The Plan #2
“We don’t need to sneak into the castle. We can just walk in,” Ballard said, smiling down at me.
My mind raced to catch up to what he was saying, then understanding finally hit.
I was a member of the court as well as pair-bonded to a dragon, which gave me the right to enter the palace whenever I wanted.
I’d been thinking about this the wrong way—there was no need for me to sneak into the castle and steal what was already mine.
“I think she gets it, lads.” Ballard chuckled.
“There is one small problem. I can’t just walk into the palace dressed like this and on foot. It’s just simply not done. There is a proper protocol I have to go through, not to mention that the queen might want to see me,” I said as I ran through the scenario in my mind.
“Don’t you think we’ve thought of that already?
Our last member should be joining us in the morning once they finish their end of the plan,” Ballard answered, his eyes shining with mischief.
“For now, we will sleep. Especially you. We need you bright-eyed and clear-headed for this whole thing to go off without a hitch.”
I looked around the room again, not seeing any door that might lead to another bedroom.
Where did they assume I was going to sleep?
Did they have other rooms in the inn for use?
Hopefully, they would be nicer than this room—there was no telling what rodents might be sharing the same space as us right now.
“We curtained off this area here for you to sleep. I know it’s not what you’re used to, but we did the best we could.
If Lord Everett gets tipped off that we’re here, then the whole plan is going to fall apart,” Ballard said as he walked over to the far corner of the room and pulled back a blanket they’d tacked up.
I stood, clutching my cloak around me as I examined the accommodations they’d pulled together. The cot was stuffed with straw, and the pillow looked like a herd of horses had trampled on it, but at least the blanket seemed thick and warm.
“I’m to sleep here?” I gulped.
“What’s that? Do I hear a little mouse squeaking again?” Cole whispered right behind me, scaring an actual squeak out of me.
Cole laughed as he walked away, immensely pleased with himself.
Glaring at his back, I stomped behind the blanket and sat on the straw mattress in the soft glow the worn barrier let in.
Wrapping myself fully in the cloak so no part of me touched the pallet, I laid down and pulled the wool blanket over me, listening to the men’s voices on the other side as they finalized the plans for tomorrow.
Was I crazy to trust these people? Did I have any choice? There was no way that I could save Vasin on my own. If I couldn’t do what it took to save him, then it was like giving up my own life.
Could a plan this simple truly work?
Finally, I drifted off to sleep going through different scenarios of how things could go wrong tomorrow.
“Rise and shine, lazy bones. You have a dragon to save, and it’s the middle of the afternoon.” Becka’s voice, followed by the aggressive shaking of my shoulder, woke me from my fitful night’s sleep.
Seeing Becka kneeling next to me made me think that everything from last night might have been a dream until I saw where I was. Sitting up, my mind was in a frenzy trying to figure out how she was connected to all this. I’d never been so surprised in my life. What in the world was she doing here?
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Cassarah.” Becka grinned, her bright blue eyes crinkling.
I stood up from my pallet and threw my arms around her.
I was so glad to have a friendly face in all of this that it didn’t matter how she got here.
She hugged me back just as tightly, and I could feel her relief in my response to her presence.
I stepped back from her and looked her up and down as if I had missed something in all the years I’d known her.
“How are you here? What about my parents? Won’t they think it’s strange we’re both missing?” I couldn’t get the questions out fast enough.
“My family is part of the Raven Rose clan, and we were initially sent to keep an eye on your family. They needed to make sure your family wouldn’t be a threat to us.
When my parents decided your father wouldn’t sell us out, they left, but I stayed behind to watch over you.
I couldn’t abandon you with a mother like that…
I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself,” Becka answered.
“I would have followed you and Cole, but my job was to make sure your family knew we’d taken you, and if they said a word about it to anyone, we would ruin them in the eyes of the court. ”
“There is plenty of time to talk later, Becka. We need to get her ready so we can leave on time,” Ballard said, interrupting our reunion.
“Yes, of course. If you’ll all leave the room, I will knock when it’s safe to come back in,” Becka instructed.
They’d supplied a tarnished mirror and a small three-legged stool. I looked at Becka, raising an eyebrow in distaste. She just smiled and started to pull clothing out of a canvas sack.
“Put these leggings on. It will be easier for you to get away in those if something goes wrong.”
I did as Becka directed, and when I’d slipped the floor-length chemise on, she took a knife and cut the seams on either side. “This will make it easier for you to ride astride a horse if need be.”
I nodded, trusting her judgment, knowing she would keep me safe any way she could. Next came a simple dress made of dark emerald-green velvet. She finished by wrapping a silver chain belt around my waist twice and clasping it, letting the extra drape down the front.
“I think you should wear boots. Slippers won’t do you any good if you have to get away quickly. Besides, no one will look at your feet since your face and chest are distracting enough.” Becka winked as she braided my hair loosely to the side.
I laughed and smacked Becka for her crude joke. It was fun to see her free to be herself, not having to worry about anyone hearing us or finding out and being punished.
“That should do it! I would say you are more than presentable to enter the palace,” she said with a proud smile.
I glanced into the tarnished mirror and took a deep breath. Now I just had to figure out how to act normal while at court.
Becka let the men back into the attic, and I was surprised to see that six of them had changed into livery with my family crest. Ballard had truly thought of everything to be able to pull this off on such short notice.
“So, do we look presentable enough to be your escorts?” Ballard asked.
He was dressed in the same manner as a male attendant, which was the proper custom when a single lady went to visit another home.
I smiled and gave Ballard one of my best curtsies, showing my approval.
Scanning the men, I looked to see if Cole would be coming with us to the palace or remain outside in case we needed extra help.
I found him hiding in the corner, looking out the small window wearing a frown, dressed in my family’s colors.
“Cassarah, I’ll meet you back on clan lands once I make sure your parents keep their mouths shut after you and Vasin take off,” Becka said, hugging me goodbye.
“Shall we go? Your carriage is waiting out back for you,” Ballard said as he held his arm out for me.
I grasped his arm lightly, following him down the stairs and out the back door to be met with a simple two-person buggy.
Richard was waiting next to the buggy, ready to assist me into my seat like the good footman he was pretending to be.
Ballard walked to the other side and sat opposite me as the others mounted their horses.
It must have shown on my face how worried I was because Ballard squeezed my hand in reassurance.
Seeing as we were already in the city, I was surprised at how long it took us to get from the outskirts to the castle. Now that it was fall, the days were getting shorter, and I knew Ballard was worried about running out of daylight.
A guard from the front gate walked up to the buggy and bowed. “May I inquire as to the reason for your visit to the palace?”
“This is Lady Cassarah, pair-bond to the black dragon,” Ballard responded.
The guard looked at me in surprise, then bowed to me once again and waved for the gates to be opened. “Welcome back to the palace, Lady Cassarah.”
Once through the gates, Ballard murmured, “See, I told you it would be easy to get in. Getting out will be tricky since a dragon is not a small thing to hide.”
Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm myself.
All I had to do now was get to the roost. Then I remembered something about that—there were only two ways to get there.
Through the palace like I’d gone the first time was the fastest, and the other was to travel through the large garden maze.
It was set up that way so if the city was attacked, the roost would be the last place they could get to.
I gulped as I tried to remember how I’d gotten there from the main entrance. There had been so many stops along the way. Once I was in the right hallway, I’m sure I could remember the way. I just had to look for things I recognized.
“Shall we go in?” Ballard asked at my elbow.
“Let’s do this.” Squaring my shoulders and lifting my skirt, I made my way up to the palace entrance.