You will stay with me in my palace for the next three days.” Hud stretched out his arms and ushered us all off the stage. “Someone take care of him.” He pointed to Kik. “And get a new announcer up here. Now.” He smiled at the audience and said, “The auction will now proceed.” There were murmurs throughout the crowd, but no one argued with his decision. Something told me they never did. “You can be sure you’ll get your money back from Kik. Don’t be concerned with that. I’m sure you are all in need of rest. My palace is just beyond the market here.” “You built your palace outside the underground market?” D asked. Hud’s laughter was soft, yet it vibrated down my spine. “My palace is where and what I wish it to be.” We had just stepped beyond the boundaries of the market and as he spoke his palace came into view. It looked like pictures I’d seen of the Taj Mahal, before it was destroyed. Only this place was obviously not a mausoleum. “It’s beautiful.”
