his knees. “I used to think so,” he said finally, “but not anymore. His father promised to free me after he unified A’landi. I waited years, but he was always afraid the shansen would rise against him. When at last he resolved to fulfill his promise, he died. And his fears about the shansen came to fruition.”
“But the truce—”
“Tensions with the shansen are still high. The wedding may hold things together for a while, but Khanujin is worried the shansen will betray the truce.”
“That would be dishonorable.”
“Perhaps,” Edan allowed, “but so long as he remains a threat, Khanujin will never free me. Especially since the shansen knows that Khanujin is weak without me.”
“What do you mean?”
Edan’s gaze was piercing. “Khanujin draws upon my magic to make himself stronger, more powerful…more charming. It’s how he wins everyone over. Even you.”
Even me. I flushed, but I couldn’t deny it. The magnetism of being near Emperor Khanujin was hard to ignore. I pursed my lips. “But not Lady Sarnai.”
“I don’t know how she resists. She has no magical ability herself.”
So many things made sense to me now. This was the secret Lady Sarnai had been trying to discover. A secret her own father, the shansen, had kept from her. It was all about Edan. “So that’s why the emperor won’t leave his rooms—because you’re away from him. That’s why he wouldn’t let you go with me.”
“I left his side because a wedding between Lady Sarnai and the emperor is the best option for peace, and I promised Khanujin’s father I would do everything in my power to bring peace to A’landi.”
“You helped Emperor Khanujin win the war.”
“Yes,” Edan admitted, “but at great cost to your people.”
I plucked a handful of grass, then let the wind carry it from my hand. It was blasphemy to speak my thoughts aloud, but I couldn’t help it. “Would you be free if he died?”
Edan turned to watch the horses. They were so happy, munching on a patch of grass. “No, the oath does not work that way. The amulet would return to the sands or the sea, and the first man to find it would become my new master.”
“And during that time—”
“I’d spend it as a hawk,” he said. “During my years between masters, I’ve seen much of the world this way.” A faint grin. “So I’m not really as old as you think.”
His attempt at humor was lost on me. My lip trembled. “What if I steal the amulet?”
“You’d become my master, yes, but also the target of every assassin in A’landi. Maia, it isn’t that easy. Owning the amulet always makes my masters…change. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.” He became wistful. “I used to be passionate about magic before my oath. I used to believe in the good of magic. In the good of people.” The wind flattened his hair, emphasizing his boyishness as he turned his gaze at me. “You make me remember a part of myself I’d forgotten.”
“Sounds like I’d have liked the old Edan more,” I said quietly.
“Probably,” he admitted. “He was less proud. More earnest, but also more reckless. More boy than man.”
I gave him half a smile. “You’re still a boy. No man would name his horse Valiant Grace.”
Chuckling, he reached out to touch my cheek. “I wish we’d met in different circumstances, Maia.” He pulled his hand back. “But I came with you to help you. Gods know you need it.”
His closeness made my stomach flutter.
“Which reminds me,” Edan said, as if reading my mind. “No more pretending to be a boy. If people are looking for the Lord Enchanter and the imperial tailor traveling together, it’s better if you’re a girl.”
I brushed back a lock of hair, feeling it curl around my shoulder. It was long enough to braid now, but I missed the way it used to hang down my back.
“Besides,” he added, “I like your hair long.”
My stomach fluttered again, and a blush crept up my cheeks.
“You can pretend to be my cousin again.”
Not your wife? I almost dared to ask. “That didn’t work so well last time. Besides, how can we be family? We’ve been traveling together for weeks, and I don’t even know where you’re from!”
“I don’t know much about you, either,” he pointed out.
The realization took me aback. “You know more about me than I know about you! You spied on me while I was in the Summer Palace.”
Edan’s shoulders shook as he laughed. “Khanujin asked me