Oops! I Caught a Genie!

Chapter 39

"Bye!" Mangoo's voice came from the doorway. He turned on his heels and walked out. Fritz shot to the other side of the room, landing in Mangoo's path.

"What did you find out?"

"While you two were messing around I settled down the council and got rid of the pesky kill order. They want to meet Nora."

"Is it safe? This sounds like a trap."

"I made them take an oath." Mangoo said.

"Loopholes?"

"They are not to allow any harm to come to Nora, She's even safe from tripping down the stairs. Because humans need extra protection against that apparently."

I sighed. I had grown used to his teasing.

"I'll go." I said.

"Are you sure?" Fritz asked.

"Alright lets go!" Mangoo said.

He led us out the door and after walking a few feet he frowned and turned back to us.

"Okay, we're warping. Nora c'mere."

I held out my hand and a few seconds later we were standing in front of a large building. Ornate white pillars and arches decorated the front of the building, giving it an ancient greek temple feel. Mangoo walked confidently up the stairs and gave the enormous double doors a swift kick with his right foot. A sharp motion caught my peripheral vision. I turned my head to see Fritz flinch, his head sinking into his neck. He reminded me of a turtle.

"Any particular reason for the turtle impression?" I asked.

"He's going to make them angry. I just know it."

"They don't seem to mind."

"Thats because he's a Marid. They're nearly politically immune."

I still didn't understand, but since Mangoo was now giving us the 'come hither' finger motion I pulled Fritz with me to go join him at the top of the stairs.

We were led through a brightly coloured hallway lined with pictures by a middle aged looking man in a business suit. He introduced himself as Ted.

Ted led us to an open room that was reminiscent of a courtroom. An old looking man with a beard that would make gandalf jealous sat on a raised chair between four other occupied seats. Fritz bowed his head slightly, I assume it was a sign of respect or deference so I did the same. A tap on my head brought my head back up. Mangoo looked at me like I was crazy.

"Show confidence. Don't show weakness. You're an unknown and you don't have a social status yet, don't make yourself seem weak." He hissed as quietly as he could.

I cast my eyes toward Fritz and then back to Mangoo, trying to convey a question.

"His status is lower than mine, he can't look them in the eye until they tell him to."

"This seems so... Middle ages..." I mumbled.

"Our society has been stagnant for hundreds of years."

He looked like he wanted to say more but the man with the beard spoke.

"Rokhi, is this the human you spoke of?"

"Yes."

"It is stuck here?"

"The portal took her in by mistake."

"I suggest execution," the djinn next to the old man said.

"I suggest you shut your face," Mangoo snapped angrily. I was surprised, I had thought he hated me. The council member drew back in his chair, a look of shock on his face.

"How dare you address a member of a council in that tone!" The only female council member screeched.

"You missed a spot with your moisturizer," Mangoo said, gesturing to his whole face. I just looked at him, speechless. This seemed out of character for him. Glancing over at Fritz, he looked mortified. The female rose from her chair and made a move to go over to Mangoo and inflict damage, but the old man held her back.

"Calm yourself Yfrir," The old man said, "Now, Mangoo, you came here to discuss the situation of the human?"

"Yes, sir, I would like her to receive citizen benefits and rights as well as her freedom."

"Impossible!" Screeched Yfrir.

"Silence," The old man I assumed was the council head said, "Why should I grant this outlandish request?"

"Because she is stuck here for the rest of her human life."
"That is not enough of a reason. The human could just as easily spend those years in a cell."

"May I have a moment to discuss the situation with my partners?"

"You may discuss. If you are not back in twenty clock rotations your case will be dropped."

"Thank you," Mangoo said. With a curt bow he propelled us out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once outside, we took a seat on the edge of a fountain in the middle of a deserted square.

"They want to kill her, Mangoo!" Fritz said.

"Calm down. I've got the situation mostly under control."

"How? You look like you're failing!" I said.

"By angering the Sila, I amuse the Marid."

"But you're losing a vote?" I asked.

"You think they'd give a Sila actual power? No, she's a figurehead. Yes, she does have power over smaller cases. Yours however, is not a small case."

"Okay... But that doesn't change the fact that he asked for a reason." Fritz said.

"Thats where you come in, Romeo." Mangoo said, snickering.