile, “but she’ll hold together through anything. This ship has a good soul,” he added, looking at the ship around him proudly. Then, his gaze landed on Idris.

  “Jon?” Arabel asked, having spotted him as well. “That’s not Quay’s djinn, is it?”

  “Did she just call me an it?” Idris asked with a frown.

  “This is Idris,” Jonas said with a smile. “We met him by chance, here in the city. And he doesn’t belong to Quay. He’s our friend,” he added with an agreeing nod from Twist and Myra. “And that’s Jeffery Simian, sitting on his shoulder.”

  Jeffery offered the others a genteel smile and tipped his hat.

  “What a darling pet!” Arabel said brightly, smiling at Jeffery.

  Jeffery’s expression snapped into one of affronted alarm.

  “You’re friends with a djinn?” Howell asked Jonas quickly.

  “Don’t get excited,” Jonas said with a sigh. “Being his friend doesn’t mean you get your wishes granted.”

  “Oh, stop moping,” Idris snapped at him.

  “It’s fine,” Jonas said with a heavy sigh. “You grant Myra’s wishes, at least…”

  “Twist,” Idris said sharply to him, “wish for this grumbling lout to be turned into a toad.”

  Jonas looked to Twist in alarm, while Twist laughed and shook his head. Arabel seemed startled but also slightly intrigued.

  “I will not,” Twist declared firmly.

  Jonas let out a deeply relieved breath.

  “I only wish that you two would get along better,” Twist added to Idris.

  Idris crossed his arms and frowned. “My power has limits.”

  “Wait, you can really change people into toads?” Arabel asked Idris slowly.

  “Oh yes,” Idris said brightly. “I made this fine gentleman—who isn’t a pet, by the way—out of a coffeepot,” he added with a gesture to Jeffery, who sat primly on his shoulder.

  “Indeed, he did,” Jeffery agreed. “A pleasure to meet you, miss,” he added, tipping his hat to Arabel.

  Arabel glanced to her brother. “And all you need to turn Jon into a toad is for someone to make a wish?”

  “Why are we still talking about turning me into a toad?” Jonas asked quickly.

  “Oh, what are you so worried about?” Idris asked Jonas happily. “I’m sure you’d turn right back into a man—maybe even a prince—if Myra gave you a kiss. She is a princess, after all.”

  “I don’t want to kiss a slimy old toad,” Myra said with a disgusted expression.

  Jonas gave a noisy sigh. “Can we please talk about something else?”

  “Well, what would you like to be turned into?” Arabel asked him pleasantly.

  Howell shot her an alarmed look.

  “Right, that’s it, I’m out of here,” Jonas said, moving for the door. “I don’t trust any of you people with my corporal design.”

  “Oh, Jon, I’m only teasing,” Arabel said, rushing to catch his hand. Jonas looked rather cross but let her stop him nonetheless. “I wouldn’t wish you turned into anything slimy, for real,” she added, reaching up to ruffle his hair affectionately.

  Jonas’s
shoulders hunched up, and he ducked slightly away but didn’t fully attempt to free himself. Twist thought he even caught the shade of a smile on his lips.

  “I would,” Idris offered with a wide smile. He turned to Luca. “How about you? Wish him into a newt, would you?”

  Luca smiled wickedly.

  “I really don’t like you,” Jonas grumbled at Idris, making him grin.

  “Actually,” Twist said, turning back to Howell, who stood watching them all with concerned eyes, “where’s everyone else?”

  “Oh, well,” Howell said, as if surprised to be spoken to. “Aazzi and Philippe went into the city to do some shopping a little while ago, and Zayle and the others have been out all day. They’ll know to listen for the all clear and be back in time.”

  “Thank you, Twist. Subject well changed,” Jonas said brightly.

  Idris chuckled.

  “Well,” Jonas went on with a wide smile, “what shall we do with our last hour in Tamarasset, then?”

  “Oh, I want to get some apricots and almonds before we leave,” Arabel said with urgency.

  “That’s a lovely idea!” Myra said. “Twist, you liked the apricots, didn’t you?”

  “They are very nice,” Twist said with a smile. “But actually, Skye was right about that white goat’s-milk cheese. It is truly amazing.”

  “It really is, isn’t it?” Arabel murmured seriously. “Come on, Myra,” she said, offering her arm to Myra. “Let’s go gather the best picnic dinner!”

  Myra laughed brightly and took her arm without hesitation. They set out quickly, while Twist and Jonas—having nothing better to do than escort their friends—followed behind them. Luca decided to wait on the airship with Howell for his father to return, and Idris followed Twist and the others back to the city with Jeffery still seated on his shoulder.

  The train back to the city was nearly empty, but it filled right up before returning to the airship cavern. Twist saw a handful of people busying about, gathering last-minute supplies and trinkets before leaving, but the city seemed to be emptying quickly.

  Only the locals in their blue turbans and long, thin, cotton robes seemed at all unaffected by the waning storm. While he and Jonas sat on the low wall around a fountain, watching Arabel and Myra bustle about in the still-busy bazaar before them—paying for everything out of Myra’s magical purse—Twist began to wonder what it might be like to live in a place that had such a changeable population.