Chapter Twenty-Three
Analleia
We clung to the shadows like death to a graveyard, our black-clad forms melting into the landscape of the starless night.
If there had been less light, the guards’ eyes would have been more accustomed to the darkness and more likely to see our shapes moving across the lawn, but the torches for the ball provided plenty of shadows to hide in.
The outer wall of the palace was cool to the touch, a chilly reminder of what would wait for us down below if we did not succeed.
Guards watched the outer courtyards, but the patrol was not as heavy due to so many guests milling about.
The soldiers would be more concerned with keeping the peace within than from someone sneaking in over the outer wall.
Desmond led the way, already having maneuvered through the palace two nights ago. I questioned the silence of the fourth ball before remembering it was more of an inner-circle socialization event and not many activities would be happening throughout the evening.
Desmond worked his way around the outer edge of the palace, sneaking in through one of the servants’ corridors and immediately pulling me into the laundry room where we scrounged up a mismatched set of uniforms. Instead of changing, we pulled them over our clothes.
We wouldn’t need them for long. I tied the maid’s apron behind my back and pulled down the sleeves of the overdress to hide the dark cloth underneath.
Most servants were upstairs fulfilling their duties at the ball, but any we did pass were either not interested in us or in too much of a hurry to pay us any attention. I kept track of our location, walking through the blueprints permanently seared into my mind.
Desmond turned, and we hurried down a set of stairs that circled around an outer tower.
We were getting close.
Very close.
Guards stood to attention up ahead, and I knew we were approaching the dungeon. Desmond moved his hand behind his back, signaling to me. I reached into my pocket and retrieved the Hrakka powder.
Another guard appeared from the opposite end of the corridor, and Desmond pivoted into a side room as if he had found what he’d been looking for.
I followed behind, pressing into the darkness and watching the beam of light flickering in from the torches lining the hallway outside to make sure the soldier didn’t follow us.
“That better not be the patrol,” Desmond whispered in my ear.
“Patrols might run differently during the ball,” I said.
He tensed beside me as the soldier’s footsteps faded down the hall.
“She’s not deep,” he said. “Assuming she’s in the same spot. There are two guards posted outside the door. Two posted inside. Maybe more in their common area. We have to be fast. Three minutes tops.”
I nodded, opening the vial and pouring the Hrakka powder directly onto my palm.
Desmond eased back into the main corridor, and I counted my footsteps as I walked behind. Our movements had to line up and be exact.
Five.
Four.
Three.
The guards talked between themselves, not paying us servants any attention.
Now.
In one swift movement we spun toward the guards, lifting the powder and blowing it into their faces. I covered my mouth and nose with my other hand. Backed up. The soldiers coughed, then lowered to their knees as their eyes rolled back into their heads before they collapsed onto the floor.
Desmond retrieved the key ring from one of the guard’s belts and unlocked the dungeon door.
I collected more of the Hrakka powder from the bag and followed him through, using it on the two sentries guarding the inner door.
They fell like the first two. Desmond marched to the next door, flinging it open and charging into the block of cells.
I stayed near the front, watching for any signs of trouble, the seconds ticking by in my head like an approaching explosion.
I undid my apron as I waited, peeling the servant’s dress from my back to reveal my dark clothes underneath.
I pulled a pouch from one of my pockets, yanking out the fabric stuffed inside to reveal a long, shiny wrap skirt I secured around my waist. I needed to make an appearance at the ball tonight, and I needed to do it as soon as they escaped.
Desmond emerged, an arm wrapped around Nadiyah. She grimaced as if in pain. Her disheveled hair frizzed around her face, and her skin was smeared with dirt and what I hoped wasn’t blood.
“Put these on,” I said, shoving the servant’s clothes at her.
She complied and we left the dungeon, Desmond returning the key ring to the soldier’s belt before we clambered back up the stairs. Desmond’s movements were stiff, his eyes alert as he glanced both ways before entering the hall.
Footsteps approached from behind us, and panic surged within me.
I signaled to a window fixed within an alcove and Nadiyah nearly dove out without looking. Desmond followed after. Once his fingers cleared the ledge I lifted my leg to swing over it and climb down.
“Analleia.”
I froze.
No.
