me.
“Have you heard?” one of the merchants was saying to him. “Emperor Khanujin’s taken ill. No one’s seen him for days. He won’t leave his room.”
As usual, my companion wore an inscrutable smile—either it meant nothing, or he knew something no one else did. “Well,” he said, ignoring me, “we must hope His Majesty’s health improves before he leaves for the Autumn Palace.”
“Yes,” the merchant said solemnly. “He was always sickly as a child, I remember. Word had it his father was glad Prince Khanujin was the second in line. Never thought the boy would make it to his adult years. I pray he marries Lady Sarnai quickly and produces an heir.”
Edan replied, “Yes, a prayer for His Majesty’s health.”
The silk merchant gave Edan a hug. “Always a pleasure doing business with you, Gallan. Try not to overpay next time.”
“Overpay?” I echoed as soon as Edan joined me. He pushed through the rear door, heading to a stall to pick up his purchase.
“The man doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” he replied. “I got all this for two hundred jens. Compliments of my friends at the card table.”
I surveyed his prize: ten yards of wild silk. “Did you cheat?”
“An enchanter never reveals his secrets,” Edan replied mysteriously.
“I’d say someone pulled the wool over your eyes.” I crossed my arms. “I could’ve gotten all this for fifty in Port Kamalan. I wish you’d let me handle the silk merchants.”
His smirk fell apart. Rather sulkily, he asked, “How much did you pay?”
My turn to smirk. I held out my merchandise. “All the leather we need. Finest quality. Free.”
“Free?”
“I won at chess. Fair and square.”
“Remind me not to underestimate you.” Edan grinned, looking a little proud.
Heat rose to my cheeks, but I didn’t grin back. I glanced around, making sure we were alone, then asked, “Who is Gallan?”
“One of my many names,” Edan said dismissively. “Don’t call me Edan when we’re away from the palace.”
“Why not? What should I call you?”
“Anything else.” Edan hesitated, looking suddenly pensive. “The emperor won’t be pleased I’m gone. He may dispatch people to come find me. Or worse, if word gets out that I’m missing, the shansen might try to capture me.”
I swallowed uneasily. “I should tell you, I saw Norbu just now. In the drinking house.”
“Norbu?” Edan raised an eyebrow.
I nodded. “I thought he was to be executed.”
“It’s possible he bribed his way out of prison,” considered Edan. “With his wealth and reputation, it wouldn’t be unheard of. You needn’t worry about him, though. He won’t remember you’re a woman.”
That wasn’t why I was worried. “He was with a group of Balardans.”
A shrug. “He probably hired them to take him out of A’landi. Depending on how he escaped, the emperor’s soldiers might be after him. We’re the least of his concerns. And more importantly, he’s the least of yours.”
I hoped so.
With a long sigh, I glanced at the sky. The sun was setting now, its rim a deep burnt crimson. In three months’ time, when the sun burned bright red, the shansen would arrive at the Autumn Palace, and Emperor Khanujin and Lady Sarnai would be wed.
A reminder my time was short.
After Edan picked up our camels, we led them out of town and made camp by a small pond just outside the Samarand Passage. It was shallow and overrun with flies, but I filled my canteens to the brim. Edan had warned me his enchantment on our canteens wouldn’t last through the desert, and the pond would be the last reliable source of water for days.
“That worried look will be permanently etched on your face if you don’t stop frowning,” he remarked as I sat cross-legged, cutting a pattern for the bodice of one of the dresses.
“Easy for you to say,” I retorted. “You’re not the one with the impossible task of pleasing Lady Sarnai. Bet she’s counting the days until she can order my death sentence.”
“Well, Emperor Khanujin certainly won’t welcome me with open arms if you fail. I did disobey him by coming with you.”
True, and I hadn’t been grateful.
I set the collar down on my lap. “I heard the merchant say His Majesty was ill.”
Edan cracked his knuckles, something I had never seen him do. “Emperor Khanujin is prone to illness from time to time. Your gods will watch over him.”
“Shouldn’t you go back to heal him?”
“I would guess he’s more angry than unwell.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, but the edge in his voice was a warning not