It was well past dawn when the first man reached the top of the hill outside. He surveyed the area with a calm look. Less than a minute later, another man stepped up into the space next to him, much younger but with more defiance in his look. Behind them, a group of the village soldiers waited, armed but still.

"We'll deliver the message first, so stay ready, men," the elder murmured behind him. The head of the village was a large man, his beard neatly trimmed, but even he sounded cautious. They all knew the stories. No one would beg violence against a djinn, but it had been a very long time since the being interfered with them like this. Why take a human? Regardless of who the boy was, it was a matter of village pride to intervene.

"Djinn!" the headman called out over the quiet sands. "We wish to speak words with you!"