"Why... yes, your majesty!" Jon said, hastily grabbing the stone. "I've been using this disguise to mingle among the locals incognito."
The man nodded, pleased to have his theory confirmed. He looked so good when he smiles, Jon thought, heart fluttering anew. "As I thought. You have always been good at such trickery, Jheerazade."
"Why, of course I have. Anything to serve you, your majesty," Jon said, blush deepening as he realized how the lie was not terribly far off from his actual feelings. What was going on with him?
"Excellent!" exclaimed the King, pacing the length of Jon's room. "We put your sorcery to use at once, then!"
"Of course, your majesty!" Jon said, offering a low bow. Something deep inside him was pleased to have brought the strange, handsome man pleasure. Something inside him wanted desperately to please him more. Then reality set in. "Er, to do what, your majesty?"
The King blinked. "Why, what else? Begin remaking my kingdom in this new land! You said yourself that this place would be a prime location to begin reforging my domain, outside the notice of my enemies."
"Ah, beyond the ken of your enemies, of course your majesty," Jon said, thinking quickly. "There is but one problem. The, uh... properties with this place interfere with my usual magics, so we shall have to rely upon this stone," he said, holding up the wishing rock. "Inside I have trapped a...genie, which shall listen to my wishes and enact what was said."
The King stroked his beard in a long moment of consideration. "...yes, using an enthralled djinn shall work splendidly. Truly ingenious, enchantress."
Jon beamed, pleased both to have fooled the King and that the man liked the idea. Before he could help himself, he let out a laugh--really more of a giggle--of delight as he hefted the stone in his hand. Where did that come from? Before he could question himself further, the King's eyes met Jon's and his knees turned to jelly all over again. "Where... where should we begin, your majesty?" he found himself asking.
