“I just wanted to let you know that I was here,” Han said, shifting his eyes to Raisa, then quickly back to Nightwalker. “I have work to do and not much time, if you don’t want to be late for the ceremony.”

“I’m ready,” Raisa said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s begin.”

Han looked pointedly at Nightwalker and jerked his head toward the door. “Out.”

“I’m staying,” Reid Demonai said, folding his arms and widening his stance as if he never intended to budge.

“We should do this in private, Your Highness,” Han said. “If I’m going to protect you, the fewer who know what I’m up to, the better.”

Han spoke to Raisa, ignoring Nightwalker. Well, Raisa thought, this is a welcome change. Ever since Raisa had confessed her true identity, Han hadn’t spoken to her more often or at greater length than he had to. It was as if he had to pay a dear price for every word he spoke.

“I will not leave you alone with the princess heir,” Nightwalker said. “It’s too much of a risk, given the history of jinxflinger interference with our queens.”

These two hate each other, Raisa thought, and it seems to go beyond the usual suspicion between wizard and clan. After all, Han should be comfortable with the Spirit clans. He’d fostered with them throughout his boyhood. He hadn’t even been a wizard all that long.

A clearing of throats startled her. She looked up to find they were both looking at her, waiting for a decision.

“I’ve known Nightwalker for years,” Raisa said to Han. “He’s serving as part of my guard today. If he can be trusted with that, then surely—”

“I don’t want him here, distracting me,” Han said. “This is hard enough as is.”

“So you admit it,” Nightwalker said. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“That’s exactly the kind of flap-jawed, ignorant remark that I don’t need while I’m working,” Han said, looking at Raisa and raising his eyebrows as if to say, See?

“He stays,” Raisa said, feeling like she was refereeing in the school yard. “But be quiet, Nightwalker, and allow Alister to do his work, or you’re out.”

Han jerked his chin at Nightwalker. “You. Sit in the corner and out of the way if you don’t want to get splashed with magic.”

Nightwalker scowled suspiciously but did as he was told.

Han circled around Raisa, appraising her. “Stand still,” he warned her. “I’m going to have to touch you.”

He sounded resigned to it, more than anything else.

Han slid his hand inside his coat, and Raisa knew he was gripping the serpent amulet. Maybe that was why he didn’t want Nightwalker there. He didn’t seem to want to display that amulet to anyone in the camps.