“Are you telling me that you have to be an apprentice until you’re thirty-five before you even get to try the cloudtree bark? That seems like for ever.”

Ragan held up a finger. “No. That’s how long it takes for most people. I was having cloudtree bark at eighteen. But I was a prodigy. I learn quickly.”

“You must be one of the youngest masters among the monks.”

He let out a short, embarrassed cough. “Ah. No. I am still an apprentice. There is more to becoming a master than just fighting skills. I do excel at the martial arts, but they said I still have much to learn and that I lack the necessary temperance and wisdom. It’s why they sent me. They thought getting out into the world might help me learn.”

“You’re young; they expect too much of you.”

“I’m not that young,” he said peevishly. And then he laughed. “I’m sorry, Eminence. There’s that lack of temperance, I think. Youth is no excuse. I’ve been patted on the head since I was young, told I have so much promise. When you hear that day after day you feel you have a lot to live up to.”

“You’ll do your masters proud, I’m sure.”

I was going to grind my teeth into dust at this rate. There was an army on their way; didn’t the monk understand this? I knocked on the opened door to make them aware of my presence.

They both looked up at me, startled. Thrana lay curled next to Lin, sleeping.

“I need to speak to the Emperor in private,” I said.

I couldn’t help but note the disappointment that flitted across Lin’s face. “Give us the room, please? Thank you for answering my questions.”

Ragan stood and bowed to her. “Of course, Eminence. I hope you’ll allow me to help further.”

I didn’t move as he came to the doorway. He smiled at me as he slipped past, his robes smelling of pine sap. I shut the door firmly behind him.

“Where’s his companion? Does he even have one?”

Her voice was cool. “You don’t like him.”

My chest felt like a furnace. “Of course I don’t. He says he came from a monastery. Which one? Did they really send him? If every Alanga has a companion, then where is his? What does he want? He can’t just want to help.”