Goose bumps traveled up my arm, but I waited until I saw both Desmond and Nadiyah reach the ground before I turned with a faint smile on my face.
“Your Highness, how are you this evening?”
“You’re quite far from the party,” Valeris said.
I leaned against the window frame, trying to hide my trembling fingers in the shadows. “I felt unwell and came up here for some fresh air.”
“I would think the front courtyard is closer.”
Burning bridges.
As if the man thought at all.
“Perhaps,” I said. “But stuffy with people. I prefer quieter places.”
“I see.” He stepped closer, maneuvering around me to look out the window.
My chest tightened, the hair rising on the back of my neck.
Please let them be gone.
He cocked an eyebrow as he took in my attire. “Interesting wardrobe choice.”
I pursed my lips. “I’ve never been one to follow tradition.”
“You know,” he began, “I was thinking—”
There he went with the thinking again.
“—do you not find it strange the server happened to crash into you—who then crashed into my uncle—at almost the exact moment he realized someone had spiked his drink?”
I swallowed, refusing to meet his gaze. A knot twisted in the pit of my stomach.
He knew.
I didn’t know how, but he knew.
“His drink was spiked?” My voice pitched a bit higher.
Valeris watched me. “Yes, I guess you didn’t hear. Someone spiked his drink—which was so unceremoniously spilled all over the floor before he could confirm its contents.”
“How could he tell?” I risked asking.
I needed answers about his uncle.
Valeris crossed his arms, fixing me with an intense stare.
“Doesn’t matter, what does matters is we arrested the suspect.
The poor girl claimed it was a love potion, but love potions don’t exist. They’re fake, but they are undetectable.
One would never notice it in their drink unless someone slipped it in, say, water?
If it truly was a love potion, how could my uncle tell his punch had been tainted? ”
A trail of sweat slid down my back as my brow grew moist. I considered jumping out the window and hoping he didn’t have the reflexes to grab for me, but if I had the slimmest possibility of success, I had to try to clear this up.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Perhaps the girl was lied to about the potion?”
He studied me, mind calculating, before his gaze drifted over my shoulder. “Have your friends put a safe amount of distance between us yet?”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Too stunned to respond.
He had figured out our connection to Nadiyah and that we were here to break her out. I weighed my options.
“Don’t lie,” he said. “I watched them disappear out the window and caught you trying to follow. I also witnessed the two of you entering the dungeon and breaking the prisoner out.”
My heart hammered in my chest, my hands slick with sweat. We’d been careful. Desmond had scouted everywhere. It wasn’t possible. If he had seen us, why hadn’t he tried to stop us?
My gaze darted to the window ledge as if to flee, but the prince’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, holding me in place.
“We need to have a long talk, Analleia Kallistar.”
Two soldiers rounded the corner and stood to either side of me.
Valeris led us forward. I could get away if I wanted to, but that would forfeit my chances of being able to return.
My chances were most likely already forfeit, but there was a small one I could talk my way out of this. I was willing to risk it.
We entered a large study. The two guards remained outside, but the prince’s constant bodyguard followed us in, his discerning eyes drowning in suspicion as he watched me from the door. I didn’t move, awaiting instruction as I fought the urge to wring my hands in my skirt.
“Sit.” Valeris placed a hand on my shoulder and sternly pushed me into a chair.
He leaned against the wall opposite me, any indifference he had displayed before replaced by hostility.
“You have been lying to me from the moment you entered the first ball, Miss Kallistar—if that is even your real name. Is Allowyn your true home?”
My lips parted, but he didn’t give me a chance to respond.
“Shall we list your offenses?” He counted on his fingers.
“You lied to me, sabotaged my alliances, rejected my offer of friendship only to come crawling back on your hands and knees, were involved in an attempt on my uncle’s life, assisted in the suspect’s escape—” He hesitated.
“You’ve racked up quite a list and those are only the elements I’m aware of.
You’re going to tell me the truth, or you and your friends will be locked up, tried for treason, and executed if not tortured first. Our tactic is to torture one while the other watches until they finally give in.
You’ve got treason, intent to harm a royal family member, sabotage, lying, breaking and entering, aiding and abetting a fugitive, breaking said fugitive out of jail, intent to harm the royal guards—shall I keep going? ”
I swallowed.