What am I doing? I had come here looking to free Johai, yet here I was chasing after Adair's ghosts. Because that was what it was; I did not truly want to know what Jon was after or if he was working with Adair. I knew he was close to Adair, and despite my attempts to set thoughts of Adair aside, I could not. He had betrayed me, and the anger had kept me up at night as I plotted vengeance. I wanted a way to stop him. I wanted him to suffer for what he did to me. I did not know how, but the thought was consuming me and distracting me from my vow.
"I am a fool," I muttered to myself.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor I had just left. I jumped to my feet and moved into the shadows. The steps continued down the hallway for a few moments, and then voices accompanied them.
"Nasty business, Princess Sarelle," a man said.
"I thought we had put that to rest long ago," a woman replied.
I slid up to stand along the wall and crept closer to the doorway to better hear the exchange. The woman's voice was familiar to me.
The man sighed. "Mayhap not, have you seen the Danhadines about as of late? Seems their king sent a whole garrison, along with the new ambassador, since there's trouble in the south and all."
"Something similar happened in my home country. The Biski tribes gathered and sieged a holdfast in the south," the woman replied.
I gasped and covered my mouth. I knew that voice. I crept closer to the doorway and tried to peek around it, but the speakers were too far for me to make out their features without revealing that I was listening.
"Did they? Strange things have been happening, to be certain. You never told me, why did you leave your home country?"
The woman laughed. "Oh, no real reason, I wanted an adventure, I suppose."
The man grunted. "I don't know how much adventure there is being a lady's maid."
"You would be surprised. You can find pleasure in most anything."
The footsteps receded, and I dared to poke my head around the corner. I saw her from the back, auburn hair braid down her back and a white cap on her head. I did not need to see her face, but I knew her anyway. Damara, why is she working as a lady's maid in Sanore? I wanted to chase after her, but I dared not reveal her to her companion. It was apparent she was hiding, and I dared not risk her disguise, not with so many Danhadines in Sanore and Jon Sixton already aware of me and Johai. I leaned against the wall. I had exiled Damara. It was my words that damned her and led her here to be a maid to some high-born lady.
I decided it would be best if I headed back inside and waited for the performance to finish. I would find Damara again and apologize, but tonight it appeared I would need to lay low. After that performance, I could not risk searching the palace, not without raising suspicion. I wasted my chance. What did that vision mean? Who did Sarelle trust that betrayed her? I could not take any more risks to find out tonight. I made sure to look about for others when I was returning and was fortunate again to return without incident. I found the storage room door open. The others may have forgotten to close it. Despite that, I eased into the room and scanned about the square space. There was no one inside, so I headed to a chair at the far end of the room.
A hand gripped me from behind and twisted my arm around. I shouted, but a second hand clamped down on my mouth, and my scream was stifled instead. We tussled for a moment. I tried to wriggle free of my captor when the sharp sting of metal dug into the flesh of my exposed throat.
"Do not move," a husky voice said.
I whimpered but dared not move.
"Good, listen to me, soothsayer. Stay away from court, and do not stick your nose where it does not belong."
I did not have the room to protest, not with a knife held to my throat. However, Beau had taught me some self-defense in case of an instance such as this. With my body pressed against theirs, it gave me the angle I needed to attack. I stepped on the instep of their foot, and they loosed their grip enough to give me room to swing about and grab their forearm. As I was lashing out, I was surprised to find the soft flesh of a woman where a man's firm chest should be.
My assailant regained her hold and shoved me against the wall. Pain bloomed in my skull as they ground my face into the stone.
"Do not pull any tricks. I have no reason to keep you alive." My attacker was a woman. I heard it now in the inflection where before I had assumed a man.
"What do you want from me, then? If you are willing to threaten me, why not finish the job?" I taunted, a potentially foolish move, but my curiosity was piqued.
"Do not make accusations where you are unwelcome. Not everyone in this palace is an empty-headed fool. I know who you are, illusino."
The term sent me spinning, my gut instinct had been correct. I should never have come here, no matter my disguise. Now I was sure I would be sent back to Danhad or worse.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied.
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Heed my warning. Stay away, or next time I won't be as generous."
She released me, and I leaned against the wall to steady myself. Have I gotten myself in too deep? Why had she not captured me and turned me in if she knows who I am? These questions would only spurn me further and lead me deeper than was perhaps wise to tread.
Chapter Eight
AFTER THE ATTACK AT the palace, I was shaken but undeterred from my task. I needed to know who was trying to keep me from the truth. I assumed the royal family was trying to cover up Sarelle's death, but I could not be sure—not without proof. There was one person in Sanore that could get me answers, but he was unattainable. Jon Sixton had access to the palace, and I suspected he knew more about Princess Sarelle's death than he let on. It was not a simple matter of walking up to his villa and asking him about it, however. Jon was a member of the Order and the ambassador to Danhad, which made him dangerous, though I could not deny I was tempted to confront him all the same. I had no other leads.
