“Then you should have no problem getting to know a new person.” Senri still did not budge when Nat tugged on her. “Oh come on! What is your problem?”
She shrugged his hand off her arm. “I just don’t feel like it tonight. You know, maybe I need to take a break.”
Nat rolled his eyes. “To need a rest from an activity, you need to be engaged in it in the first place. I, for one, know you are not.” Senri looked away and shoved her hands in her trouser pockets. She looked around for her beer mug. Her throat felt dry. “Or maybe you are,” Nat said. He slinked back against the wall next to Senri. “Maybe you’ve got a certain woman on your mind after all. Brown hair, protective temperament, royal—”
“I don’t.” Senri turned to Nat with a glare. “I don’t have any woman on my mind, okay?”
Nat took a step back and raised his hands. “All right, then I’m sure you’d have no problem dancing with that poor girl just to make her happy, hm?” He gazed down at her in challenge. Senri knew he waited for her to buckle or to confess to something. Well, she would not. Alina was off limits, non-existent in her realm of possibilities.
“Fine.”
Nat raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Senri nodded. “I’ll do it.”
“Right now?”
“Right now.”
Nat grinned. “Excellent, I’ll even help—”
Senri shook her head. “I’ll do it myself, Nat.”
Before her friend could add anything more to the conversation, she pushed off the wall and walked toward the woman who had been watching her. When she saw Senri approaching, she smiled, and then looked behind as if she expected Senri to walk by. “No, I’m looking at you,” said Senri. Act confident. Act casual. “Uh, not that I was watching you or anything.” Well, there went that plan.
The woman giggled and set down her mugs. “I don’t know if I’d mind you watching.”
“You don’t?” asked Senri. Joy rushed through her. She had never had someone actively engage in flirting with her. It felt nice. “I mean, yes, you probably wouldn’t.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Not that I mean...”
The woman smiled even more. “Something tells me the verses embellished a little on your refined charm.”
“Well, they did want it to be a good song.” To her delight, the woman laughed again. Still, something felt off about it, hollow. She much preferred Alina’s laugh. Senri shook her head and forced the feeling down. Nat had been right to mock her for her infatuation. “I was wondering if you’d like to dance, actually.”
The woman eased off the bar countertop, extending her hand. “I think I’d like that.”
Senri took the hand, but no warmth shot through her at the touch. She smiled anyways and pulled the girl onto the dance floor. Halfway through the first song, they kissed. Senri felt the warm lips against her own, but no passion coursed through her. She kissed back out of curiosity’s sake, and when the woman pulled back she realized she did not even know her name.
Chapter Thirteen
SEVERAL WEEKS OF CAREFUL planning went into the set-up of Alina’s departure. Senri and her friends agreed to accompany her and Nin finished the arrangements for Alina’s double to stay at the castle. Alina had gone back and forth on deciding whether Nin should stay behind or accompany them. Someone would need to stay and extend the use of Lady Cecile beyond a few days. Nin seemed to be the perfect candidate, only Nin found the idea of being away from Alina unsettling.
“I was given the task to watch over you,” Nin said. “It would be wrong to abandon you.”
In the end, they both decided the success of Alina’s plan hinged on Nin staying behind and leading the others astray. They even roped in Lady Vorica to assist in misdirecting. As the days passed, Alina still felt unsettled. She did not know if anything would work the way they intended, though Senri had assured her that all aspects of the plan were solid on their end. Finally, the day of their departure arrived.
It started with Senri knocking out the concealed panel and entering Alina’s room. “Are you ready, your Highness?” She had managed the trip fully armored that time, having grown familiar with the passage.
“I…yes, I am ready,” said Alina. She had dressed in borrowed slacks and a tunic that day, unfamiliar, yet necessary, clothes from her usual gowns. “Let us go.”
Senri led her down the tunnel. They descended slowly in the dark confines. She rested her hand on Senri’s shoulder in order to guide herself, trying to ignore the tingle in her hand even though she touched the cold armor. It might have had something to do with the concealed envelope lying underneath her tunic.
