Page 18 of Empire's Curse

“How did you both meet?” Lanfen asked slowly, looking between the two of them in confusion.

“Long story.” The man gestured to the empty couch across from him. “Anyhow, don’t be shy. Have a seat.”

Daiyu reluctantly sat on the couch, while Lanfen watched the mage uneasily. A budding tension headache throbbed in the back of her head. “Anyway,” she said, lacing her hands together. “You never did tell me your name.”

“I have no name to give.” He shrugged. “And you never asked.”

“No name?” Lanfen eased onto the spot beside Daiyu, her tone betraying her suspicion. “How do you have no name?”

Daiyu cringed as she thought of her first time meeting the emperor and how she had said the same thing:I have no name. Was this masked mage doing the same as her? Hiding his identity?

He waggled a finger in Lanfen’s direction. “Well, little miss, I have no name because I must keep it a secret.”

“Little miss?” Lanfen crinkled her nose. “Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m doing no such thing. But seeing as how I’m more than twenty years your senior, I think I can call youlittle misssince you are a literalchildto me.”

Daiyu blinked at him, unsure of how to proceed. Sure, she couldn’t see the man’s face, but she hadn’t thought he was that much older than his early twenties. His voice certainly sounded young and lovely?—

Lovely?Her mind came to a stuttering stop and she shook her head. She must be losing it.

The man drummed his fingers over the armrest. “I have a name, mind you, but I’m unable to say it.”

“Why?” Daiyu asked.

“The same reason I wear this mask.” He tapped the dragon’s snarling mouth. “To hide my face. To hide who I am.”

Lanfen frowned and leaned forward. “Butwhy?”

“Because I’m the head mage in the entire empire, and the emperor has forced me to keep everything about myself a secret. This is to ensure … well, I needn’t say more.”

Daiyu’s eyes widened. “You’re the head mage? Doesn’t that mean you’re the best mage in the entire empire?”

She couldn’t see it, but she could imagine him grinning widely with the singsong way his voice came out. “Yes, yes, it does.”

“We must name yousomething,” Daiyu whispered. “Unless we should keep calling you mage?”

“You’ll give me a name? I’m honored.”

“Your name will be …” Her gaze traveled to the jade necklace on her vanity and she snapped her fingers. “Bik!”

Lanfen burst into laughter while the masked mage canted his head. She couldn’t see his expression, but she could tell he was befuddled.

“Bik?” he said slowly. “Is that … truly the best you could come up with?”

Daiyu lifted her shoulder noncommittally but couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “Do you have a problem with it?”

“Forgive me for saying this,” he said dryly before waving a hand over his body, “but I am a man. Bik is a woman’s name.”

“You don’t show us your face, so how do I know for sure that you aren’t a woman?”

“You …” His chest shook and it took her a second to realize he was laughing. He tipped his head back on the couch, and his voice came out dramatically. “You really have wounded me with that one, dear lady. Alas, I am a man. I thought you could tell?—”

“We can’t tell at all. Can you, Lanfen?” Daiyu asked innocently, while Lanfen shook her head. Daiyu nodded. “Yes, see? The only way to change your name is to perhaps unmask?—”

“That name is taken by an occupant of the palace already, so I’m afraid we’ll have to change the name,” he interrupted.

Daiyu paused—someone else in this palace was named Bik? “Who?”

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