Bold as Brass Page 4

  Spectators mashed themselves against the bar and walls and stayed very still. Keggar gibbered in fright. Davin wet his breeches.

  Flames shimmered from his eyes and mouth as the efreet told the terrified guildmasters, "I, Gisnervi, Royal Armorer to His Most Excellent and Bountiful Lord Minjan, Grand Sultan of the City of Brass in the Plane of Fire, stand in Samir's debt, so he enjoys my protection. You two do not. Consider stepping down as guildmasters. Better yet, relocate a hundred leagues down the coast. Because if ever I hear you raised a finger or whispered a word against my companion -"

  No use talking. Davin ran screaming out the shorn front of the guildhall. Keggar fainted and flopped to the floor.

  Smiling, Gisnervi caught his human friend with a curious cross-armed double handshake. "I go. Thank you again, little human. You have proved yourself bold as brass this day, and all men shall know it."

  "Farewell." Samir dropped his hands. "Gisnervi, I feared you when we first met, but now find you the dearest friend one could imagine!"

  Laughing loud and long, the smiling efreet spread red arms, rose on a whirling column of wind, and plunged into the roaring fire.

  "'Bold as brass and all men shall know it?' What did that mean?" Puzzled, Samir rubbed his chin. Something winked like gold.

  Looking down, the armorsmith laughed. His fingernails were pure brass.

  END