“Um, your armor is here, Highness.” Senri came to a halt and Alina removed her hand.
“Where?”
“Hold on a moment.”
A torch sparked to life in Senri’s grasp. A full set of Warrior’s leather armor lay by the entrance to the tunnel. Senri picked up the chest piece and handed it to her.
Alina slipped it on, fumbling over the straps. “If you could…”
“Oh, right.” Senri placed the torch in an old, rusted holder that had been nailed into the tunnel wall years ago. She stepped behind Alina and tugged on the straps. The armor tightened around Alina’s chest. Senri pulled harder and Alina felt something press awkwardly against her stomach.
“Wait a minute.” She pulled the chest piece off and set it down. She retrieved the small envelope hidden in her tunic and handed it to Senri. “I know it was a while ago, but happy birthday.”
Senri raised her eyebrows and took the envelope. “I…thank you, your Highness. You shouldn’t have gotten—”
“I wanted to, please, just take it.”
Senri pull the flap back to the envelope and reach a hand inside. She pulled out a thin, gold chain. A small pendant rested at the bottom it, circular with a faint inscription etched into the gold. “It’s beautiful,” she said, holding it up in the faint torchlight. She spotted the markings and pulled the pendant closer. “It says something.”
“Savior of the Queen,” Alina said. She blushed, remembering the scrutiny she had received when she ordered the jewelry crafted.
It could have been the torchlight, but Alina swore she saw Senri blush. “Thank you,” Senri said. She raised the chain and pulled it over her head, letting the pendant slip down underneath her armor. “I’ll wear it always.” As touched as Senri sounded, she avoided meeting Alina’s gaze and her voice caught.
“Is something the matter?”
Senri shook her head. “No, Highness. We should get the rest of your armor on.” They dressed her in silence, pulling the armor on and tying her hair back in a suitable style for a young Warrior. Still, Alina would need to wear a helmet. Senri had brought along a concealing style. She slipped it over Alina’s head. She stared at Senri through a small slot.
“Why would I be wearing this within the walls?”
“Training exercise,” said Senri. “Some Warriors wear them for a few days to grow comfortable with the limited vision.”
The two of them left through the sewer gate and walked down to the barracks. Alina had to step carefully since night had fallen. She barely saw past the torchlight through the helmet’s visor. Instead of turning down to the Warrior’s barracks, Senri and Alina continued onward to the other side of the palace, near the archery fields. They nodded at other Warriors as they passed. After they passed the exit to town, they moved with more caution. Alina nearly jumped when a Warrior turned down the same alley as them and approached. When Senri nodded at him, he stopped and looked them over. They came to a halt as well.
“Where are your orders?” asked the man.
Senri reached into her belt pouch and withdrew a folded slip of paper. She handed the forged orders over to the Warrior. This had probably been the most difficult piece to obtain. The Warrior named Lanan had produced an acceptable draft after several days of practice with watered down ink. Alina swallowed as she waited for the Warrior to finish reading over the assignm
ent. It declared they were to patrol the archer’s wall for the first night shift. It even bore the proper signatures. Or at least the Warrior would think they were proper.
He handed the paper back to Senri. “Carry on.”
Senri led her down the archery targets and to the far corner. Instead of heading up to the walls for patrol, Senri let them into the dungeon. They descended the steps and took the first right corridor available, a secret exit in case of siege. The door on the end only worked from the inside so no one could infiltrate the palace grounds through it. They stopped at the very end of the tunnel.
Senri rested her hand on the hatch leading up to the surface. “Are you sure about this, your Highness?” She looked down at Alina.
“Yes, Senri.” Alina’s arms trembled under her armor, nervous enough without Senri second-guessing her. “I need to do this.”
