Castle in the Air

Abdullah and the soldier finally see Kingsbury on the distant horizon and another castle-shaped cloud. The soldier says he understands Abdullah’s desire to challenge Fate, but he argues that the genie has to grant them a wish either way, so he may as well make things a bit easier and wish for the carpet. When the carpet arrives, it carries Kabul Aqba, who shifts into a different form: He is actually the djinn. Abdullah uses djinn lore to get him to speak to them. 

The djinn introduces himself as Hasruel, an incredibly powerful Good Djinn. Hasruel tells them that his weak but clever half-brother, Dalzel, has turned out to be an Evil Djinn. He stole Hasruel’s “life”—the only mortal part of a djinn—so now Hasruel is bound to do his bidding. Hasruel first stole a moving castle from a wizard in Ingary. Then, Dalzel told him to steal every princess in the world. However, Hasruel has made sure to leave a trail of bereft lovers or relations, hoping they will pursue the princesses and recover his “life” from Dalzel. 

Hasruel laid out the circumstances for Abdullah coming after