Page 97

“Just a sleeping spell,” I replied, my eyes gravitating to the lake. A bloom of algae floated on the surface, and I kept thinking it was a certain dragon’s hair. “I haven’t used it yet.”

Gen glanced back, noting the distance we’d traveled from the others. He picked up another pebble and tossed it in the water, watching it skip three, four, five times. “You should have used it on me last night,” he said. Then he looked at me with new intensity. “When’s the boat coming?”

I flinched, giving myself away. “What boat?”

“Don’t lie to an enchanter, Shiori.”

“You’re not an enchanter yet.”

“I heard you and Takkan talking last night through the door.”

Of course he had. I wanted to kick myself. What an awful liar I had become.

Gen crossed his arms. “Let me stay—at least until after you’ve got Bandur’s amulet. None of them have magic.” He gestured at Takkan and my brothers by the basket. “You’ll need my help.”

I wouldn’t be swayed. “You’ve done enough for us, Gen. More than enough. I would never forgive myself if Bandur hurt you.”

He said nothing, turning instead toward the lake. A ship with bright orange sails skated across the water, its wooden dragon head regarding us with a carved smirk. “At least it’s an impressive boat.”

“My father thinks the boat’s for me,” I confessed. “It’s supposed to take me across the lake into the Taijin Sea—to Iro.”

“Shouldn’t the emperor’s daughter have more of an entourage seeing her off?”

“It’s a secret send-off,” I said, kicking at my skirts. They were overly long, meant to be worn with heeled sandals instead of boots, but their frothy hem covered my trousers nicely.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d have a chance to go back to the palace before tonight,” I explained, patting the round satchel at my hip, just the right size for transporting my mirror shard and the pearl. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to face demons in a dress with lantern sleeves.”

“I was wondering,” mused Gen. “Well, I hope this boat really is headed for somewhere warmer than Iro. Though I suppose a frigid climate is preferable to a desert’s.”

“My brothers chartered it to take you home”—I faltered, remembering that Gen had no home, that his family had died long ago—“or wherever you wish to go. Your belongings are already on board.”

He didn’t thank me. “Looks hard to sink,” he said instead. “I had to enchant a shrimping dinghy to get to Gindara. This will be much nicer.”

“You’re not going to put up a fight?”

“I know when I’m beaten,” he replied. “You’re more cunning than I took you for, Shiori. If I fought you now, you’d cast Seryu’s sleeping spell over me.”

I gave my signature twist of the lips, but I didn’t deny it. “Guess it is useful.”

Gen harrumphed with a note of grudging respect. “Your magic is greater than it looks.”

“Thanks,” I said sarcastically.

“Kiki’s animation is particularly impressive, and I’m guessing you could perform some telekinesis with ease, maybe even resurrect a dead flower or a tree. But you could do so much more…. You could study with the masters and drink the blood of stars, become a real enchantress. Kiata will need enchanters now that magic is reawakening. You could be the first.”

I hated the glimmer of temptation that sparked inside me, a flutter in my belly from wanting something I knew I shouldn’t. I’d tasted magic plenty of times. I could see how it’d be easy to crave more, to believe that I’d been given a gift to do something good for the world. I wished now I had more—enough to seal the mountains and send Bandur so far away he wouldn’t even remember Kiata.

I gave a vehement shake of my head. “If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have said yes. I would have run away to become an enchantress so I could see the world and live long enough to witness new ages come and pass. But I have my father and my brothers, my country. I want to spend my days here, with them.” My voice softened. “I would wish to live a quiet life. Somewhere in the North with plenty of snow.”

“Like Iro?” Gen smirked knowingly. “I’d never be happy with such a life. I was born to become an enchanter, to help great leaders and do great things. I’m going to be a legend.”

“But in a thousand years, everyone you know will be gone. You’ll watch everyone dear to you die.”

“I don’t have anyone dear to me.”

“You might one day.”

Gen scoffed. “Enchanters don’t fall in love.”