“I told you. I an’t a fancy, and don’t want to be,” Han said, already sorry he’d come. He didn’t like that Crow could change their surroundings at will. Putting his back to the wall, he conjured up a blade and made sure that his amulet was exposed and ready for use.

He looked up to find Crow stifling laughter at his efforts. “Why not a sword, instead?”

Han clutched a massive sword in his fist. Its blade extended nearly to the ceiling, running with blue flames.

Crow grinned. “Would you like…some armor as well?”

Instantly, Han was weighed down by a heavy gold breastplate, his arms enclosed in chain-mail gauntlets.

“Perhaps that’s a bit overdone,” Crow said. The sword and armor went as quickly as they came.

Han glared at Crow. He’d not come here to be toyed with.

Maybe I should step out and close the portal right now, he thought. He took hold of his amulet. It glowed through his fingers like a fallen star.

“Please forgive me,” Crow said, taking a step forward and raising both hands. “Here’s my point—your blade’s no good here. It’s an illusion. I’m not saying that illusions cannot be extraordinarily powerful. But the only way to hurt someone in Aediion is through the direct use of magic.”

That’s what you say, Han thought. It all looks rum convincing to me.

“Are you at least willing to tell me your name now?” Crow said.

“My name’s Alister,” Han said. He waited for Crow to reciprocate with an actual name, but he didn’t. He seemed distracted, his attention caught by every little sight and sound—the clatter of horse hooves over the cobblestones outside, the flames on the hearth, the pattern on his velvet sleeves. He was like a small child, examining everything as if it were fresh and new and fascinating.

A peculiar cove, all the way around. This was who he was partnering with?

“Where do you come from?” Han said. “You sound like a northerner, but I an’t seen you around campus.”

“Doesn’t it stand to reason that I would assume a different guise in Aediion if I did not wish you to recognize me in the real world?” Crow said. “There is always the chance that I’ve misjudged you, that you will betray me if you know who I really am.”

Which meant he could be anyone.

Han closed his hand more tightly around his amulet. Maybe this is what he’s really after, Han thought. My amulet. Crow was just stringing him along until he had the chance to take it. Well, Han wouldn’t lie down like an easy mark.

As if Crow had read Han’s thoughts, Crow’s amulet changed so it was identical to Han’s. “There, you see? I am not lusting after your amulet. I have my own,” he said.