5
Ru’s carpet swept them away from the Xingqing Kingdom later that same day.
‘Had we not better wait until morning?’ Hanizani had objected, observing the sinking sun through the window with eyes full of misgiving.
‘I think it would not help,’ said Yasmine. ‘The palace is only ever seen at night, remember, or so report would have it. And it will not take us long to reach Sulanah.’
Nor did it. Either the Xingqing lived much nearer Sulanah than seemed probable, or Ru’s carpet was more marvellous even than it appeared. Howsoever it was, the journey there was completed at a rapid pace, and in a short time; in less than an hour, the monotonous desert over which they principally flew gave way to the lights and more varied topography of a city.
Fasani enjoyed the procedure much more than she