Johai had left for the day. He was working odd jobs where he could find them in order to pay our inn bills. I had tried to give him the money I had earned working at the playhouse, but he would not take it. He disapproved, and I think it was a matter of pride to not take the money, as if taking the money would be him condoning my methods. I had no plans to return to the playhouse after that threat. I thought it would be safer not to. Therefore, I was sequestered in the chamber I shared with Johai. I had read through every book Johai had brought back for me, and I had tried to make sense of the Jerauchian tome of his. Staring at the foreign letters and graphic depictions of eviscerated men was giving me a headache. I stood to stretch my limbs and bent to the side with my arms over my head.
My stomach rumbled, and I realized I had not eaten yet that day. I went to the door and eased it open. Beau was leaning against the wall outside. He did not raise his eyes to me as I walked past.
"I'm going down to get something to eat," I felt compelled to explain.
He did not reply, but I still felt as if I could feel his eyes upon me as I descended the stairs. Beau had not mentioned being left behind or being excluded from my recent activities. I dared not trust him, being uncertain of his allegiance. Sabine, for all appearances, was in league with Jon Sixton, who was a member of the Order; it may as well have made her an Order member for all I knew. Was it her plan all along to marry Adair?
Johai and I had argued about me going around town without a chaperone. He did not trust me alone. He thought I could not take care of myself. Thank the goddess I had not told him about the attack at the palace or he would never have let me leave the chamber again. As it was, I had promised him I would not leave the inn during the day alone. I am not that helpless. I sighed. Maybe I am. I just seem to get into trouble, often.
I wanted to explore Sanore further. If I took Beau with me, I feared he would betray me to Danhad. I wish I could talk to Sabine and have her explain what she is doing trusting Jon Sixton. What did he promise you? The scent of roasting meat drifted through the dining hall of the inn. Scatte
red patrons were arranged around the room in groups of two and three or more. The barmaid, Marie, bustled about. Her arms were overladen with platters of food and empty cups. She stopped to wipe her brow with a sleeve when she saw me.
"Oh, madame, are you hungry? What will you have?"
"Whatever you have cooking smells divine," I said, taking a seat on one of the long benches. I did not wear my hood, but I kept my eyes lowered. This inn was not frequented by Danhadines so I felt safe going without a disguise, at least in part.
"I'll bring you a plate, then." She smiled and hurried over to help another customer.
I glanced over my shoulder, expecting Beau to come down the stairs and hover over me. However, the stairwell was empty. He hadn't followed me. Strange. Maybe I hurt his feelings not bringing him to the palace. Goddess knows I could have used his help. I touched my neck where the blade had come uncomfortably close to my neck. Maybe Johai was right; maybe I do need to be watched. I only seemed to muddle things as of late.
The door to the inn opened, and a few young women walked in. I watched them from the corner of my eye. They were all Neaux women, with olive skin and dark curls that they wore under white caps. Their dresses were in muted colors, brown, black and gray. The woman closest to me looked my away, and I averted my gaze. I waited a few moments before peering back in their direction. I recognized one of them. The youngest among them, with a round face and large eyes, was Jon Sixton's scullery maid. She faced my direction, but her attention was on one of her companions. They were talking in rapid Neaux, punctuated with laughter. What a coincidence that she would come here. If I could convince her to let me into Jon's house, I might be able to find more answers about Sarelle. Maybe even discover what Sabine was having him find out. I would love the opportunity to look through the documents in his drawer once more.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts I did not notice Marie had come back around with my plate of food.
"Here you are, madame." She set down the steaming plate of roasted meat with a few potatoes on the side.
"Thank you," I said and gave her a smile. I ate my food, savoring each juicy bite. The rosemary and garlic they had roasted the meat in made my taste buds sing. I indulged in my meal as I watched the maid and her companions chat and eat.
I finished my food and lingered, waiting for the women to finish their meal. Once they were finished, they left a few coins on the table before getting up and leaving. I set a silver on the table and stood up and walked as if I were heading upstairs. I looked up the stairwell to see if Beau had been watching me from out of sight, but he was not around. Maybe I shouldn't follow her. Johai would be cross if he found out or, worse, I could be caught. I would have approached the woman while she was with her companions, but I did not think it would be wise to put my subterfuge on display.
I waited a few moments before following after them. I blinked in the bright afternoon light and shaded my eyes as I cast about, looking for the women. They were making their way down the street, headed towards the marketplace. I pulled up my hood and followed after them at a casual pace. Every so often, I stopped or hid in the shadows, in case they suspected I was tailing them. I also looked over my shoulder to make sure I was not being followed. I stayed a good distance away to not seem threatening, I hoped.
They did not seem concerned as they stopped at different vendors and admired luxuriant fabric in all colors of the rainbow and gems and other fine things. They all stopped to gather around a stall that had exotic animals in cages. The scullery maid poked her finger through the bars of a cage of a bird with a bright red chest and green plumage. The bird flapped and squawked, and the maid stepped back, alarmed. Her friends laughed, and she joined in.
I pretended to be admiring some summer squashes for sale at a shaded stand. The merchant was Neaux and was preoccupied with a mother and her three children, who was purchasing a few bushels of vegetables. The women wandered away from the animal menagerie, and I slipped away from the vegetable vendor before he turned his attention on me. I did not want a repeat of my last visit.
