Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
After the guards had checked on them for the evening rounds, Pip opened the door of her cell.
The bars were getting a bit bent out of shape after she’d manipulated them so often, so she’d spent some time that afternoon fiddling with the locks on the doors to their cells.
Thanks to all the lockpicking practice with Stickyfingers, she had a good enough idea of the internal workings to adjust the locks in such a way that the keys still turned, felt, and sounded like they were doing something, but the cell doors didn’t actually lock.
She’d also used some metal from the bars of her cell to make a key to Prince Edmund’s shackles so he could take them on and off at will.
Prince Edmund pushed open the door to his cell. He still hunched slightly, shuffling as he walked, but he appeared better than he had that morning. “Can you do something to the lock on the main door? We don’t want them coming in while we’re out of our cells.”
Pip nodded and tiptoed up the stairs. Her heart hammered as she neared the door at the top. If a guard heard her or happened to open the door at that moment, there would be no hiding that she was out of her cell.
She placed a hand on the door and simply melded the bolt of the lock into place. The key would still go into the lock, but it wouldn’t turn.
The guards could probably still break through the door eventually, but the time it would take would give her and Prince Edmund a chance to return to their cells.
She crept back down the stairs to Prince Edmund’s side. He grinned and set off at a slow amble down the passageway. “Let’s explore our accommodations, shall we?”
“I don’t think you quite have the right idea of what it means to be held prisoner.” Pip fell into step with him, sticking close in case he appeared in need of support staying upright.
“But my version is much more fun.” Prince Edmund grinned as the two of them turned the corner.
Here the passageway was dark, lit only by the torchlight behind them.
The doors on the rooms were wooden rather than barred, and when Pip opened one and peered inside, the room still had a bed, table, and other limited furnishings.
This corridor would’ve made rather gloomy servants’ quarters, likely only used for the lowest scullery maids.
“I think they never got around to turning this section into a dungeon.”
“Or they left it for prisoners who they don’t want to treat so prisoner-like.” Prince Edmund waved back in the direction of their cells. “I’d say it is for prisoners of high rank, but clearly my high rank doesn’t count.”
“I think their high hatred counts more than your high rank.” Pip entered the room and grabbed the stub of candle in a holder that had been left on the table.
“Undoubtedly.” Prince Edmund held the door for her. “I’m actually rather surprised I even have a cell as nice as that. A hole in the ground was more what I was expecting.”
Considering the Mongavarians planned to torture him, Pip wasn’t going to rejoice too much at their civilized prison cells.
She hurried back around the corner, held the candle up to the nearest torch until it lit, and returned to Prince Edmund.
The two of them peeked into each of the rooms until they reached the panel of metal that blocked the passageway. It seemed to have been welded in place to a frame set into the stone.
While Prince Edmund made himself comfortable in the nicest of the servant rooms, Pip set to work modifying the panel. She could just open a hole in it, but that would mean she would have to manually open and shut it each time Jayna wanted to come through.
Instead, she borrowed more metal from the bars of one of the unused jail cells to create hinges, which she attached to both the metal sheet and the frame.
Then she freed the panel from the frame, turning it into a swinging door.
Once that was done, she created a hidden latch that could be opened from both sides.
As she was finishing, there was the soft scuff of footsteps from farther down the deserted hallway stretching from the other side of the metal panel.
Pip quickly shut the panel, pressing her back to it as she waited, breathing shallowly. Was that Jayna? Or some other servant wandering the halls this late at night?
Someone rapped a knuckle on the metal. “It’s me. Jayna.”
Pip lifted the latch on her side and pulled the panel open.
Jayna stood there, still in her black maid uniform, though she had ditched the white apron and cap.
Her dark hair remained piled on her head, the sleek sides hiding her ears, while her deep brown eyes twinkled.
She held a tray with two plates piled with food and had a bag slung over a shoulder. “I see you made some modifications.”
“Yes. When you want in, just lift this here.” Pip showed Jayna where she’d hidden the latch to open the secret door.
“You’re handy to have around.” Jayna grinned as she slipped through the door and closed it softly behind her. “I’m surprised Dacha hasn’t recruited you for the Intelligence Office long before now.”
“I would have, but I didn’t know about her until the war started,” Prince Edmund’s voice called from one of the rooms just down the hall, although he kept his tone low enough that no one outside of this short stretch of hallway would hear him.
“By the time I found out about her, the army was already in a tug-of-war with the AMPC for her. No way was I getting into the middle of that.”
“I’m shocked. Something you didn’t know about. You’re slipping, Dacha.” Jayna headed down the passageway.
Pip crept after her, not quite sure how to respond, given that she was standing right there while Prince Edmund and Jayna discussed her.
“She was well hidden at Tarenhiel’s western rail terminal.
And she stayed invisible enough in her university studies that she didn’t catch attention then.
” Prince Edmund’s grin was wide as Jayna and Pip stepped into the small room.
He had sprawled on the bed, propping himself up with pillows.
“It was quite the spy-level job, staying so out of notice while having such remarkable magic.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Pip muttered, her ears burning at the backhanded praise. She hurriedly took a seat on the one wooden chair in the room, which was pulled up to the table.
