When the day finally came, I marched into Renwell’s office at dawn and demanded my night. He nodded, a small smile on his face.
I ignored the ominous feeling in my belly and left to send Melaena a message, telling her when to expect me.
As soon as the sun set through my window, I shoved Mother’s knife in my boot, threw a cloak around my simple outfit, and left, carrying Melaena’s costume and jewelry.
I balked at the main palace doors. A dozen guards stood in the foyer like they normally did. Everett and Delysia said the guards had stopped them from leaving, but not forcefully.
Now they stepped aside and opened the doors for me.
Giddy with success, I hurried through. A group of soldiers waited to escort me across the bridge, but they didn’t follow me once I was in the Noble Quarter.
I checked for lurking shadows on my way to Melaena’s, but saw no one. I swept past the bronze dancer, touching her foot for good luck.
Melaena met me in the atrium, her smile full of relief. “Thank you so much for returning my costume,” she said loudly, probably for the benefit of the few patrons relaxing in armchairs. “If you carry the dress, I’ll take the jewelry.”
I handed over the small pouch of jewelry. We walked back to the dressing room.
Melaena quickly locked both doors. “I gave the dancers a night off to spend with their friends and families. Even the two I suspect of being spies were eager to go.”
“Thank you. And thank you for taking such a risk, helping me. I don’t deserve?—”
“Stop that right now,” Melaena ordered, grasping my scarred hands in her smooth dark brown ones. “I can’t begin to understand what your life was like. I only know my side of things, which was always more clear than the murkiness you faced. I won’t begrudge you a few mistakes when you have done so much to rectify them.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “You are truly the best of friends, Melaena.”
She smiled. “Now let’s turn you into Dredger’s wife.”
Less than an hour later, we walked out the front door.
The plan was simple—I would pretend to be Eleanor, Dredger’s wife, who usually delivered his supper around this time.
Melaena had made my face paler with powder and drew lines in my face to age me. She tucked my hair in a floppy cap that belonged to Eleanor. The simple brown cotton dress with deep pockets was also hers. I kept my boots with Mother’s knife. I also carried a basket with Dredger’s meal.
Melaena walked me to the Noble Quarter gate and gestured for the guards to open it. “So good to see you, Eleanor. Tell your husband hello for me.”
I nodded and shuffled through.
I kept a slow, even pace down the main street. Wolves stalked by or slipped into alleys, but they didn’t follow me. I briefly wondered if Renwell was among them or if he’d truly kept to his word to allow me my freedom.
I took a circuitous route to be safe. But nothing seemed out of place. No warnings snaked down my spine.
I hurried past the silent taverns until I reached the city gate.
Keeping my gaze down, I approached the guard at the foot of the wall steps. “Good evening, Locklean. Just delivering Dredger’s supper.”
Melaena had told me precisely what to say, per the real Eleanor’s instructions. If this worked, I would personally deliver whatever reward the couple asked for.
The guard, Locklean I hoped, nodded. “Right, Eleanor. Any extra sausage?”
I pulled out the extra link Eleanor said she always set aside for the friendly guard.
“Thanks very much!” Locklean happily stepped aside, already chewing on his prize. “Just be quick, yeah? The captain has been more strict lately.”
I nodded and hurried up the stairs that criss-crossed up the wall to the top.
Archers lined the battlements, shifting close to the large braziers to stay warm. I eased past them and walked toward the cliff gate, feeling like I was inside one of Everett’s sketches.
My heart pounded the closer I got. Melaena had given me a detailed description of Dredger, but I would look immediately suspicious if I passed by my own “husband.”