The Warrior nodded and pushed up against the hatch. The hinges moaned and earth crumbled as she burst forth into the night. She turned back to Alina and offered her a hand. Alina took it and let Senri help her up into the fresh night air. She took a deep breath and looked back at the wall. Senri set the hatch in place, invisible with the layer of field grass grown over it. The two set off for a nearby cluster of trees. Once they were in the small wood, Alina breathed a sigh of relief and removed her helmet.
“Who goes?” someone asked from behind the trees.
“The Savior,” Senri replied dryly. From the tone of her voice, Alina guessed she had grudgingly agreed to the code word.
“Nice to see you two,” said Nat, stepping from the trees. Lanan emerged as well.
“It’s nice to see you got out safely,” said Senri. “Are we all here, then?”
“Yahn and Onera are saying their goodbyes.” Lanan grinned. “The horses are just beyond the trees. For palace mounts, they are fairly reliable.”
“We train excellent horses, even if they are not intended for war.” Alina stepped forward. “Thank you all for coming, but we should continue with the plan if all is well.”
“Right, I’ll fetch the lovebirds.” Lanan disappeared farther into the trees and returned with Yahn and the woman named Onera. She was average height, but slender. Something about the way she walked suggested grace. She stepped barefoot through the grass and the plants almost stirred around her.
“It’s time, then?” Yahn asked. Senri nodded.
Onera stepped forward, dressed in a simple tunic and skirt, and nodded to Alina. “Do not fear, your Highness. None will find your tracks by the time I finish here.”
“I thank you,” said Alina. “You do not know how much it means to me that all of you are so willing to help in such a dangerous task.” The Warriors watched her with furrowed brows and unsmiling faces, a seriousness in their expressions Alina had not expected to find. They held more respect for her than any of the Councilors.
Lanan spoke, “None of us want to see Osota fall, Highness, you are doing more for this kingdom than anyone else.”
Alina did not know how to respond. Yahn saved her from having to. “Well, the horses should be ready,” he said, nodding over his shoulder. “We can saddle up and go.”
As they moved out, Yahn lingered with Onera. Alina glanced behind and watched the two embrace in a tight hug before letting go. Onera stepped out onto the field and raised her hands. She moved forward, the grass rustling as she walked, erasing any trace of footprints they had ever left on the plains. She was a very talented reader, from what Alina could see. She would later erase as much of their horse tracks as she could.
Alina looked away and followed Senri to the horses laden with supplies. Yahn walked past her and swung into the saddle of his own steed. Alina walked over to the remaining horse and cautiously pulled herself upon it. She had never ridden in armor, or done anything in it, for that matter.
Without a word, the group brought their horses into line and set off through the forest, southward, moving slowly through the dense trees before breaking out onto a field an hour later. Alina looked over her shoulder and glanced at the far away capital one more time. She had not expected to leave it so soon. She shuddered. She might never see it again.
***
They rode through the night and well into midday. Once they reached a gathering of trees, Yahn called for them to stop. They would not be pursued so quickly, but all the same, Senri would rather not give reason to attract attention.
Senri dismounted, her sore legs complaining as soon as her feet hit the ground. The armor stifled her. Leading Stomps to a small creek with the other horses, she let him drink. As she unbuckled her breastplate, she remembered the pendant lying around her neck, the pendant Alina had given her. It made her somewhat guilty about the night spent with the girl from the tavern—Tala.
She pulled her tent supplies from her horse’s pack and dropped them on the ground. It would be best to get a fire going first, something that would burn hot with very little smoke. Gathering kindling from the surrounding trees, Senri also grabbed dry branches she could break apart later. She enjoyed the quiet task. It gave her a chance to be away from Nat and Lanan’s teasing. “Senri?” The sound of her name almost caused her to drop the branches. She turned and saw Alina standing close by.
“Did you need something, your Highness?”
Alina looked at the ground. Her brow furrowed and a blush spread over her cheeks. “I…well, it’s a silly matter really, and if you are busy, I suppose it can wait but I—”
“The task, your Highness?”
