“I must speak with you,” the man said in a curt, angry voice. His only greeting to Trynne was a dismissive jerk of his neck. “You have an audience coming up soon with Gahalatine over the palace enlargement project he intends to begin. What will you advise him?”

Sunilik gave Trynne a helpless smile and motioned for her to stay near. “I was just finishing my conversation. If I could speak to you in another moment?”

Trynne felt power radiate from the man in the silver mask. It exuded from him like smoke, sending tendrils spilling from his robes in a noxious haze.

“I would speak with you now,” the masked man insisted. “Are you going to recommend that he cancel the expansion? I insist you tell me.”

Trynne felt the gusts of magic parting away from her and Sunilik. The man in the silver mask radiated authority and power, but Trynne could tell it was emanating from some magic artifact he wore. She would have reached out with her own power to discover more about it, but she did not want to risk revealing herself.

“I was going to recommend holding off on the project for a while,” Sunilik said, rocking back on his heels. “It seems premature to build an extension of the palace dedicated to a queen who has not, in fact, been chosen yet. The proposal that I looked over from the chief builder was quite extravagant considering the . . . ahem . . . state of the treasury.”

The man in the mask clenched his fists. He was much taller than Sunilik and seemed even more aggravated that the man wasn’t sniveling before him. There was another jolt from the magic, but it diverted around them and had no effect whatsoever.

“The emperor will choose his bride soon. I assure you, I have it from the highest authorities that the decision is imminent. The expansion of the palace must begin at once. To the specifications that were given to you. You would be wise to heed my counsel.”

Again there was a throb from the magic.

“I will certainly take your recommendation under advisement,” Sunilik answered in a carefree manner. “How long does the emperor have to decide before you force—insist that he marry someone chosen by the Wizrs?”

“You speak boldly,” the Mandaryn said in a low growl.

“I speak the truth. Which is, I believe, why the emperor put me in charge of construction. Good day. I would like to continue my conversation with this young lady, so newly arrived.”