Page 5 of Empire's Curse

Daiyu’s mouth dried up and she backed away, fear and panic engulfing her. A royal mage was said to be one of the strongest people in the empire. They wielded magic and could decimatecities in seconds, could warp to different locations with a snap of the finger, and could cause fire and water to erupt from their bodies at will—or so the rumors went. She had never met one before, nor seen their capabilities.

Until now.

Daiyu stared bug-eyed at the masked man. Words failed her, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

The man canted his head to the side. “Miss? Are you all right?”

“I-I—” A thousand deaths flashed before her eyes. Would this man kill her? Did he think she was suspicious? Why was he approaching her?

The man raised his hands and spoke slowly. “Are you all right?Breathe.”

“I’m fine, just passing along.” Daiyu backed away and stumbled over her own feet.

The man reached out and steadied her by grabbing her elbow, but Daiyu shoved his hand away hastily as if his touch burned her. “Sorry, sorry.” He raised his hands. “Didn’t mean to spook you.”

“I’m not spooked.” She tried smiling, but it came out forced and she was sure it looked more like a grimace. “I was just passing by, sir. Please, let me go.”

“I’m not holding you hostage.” Another head tilt.

“Um.” Daiyu licked her suddenly dry lips. The summer sun beat down on her and she wasn’t sure what was making her sweat more: this mage or the sweltering heat. “That you aren’t, sir. Um, so I suppose I’ll get to”—she motioned to the streets of the capital—“where I need to go, yes?”

“You don’t sound so sure of yourself.”

“You’re mistaken.” She nodded and backed away. “Well, now, it’s been a pleasure?—”

“Miss, why have you been circling the royal palace five times?”

Daiyu’s heart stopped. “What?”

“You’ve been circling the palace several times.” He inched closer even as she continued to shrink away. “It’s highlysuspicious. Usually, people will only do that when … say, they’re trying to figure out how to break inside. Whether that be for spying, assassinating, or stealing. You don’tlooklike a spy, or an assassin, or a thief … So that makes me curious. What are you doing?”

Her back hit the wall and she was completely cornered by the masked mage, who now crossed his lean arms over his chest. A warm breeze settled between them, rustling his fine robes and her raggedy ones.

“Well, miss?” His voice was soft, velvety, and carried a hint of authority.

Daiyu scrambled for an answer, but her mind was blank. What could she say to him that wouldn’t sound suspicious? Maybe that she was lost? That she was looking for something? That he was mistaken?

“I, um, I …” Her small voice filled the void between them, and he waited, the red dragon eyes of his mask seeming to glow like the sun.

She stared down at her sandaled feet, at the fraying ends of her skirt, and at the cobbled streets they stood on. At the way that even his leather boots appeared sinister and powerful—a single kick could cave her skull in. She shivered, despite the summer heat.

Think, she told herself.Think.

“You must be mistaken,” she finally squeaked.

Neither of them spoke. She stared up at him—at his dragon mask with its curling horns at the temples and mouth, and he continued to stare at her through the eye slits of the mask. Unimaginably black eyes peered at her.

“You …” He slanted his head again, and if she weren’t so panic-stricken, she might have asked him why he kept doing that. “You think I’m mistaken?”

“Yes.” Daiyu couldn’t think, not when she was in front of this powerful mage. It was a stupid, stupid lie that nobody would ever believe. She knew that, but it was better than stammering nothing, which was even more suspicious.

“Ah.” He bobbed his head. “So I’m mistaken. Youweren’tsuspiciously loitering around the palace, circumnavigating it, or appearing nervous when questioned about it.”

“That … that sounds about right.” Daiyu’s smile was wobbly as he stared at her unblinkingly.

“Hm.” He placed a hand above her head against the wall, and she further sank to the ground, wanting to disappear altogether. “So you’renotacting suspicious?”

“Correct, sir.” Daiyu tried to wiggle away, but he placed another hand near her shoulder so she was caged in. He was so close she could smell the hints of lilacs and leather and earth clinging to him. “Now, I’ll be going—” she began.

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