Crystal Doors #3: Sky Realm (No. 3) by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta Page B

the young man at the old Sultan’s bedside.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll all do what we can,” Vic said.
    “You will do what you must,” said the Sultan, then collapsed back on his pillows.

8
     
    EVEN AFTER THE SULTAN’S shocking news, Gwen could not help but be fascinated by everything around her as the Vizier led the five apprentices down palace halls, through a slender, arched doorway in a narrow turret, and up a spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever.
    “What is with these people and their stairs?” Vic muttered behind her.
    Sharif, who was just ahead of Gwen, seemed to be accustomed to the climb, while Piri danced above his head, twinkling turquoise with excitement. “These towers were built by my people in honor of the Air Spirits,” Sharif said. At this, Piri flashed white with pride.
    Gwen, who was familiar with her friend’s moods and could hear in his voice that he was troubled, asked, “Didn’t you tell us you had turned your back on the Air Spirits?”
    Hearing the comment, Jabir shot a sharp look back at the friends, and Piri’s light dimmed to the dull green of uncertainty. By the djinni’s light, Gwen could see Sharif’s face flush with chagrin or perhaps guilt.
    “For the most part,” he admitted. “But not entirely.”
    “Despite Sharif’s misgivings, Piri seems excited to be in the tower of the Air Spirits,” Tiaret observed from the rear of the group.
    Lyssandra, who was between Vic and Tiaret, said, “That is because Piri is herself an Air Spirit.”
    Vic sputtered. “She’s
what
?”
    Gwen stopped abruptly on the stair above him, which made him bump into her. She looked from Lyssandra to Sharif to Piri, and back at Sharif again. “Piri’s an Air Spirit, and you never told us?”
    The nymph djinni’s orb flickered a color dangerously close to red. Avoiding all of their eyes for the moment, Sharif reached down and took Gwen’s hand and started back up the stairs again. “She is not an Air Spirit. Not quite yet.”
    His friends, who were already out of breath from the climb, did not ask him more questions until they all emerged at the top of the minaret onto a balcony that circled the entire tower. The outermost portion of the balcony was protected by a balustrade and gold-wire netting that ran from the stone railing up to meet the edge of the copper roof that sheltered the balcony. Large potted plants with bright flowers filled the open space, and unseen creatures stirred the fleshy leaves.
    “What do you mean Piri isn’t one of them
yet
?” Gwen could barely talk as she heaved in long, deep breaths of fresh air.
    “He means,” the Vizier answered for Sharif, “that she has not yet matured entirely . . . though she is close.” From one of the potted plants, Jabir picked up something that looked like a plump, furry brown snake and stroked it. Gwen stepped forward to pet its glossy furred back as Jabir continued, “Piri is no more one of the Air Spirits — or djinni, as they are sometimes called — than this minkworm is a carrier moth.” At this, he lifted one hand and a trio of the brightly colored giant moths that the apprentices had seen when they flew over the city landed on the Vizier’s arm. Gwen glanced around the balcony and noticed for the first time that dozens of the beautiful, brilliant moths were perched everywhere inside the mesh-enclosed area of the high tower.
    “That’s a
caterpillar
?” Vic asked, stepping forward to get a closer look at the minkworm. “It’s as long as my forearm.”
    Lyssandra, placing a hand on his wrist to draw the thought from his mind, said, “Yes, it is very similar to a caterpillar, though carrier moths in Irrakesh have much greater intelligence than most moths.”
    “This minkworm will become a carrier moth.” The Vizier gave a whistling chirp, and moths flew down to perch on each of the apprentices’ shoulders. “The moths are very clever,” he said. “They deliver messages and small items around the city