“No rush,” Han said, touching his replica amulet. It brightened fractionally. “I’m not really using this anyway, except for show.” He paused. “You don’t have to keep using my old amulet, you know,” he said. “You could have another one made specifically for you.”

Dancer stroked the amulet Elena had made for Han—the one he’d been using since he lost his in Arden. “I’m used to it now. And it’s loaded with power. No reason to make a change.”

Han understood. Once linked with an amulet, it was painful to give it up.

“I have friends at Demonai Camp,” Dancer went on. “Not warriors. Craftspeople. Depending on what happens with the coronation, I’d like to go over there if I can be spared.”

“Isn’t that dangerous, going to Demonai Camp?” Han said. “As a wizard?”

“Everything is dangerous,” Dancer replied, shrugging. “Though it will be easier if you can keep Elena and Nightwalker away.”

Han nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep them busy keeping an eye on me.” He paused. “I asked you to come because I have a confession to make—I met with Crow again, on my way here.”

Swiveling away from Dancer’s incredulous expression, Han filled a teapot from the water jug and set it on the hearth.

“You’re not serious,” Dancer said finally. “You do have a death wish, I believe.”

“Everything is dangerous,” Han said, cocking an eyebrow at Dancer. He sat down on the edge of his sleeping bench and pulled off his boots. “But I need your advice.”

“Hmmm. Never go back?” Dancer rolled his eyes. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll take it.”

“It’s not as dangerous as you think,” Han said. “As I told you before, Crow doesn’t have any power of his own.”

“Then how, exactly, does he get to Aediion?” Dancer said. “When almost nobody else can get there?”

“He uses mine. My flash. Without me, he can’t do anything,” Han said. “But he’s incredibly knowledgeable about magic.”

“Then who is he in real life?” Dancer persisted. “And why won’t he agree to meet you on your home ground?”

“If you can believe what he says, he doesn’t exist in real life,” Han said, serving up his story in small bites. “He exists only in Aediion. He’s a remnant of a wizard who lived long ago.”

“A remnant?” Dancer said skeptically. “He’s been in Aediion all this time? And he just happened to find you the first day you visited?” Dancer pulled free a lock of hair, combed it straight with his fingers, split it into sections, and started interlacing them to make a braid.

Han pulled the serpent amulet from under his shirt and tapped it with his first two fingers. “Not in Aediion. Here. He’s been waiting here for a thousand years. In this amulet.”