Maybe Al should have been more careful about extending the Chang clan's protection. After all, it wasn't like he was technically a member of the clan. But he didn't think May would mind.

At Edmund's crack about not turning down a free meal, Al gave a soft smile. Why were the handsome travellers always starving? "As long as you don't end up being an emperor or something," he said good-naturedly. It wasn't meant to have much meaning to Edmund. It was a private joke, one he probably shouldn't even have cracked in Xing, but it made him smile. It reminded him of home. His brother would have liked it.

Unfortunately for Edmund, kissing was the furthest thing from Al's mind as he got his new friend settled into their room in the inn. "It was alchemy." Honestly. Magician. "I'm an alchemist. And an aklahest although, truly, I'm just beginning my studies there."

He watched carefully. If Edmund reacted to either term, it would give Al an idea of where the boy came from.