After setting the tray on the table and letting the bag fall to the ground, Jayna sat on the edge of the bed and hugged Prince Edmund, even as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her tightly, his voice low and somewhat shaky as he said, “I missed you, sena.”
“I missed you and Macha so much,” Jayna murmured the words, her eyes squeezed closed as a single tear trickled down her cheek.
Pip looked away. She probably shouldn’t be here to witness this.
Instead, she helped herself to one of the plates of food. It seemed to be an assortment of kitchen leftovers, from a few bites of roast beef to potatoes to a jumble of vegetables. It was only lukewarm now, but it still tasted rich and savory.
After a moment, Jayna pulled out of the hug. “What are you doing here, Dacha? And like this? I would’ve expected you to come in disguise and sneak in, like you did before.”
As Pip had suspected. Prince Edmund and Jayna had seen each other at least once in the past two years. But she wasn’t going to ask for more details. The less she knew, the better.
“That was the original plan, but that plan crashed and burned rather spectacularly.” Prince Edmund was still smiling, as if an airship crash was nothing major.
He proceeded to explain what had happened, and Pip remained quiet as she polished off all the food on her plate.
It hurt, remembering how safe and content she’d been on the airship. Had that really been less than a week ago?
“In about a week, there’s a plan in place to end the war.
I won’t tell either of you more now, just in case you’re questioned.
” Prince Edmund glanced between them, his smile disappearing.
“I’ll tell you if things are looking dire.
But for right now, you’ll be safer not knowing.
Still, rest assured, help is coming. And Farrendel and Fieran are on their way.
We just need to hold tight until they get here. ”
“I can help with that.” Jayna hopped to her feet, retrieved the second plate of food, and passed it to her father. “I can keep bringing leftovers, and I brought medical supplies.” She nudged the bag on the floor with her foot.
“I appreciate it, sena.” Prince Edmund held Jayna’s gaze for a moment, giving her a smile that quickly died.
“But you will need to be careful. Very careful. With me here, the guards will be watching to see who tries to make contact with me. If they suspect you have had anything to do with me, they might realize you’re an Escarlish spy.
Let’s hope they don’t already have their eye on you because of your visit this afternoon. ”
“I don’t think they will.” Jayna dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap. “I just happened to be in the kitchens when the guards came, talking about prisoners. The cook volunteered me to take the tray. But I’ll do my best to avoid bringing you food from now on.”
“Good. I know it’s hard, but you need to stay safe.
” Prince Edmund’s voice held the pain of a father who knew how much danger his daughter was in simply by being here, spying on the enemy.
He poked at his food for a moment before he sighed, still not taking a bite.
“Which is why I’m hesitant to ask this next bit. It will put you in more danger.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll do it.” Jayna straightened her shoulders. “I can handle it.”
“I know you can.” Prince Edmund’s smile was both warm and proud as he regarded his daughter.
But the smile faded just as quickly as it had before.
“The worst part is, I won’t be able to help you.
They’re going to be watching me closely, and most likely I won’t be in any shape to be sneaking around anywhere. ”
He would be too injured from torture was what he meant. Pip swallowed, the meal she’d eaten rising in her throat.
Jayna paled, but she nodded, her hands clasped in her lap.
Prince Edmund’s gaze swept from Jayna to land on Pip. “Which is why I’m hoping Pip will be willing to help you.”
“Me?” Pip straightened on the chair. Why would he want her to help? She wasn’t trained as a spy.
“Ah, so you are going to recruit her.” Despite her pallor, Jayna grinned, first at her dacha, then at Pip.
“Yes. Your magic will get Jayna into places she can’t access alone.
” Prince Edmund held Pip’s gaze. “But I won’t ask this of you if you aren’t willing.
You’ll be a lot safer if you simply remain here in the dungeons, out of sight and out of mind.
If you’re caught actively spying here in Mongavaria, you’ll be in much greater danger. ”
She could sit here in the dungeon, relatively safe and comfortable.
But if she did that, she’d always regret it. Right now, Fieran was crossing a country to get to her. The least she could do was step up and do what needed to be done here.
“I’ll do it. Whatever it is.” Pip sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She could handle this. She’d walked into battle before. Surely some sneaky spy stuff wouldn’t be half as bad as all that.
Prince Edmund gave her a slow nod before he turned his gaze back onto Jayna.
“If this plan works and we end the war, we’ll need to know who gave what orders and when.
We’ll need proof of the war crimes Mongavaria committed in Groyria.
We’ll need to know which Mongavarian generals and officials are somewhat honorable and worth working with, and which ones should not be left in power.
You have provided some of this information already, Jayna, but we’ll need to start collecting the official Mongavarian files to take with us once we leave here. ”
Jayna nodded, as if she’d expected as much. “The empress has some of what we’ll need in her hidden study. I’ve kept an eye on it, but I haven’t stolen anything yet.”
“We can store whatever you steal in here.” Prince Edmund waved at the room. “Pip and I can keep an eye on it during the day, and it won’t be in your room where you could be caught with it.”
Jayna nodded, then bit her lip. “The rest of the information, though…it’s in the War Office. I haven’t dared try to break in there yet.”
“That’s where Pip comes in.” Prince Edmund gestured past Jayna to Pip.
Pip swallowed. Breaking into the Mongavarian War Office sounded rather dangerous. Just what was she getting herself into?