They left the marketplace and headed north towards the upper district where Jon Sixton and other influential citizens lived. They broke apart at a cross street, and the scullery maid went up the hill alone. The sun was beginning its downward descent for the night, and her shadow was long enough that it reached me. I huffed as I followed her, unused to so much vigorous activity. In the distance, I could see the palace silhouetted against the sky—it seemed remote and unobtainable. I must get back there. I picked up my pace and closed the gap between us.
I ran up behind her, my footsteps echoing off the cobblestones. She turned around at the last moment, and I clamped my hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming. Her eyes were wide with fear as I pulled her into a gap between two homes.
"Do not be afraid," I said. "I didn't mean to frighten you. If you promise not to scream, I will release you. Promise?"
She nodded her head. The whites of her eyes were stark against her olive skin. I felt guilty for startling her, but I did not know a better way to get her attention.
"Good," I said and dropped my hand. She jumped away from me and backed against a wall.
"W-what do you want from me?" Her voice wobbled. She regarded me as if I would grab her again.
I hoped she would remember me from the night at Jon Sixton's villa. We had paid her well for her silence, and I had seen no sign of Jon since. Even if she did not remember me favorably, I assumed she would listen to gold.
"I have a proposal for you." I held up a gold coin, one of a few I had earned performing at the playhouse.
She looked at the coin hungrily. It seemed my hopes had been realized. It appeared she remembered me and the gold coin Beau had given her.
"What can I do for you, madame?" She licked her lips and shifted away from the wall to stand up straight.
"I want to get into the ambassador's house. Can you help me?"
She took a step back and towards the street beyond. I did not block her but stood in the shadows well out of sight. Her eyes were still trained on the gold coin. "Madame, I cannot do that. My master has many soldiers who would catch us, and he would fire me for sure."
I reached for a bag at my hip, which held the rest of my coins. "I will give you this entire sack if you help me get into the villa."
She was wringing her hands and looking out onto the street and then back at me. "How do I know you are not tricking me?" She gave me a baleful look.
When did I become desperate enough to resort to bribery? I shook my head. No. I must save Johai, and this is the way to find the answers. Sarelle's death is connected; this is the path that will lead me to saving him.
"Here," I tossed her a gold coin. "A show of good faith. I will give you the rest once I am in the villa."
She looked the coin over and bit it. "I will help you. Come next week through the back entrance, in the afternoon, the guard during that time is... he is not a good man."
I nodded. "I understand. I will meet you then."
She bobbed me a curtsy and ran down the alleyway and out of sight. I slumped against the wall and exhaled heavily. What have I become?
I waited a while longer as a carriage with a stylized flower zoomed past me down the street before I headed back to the inn. By now, Beau would have noticed I had gone missing. If I was lucky, I would return before he sent out a search party or informed Johai. I went around the market; I did not want to pass through again in case I was recognized.
The backstreets were grimy, and the people walking around seemed gruffer. I saw a number of men with swords at their belts and leather vests. They eyed me up and down, and I felt my skin crawl. I kept up a quickened pace until I passed by an inn. A group of men were standing outside, arguing and singing off tune. They stopped as I came towards them. I felt them watching me, and it made me uneasy. I pulled my hood up to cover my features. Perhaps it was a bit rash to go out alone after the maid.
I crossed to the other si
de of the road, trying to avoid them. A few of them broke away and came towards me from the opposite end of the street.
"Filthy Danhadines need to leave this city!" one of the men shouted. I hesitated out of impulse and looked over my shoulder. Three of the men had broken from their group and were headed towards me.
I ran down the street, but a fourth man I had not seen blocked my path. He had thick arms folded over his barrel chest.
I halted and spun around. The other three men had caught up, and they made a half circle around me with my back against a building front, which was unfortunately closed for the evening.
"My lords, is there anything I can do for you?"
One of the men reached out and pulled back my hood. I stumbled away from him and fell forward. The man who had cornered me first stopped me from falling onto the ground by grabbing me with his massive hands. I pulled away and rammed my back against the wall. I watched them with my heart in my throat. What do they want from me? Surely they cannot know who I am?
"Another Danhadine strutting around acting as if she owns this place," a man with yellow crooked teeth and a balding head sneered at me.
"I am sorry, my lord, I think you have me mistaken," I said in Neaux with a bow in the man's direction. "I am Jerauchian." They are resentful of Danhadines. Maybe if I am careful, they will let me go.
He spit at my feet. "No, I've seen you around, working with that Biski slut, and I know who you are. Some soldiers brought you to the Danhadine embassy. We don't welcome your people in this city, and you have no right to try and rule over us on our soil." He pointed a ham fist towards the direction of the city gates.
"You shall not talk to the lady in such a way."
I twirled in place, afraid to believe I had heard the voice correctly. Beau stepped up to the tallest of the group with his sword drawn.
"You going to stop me?" The tall man shoved Beau's chest.
Beau did not stand down; he squared his legs and brought up his sword. "I would suggest you stand down," he said, and the steel in his voice was ominous enough that two of the man's companions did take a step back.
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