“I see you’ve survived another round,” he said when I faced him. He wore black yet again—a good color for skulking in the shadows and catching people unaware.
“It would have been a shame if you’d been sent home,” he continued. “Lucky for you, I decided to interfere.”
I bit back a retort. It was true, hehadhelped me. Remembering his rank, I bent my back into a stiff bow and said, as politely as I could muster, “Thank you, sir.”
“Bowing?” He eyed me. “Someone must have told you who I am. Pity. Now you’re as formal and boring as the rest, and calling mesir.”
“I do not know how else to address you.”
His mouth set into a wry smile. “My full name would be too complicated for you to pronounce. You may call me Edan.”
“Edan,” I repeated. The name sounded foreign on my tongue.
He made a slight bow. “I serve as His Imperial Majesty’s resident Lord Enchanter. To the West, I am known as His Most Illustrious; to the East, I am His Most Illuminating; and in every other corner of the world, I am His Most Formidable.”
I drew in a sharp breath. What had Sendo told me about sorcerers? All I could remember was that they served kings all over the world, and they drank the blood of young girls.
Finlei had always scoffed at such tales, but the thought made me shiver.
Have courage, Maia, I reminded myself. If Edan wanted a young girl, he’d have plenty to choose from in the palace.
Besides, the man I saw looked far too young to have traveled the world. I was sure his boasts were hot air and nothing else.
“I’ve never heard of you,” I muttered.
Edan laughed. “You’re skeptical. That’s wise. But odd coming from one so young.”
“My brother told me fairy tales of magic when he…” I couldn’t bring myself to saywas alive. My tone darkened. “But that’s what they are…just fairy tales.”
“The A’landans are superstitious people. Constantly praying to their dead ancestors. If you believe in spirits and ghosts, I don’t see why you wouldn’t believe in magic.”
Ididbelieve in magic. I just wouldn’t admit it to him, of all people. “What I believe in is hard work and providing for my family.”
“You’ll do well in that,” Edan said. “I’ve seen your work. Very impressive. I found the shawl especially…interesting.”
That sly look again, as if he knew my secret. My cheeks betrayed me by reddening. No, he couldn’t possibly know. I struggled to sound nonchalant. “What do you know of sewing?”
“What do I know, indeed?” Edan said mischievously. “I seem to bring out the worst in you. With everyone else, you appear to be quite—”
“Thexitara?” I said flatly.
Edan laughed. “I was going to say agreeable.”
How I wished he would go away. “Looks are deceiving.”
“I couldn’t have put it better myself.” He grabbed my cane and rapped my leg—the one that was supposed to be irreparably broken—and I cried out.
“Hey!” I was so upset I forgot to keep my voice deep and manly. “Give that back!”
“Why? You don’t need it.”
Scowling, I made a show of limping, holding on to a hedge for support.
Edan tossed me back my cane. He was watching me intently. “You think I haven’t noticed that you favor your right foot half the time, and your left foot the other half? Only a fool would miss it, but to your good fortune, this palace is full of fools.”
My anger evaporated, replaced by fear. “Please don’t—”
“But that’s not the real secret, is it?”