Alina frowned and glanced back at her camp supplies. “I am having trouble assembling my tent correctly.”
Senri almost laughed. “Is that all?” She tucked the kindling under one arm. “Here, I’ll help.”
Alina smiled. “Excellent. This way.”
The tent looked like a heap of junk when they reached it. Alina had miss-tied several knots and placed the poles at the wrong corners of the cloth. Senri set down the kindling and crouched over the materials.
“What did you do to it?” she asked, trying to pull the pieces apart.
“I do not know. I don’t usually set up tents.”
Senri laughed. “You could have asked for help sooner.”
“Well, I asked your friend Nat, but he said he was dreadful at it and that you would be much more suited.”
“He what?” Senri glanced across the camp to where Nat worked. He gave her an innocent smile. I’ll kill him.
“Is something wrong?”
Senri shook her head and picked up another piece of the tent. “No, I’d be happy to help, Highness.” The rope took a good while to untangle, and Alina kept hovering and asking questions about the application of certain pieces. Finally, Senri managed to get the tent to cooperate and stand up correctly. She even shook one of the poles to test its durability. “I think it’s safe, your Highness.”
Alina knelt down beside her and pulled aside the tent flap. Senri looked at her, heat rising to her cheeks as her hands followed the movement of Alina’s slender fingers. Despite trying to force the thoughts away, she could only think of the mistake in the tavern.
Alina leaned back from the tent, smiling. “Thank you, my savior.”
Senri looked away. “Well, yes, I guess. Um…I’m going to set up the fire now.”
“All right.”
Senri picked up the kindling and turned to go. She stumbled and nearly fell, but regained her balance and took the armload to Yahn’s fire pit. Alina’s laugh followed her. Don’t look back. Just go build the fire. Senri dumped the kindling into the pit and went to fetch sturdier logs to last through the night. The forest muted the sounds coming from the camp and allowed her to think as she walked around.
“You know, you sulk too much.”
Senri turned and glared at Nat as he sauntered through the forest. “You could have helped her with the tent.”
Nat walked over and gathered up dead branches. “But it was funnier to watch you do it. Besides, she likes you.”
Senri jer
ked another branch out from the undergrowth. “She does not.”
He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Princess Alina, right? Brown hair, warm eyes, about this tall?” He raised a hand to Alina’s estimated height. “Yes, her. She likes you quite a lot. What have you been doing in those secret meetings with her?”
“Nothing, and shut up.” Senri pushed him away and stacked another fallen branch onto her pile. “It’s not funny.”
“I think it is quite adorable, actually,” said Nat. “You two sort of play at flirting with one another, as if having feelings were against the rules.”
“She’s the princess,” said Senri. She almost had enough firewood to head back to camp.
“And she’s out on a suicide mission with us. Have a little fun.” Nat thumped her on the back. “You can at least enjoy her company, if not pursue a real friendship with her. I’m not saying look up her royal skirts.” He grabbed her shoulder when she tried to leave. “I’m not trying to be an ass. Just take my advice and have a little fun, will you? Stop treating her like a fragile thing. She kind of hates it when you do.”
Senri glared at him, but her expression softened when he picked up some more branches and offered them to her. “I don’t know if I will ever have you figured out, Nat.”
“I’m a simple man, honest, and in good faith, I promise to behave through dinner.”
Senri laughed and they walked back to camp, carrying the wood over to the fire pit.
Lanan joined them. “Finally, I’m ready to eat.”
“You retrieve the firewood next time,” said Senri.
She arranged the kindling the best way she could before igniting the branches. Nat and Yahn retrieved the cooking supplies, including a small, water-filled pot for the stew. The group set up quickly, throwing ingredients in without paying much attention to the combination. Inevitably, Alina walked over, fussing with her leather armor, as she looked into the pot.
“What is that?” she asked.
“Our meal,” said Senri, glancing back toward the princess.
“Yes, but what are you cooking?” she asked.
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