Chapter Sixteen
Aldair began to splutter, “You have no proof,” but, emboldened by the presence of these apparent elders, I broke in,
“And you killed Rafi, too. Or at least one of your gang did.”
One of the female djinn, with hair like rippling copper, spoke for the first time. “Is this true, Aldair? Alif and Nizar said they were beset, but they were unable to identify who had attacked them.”
“It’s true,” I said quietly. “We buried Rafi yesterday.”
“An oath-breaker and a murderer,” the lead djinn intoned. “You have much to answer for, Aldair, as do Khalim and the rest of his followers.”
“Who are being attended to as we speak,” another djinn added. “So do not think that help will come to you, Aldair.”
His eyes were glittering, and I could see the way his bare chest rose and fell. Corn
