Crystal Doors #3: Sky Realm (No. 3) by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta Read Free Book Online Page A

are nonetheless the best skewers in the city.”
    Sharif chuckled, generously handing over coins. “We will have to see about that.” He passed the sticks of savory-smelling meat to Vic, Gwen, Tiaret, and Lyssandra, and they each sampled a bite of the tender flesh.
    Vic guessed it was some kind of bird, maybe pigeon or chicken. “It’s the best skewer I’ve ever had in Irrakesh.”
    The vendor slapped his chest. “You see? My customers are satisfied.” The man raised his voice and shouted, “Best skewers in the city! Even Prince Ali el Sharif eats my food.”
    Pleased, Sharif led them onward, up the steep hill toward the palace. “My world was mostly desert, with many lush oases. Many of our people were nomads, and caravans plied the sands carrying goods from tribe to tribe. At the intersection of these trade routes stood Irrakesh, the one great city, with paved streets and tall buildings, minarets and domes. Long ago, the founders built it near the salt mines and irrigated fields and thick palm forests. But countless generations ago Azric put a curse on Irrakesh. Our water wells and aqueducts went dry. The air filled with dust. Oases shriveled and turned brown. There was no water for anyone. Our people would have died, had the Air Spirits of Irrakesh not helped our Viziers to work a powerful and complex magic. The spell uprooted my entire city, down to its foundations, and lifted it high off the ground, complete with its minarets and spires, domes and arches, palace and bazaars. Since then, Irrakesh has drifted across the open skies, riding the desert winds. Borne aloft, we glide far above the arid, trackless dunes and harvest our water directly from the clouds.”
    Vic was panting by the time they climbed the last one hundred steps that led to the Sultan’s palace. “I think the air is too thin up here.”
    “What
is
the sky but air and water?” Sharif asked.
    Vic thought of a few answers, but he didn’t have the breath to argue.
    In front of the palace entrance, a keyhole arch was tiled with ornate enameled pieces and crusted with large gems. Guards stood outside, holding tall spears whose jagged tips were made of bronze and surrounded by bright feathers. The guards wore gold-scaled armor over their chests and around their waists. Each captain had a tall, crested helmet and a bright purple cape.
    The men snapped to attention, straightened their spears. The foremost soldier, with a square-cut black beard, raised his voice and announced, “Prince Ali el Sharif has returned.”
    “I have come to see my father,” Sharif said, striding between the guards. “And these are my friends.”
    Vic walked close to Lyssandra, and both of them stared wide-eyed at the vaulted main chamber, a place designed to accommodate huge crowds when the Sultan himself stepped forward to make pronouncements. At the moment, the palace seemed empty except for a few court functionaries. Several bright green and ruby moths fluttered through open windows and drifted up to the high dome overhead. The bright sunlight cast a sapphire glow as it filtered through the translucent gemlike vault overhead.
    Piri flitted ahead, lighting the way. Runners had gone across the vaulted chamber into the many other halls and rooms of the palace. Curtains stirred, and hangings drifted in the breeze. Vic couldn’t stop looking around. His neck ached.
    Finally, a man glided out, radiating an aura of calm competence that Vic found reassuring. Neither short nor tall, dark nor light, young nor old, handsome nor ugly, the otherwise plain man had glossy golden hair, and his long beard was plaited into a thick braid. He wore a cream turban, and his lightweight enchanter’s robes were streaked with the colors of sunset: sky blue, lavender, peach, and rose.
    Sharif grinned. “Vizier!” He turned to his friends. “This is Vizier Jabir, my father’s most respected and knowledgeable wizard. We will discuss Elantya’s needs with him.”
    “First I must tell you