* Sophie screaming and trying to attack the soldier after she sees him in the castle in the air, because she is angry that he brought her baby with him when he went off to follow the djinn after it abducted Princess Valeria. It's absolutely awesome to see her in full-MamaBear mode.
* Abdullah making credible attempts to bargain with the robbers in the desert (and even try to trick them).
* The climax of the book.