RAELLE
The merchant ship arrived hours ago, and the crew has been hard at work unloading it. Ulric has spent every waking moment in the storage room with Ashavee. He says it’s because he is searching for the vital weapons we need, and he adamantly denies that he’s attracted to her, but it’s obvious. He spends too much time talking about how difficult she is, and at the same time, he gets a dreamy far-off look whenever she enters a room. I remember once thinking I wasn’t attracted to the Stigian who took my father’s place as general, and everyone in the five kingdoms knows how that story ended. Poor Ulric is on the same road of denial that will either lead to heartache or love.
While Ulric sorts through treasures, I make props to hide the fact that he and I are not shifters. The materials I have to work with are limited, which has me doubting if we can pull this off. Sewing, bending, forming, I’ve worked my fingers raw. The ears I fashioned from a pelt are attached to a jeweled headband from my wardrobe. They’re too pointy and sadly flop around, lookingmore like the dead carcass they are. The tail I confiscated from a taxidermied lion has turned out a little better. I pulled a thin wire from a bodice and fed it through the center. It gives the tail a more natural shape, and that’s where its realism ends. When on, the appendage rigidly swings like it has gone into a state of rigor mortis. I can’t even stomach looking at the nose and furry whiskered cheeks that we need to glue to our faces. The disguises are ridiculous and obviously fake to any Allaji who looks closely enough, so I’m banking on the animal scent to deter them. The scent we’ve yet to obtain.
Our plan is coming together as best it can. It is far from foolproof and a complete gamble. But my gut tells me that Kyron is on his way, and we have a slim window to stop a war before it starts.
I skim my palm over the sheer ebony fabric I fashioned into an ankle-length skirt. Two ribbons criss cross down each side of me, holding the material in place and giving me slightly more coverage than normal. The light-weight material reminds me of shadows. Hopefully, it will do its job and camouflage me when Ulric and I are in the open.
Barked orders draw my attention to my window. The sun is sinking into the ocean, casting the busy docks in hues of orange and violet. The latest commandeered ship bustles with activity as Allaji and Outlanders strip it of anything valuable. They form a steady line that hauls food, art, and jewels to the palace. With each stolen good that is stowed away, the window to execute our escape diminishes.
I press my head to the cool glass, letting it ground me and still my racing thoughts. There’s no room for panic or second guessing. I must remain calm and level-headed if our plan is to work. My eyes drift closed, and I find myself in silent prayer. What Ulric, Ashavee, and I do tonight is bigger than us. It’s vital to the future of Pliris and the five kingdoms. If Zek has hisway, my people will become his. And that taste of power will not stop with us. He will find a way to conquer one kingdom after another. It’s up to us to make this plan work and buy Kyron more time to stop him.
The door to my room opens and Ulric steps inside with a full satchel draped across his body. Sweat trickles down his face and he’s out of breath. The last couple of days have not been as restful as I hoped for him. With so little time to prepare, I had to look past his limitations and accept his help. Our journey to the docks tonight is bound to be a painfully slow process with his still-healing body.
“I found a couple more daggers and a small sword,” he says, tossing the blades on the table.
I examine the dull blades covered in dents and sigh. “It will have to do. Were you able to find me some shoes?”
He rolls his eyes and digs through the satchel before holding up jewel covered satin slippers. “It’s the best I could find.”
“I need to run through a forest, not plié and twirl, Ulric. Were there no boots?”
“None that would fit ya. Your feet are small, and a large pair of boots will be more of a hazard to you. You’re better off in these sparkly shoe-like things.”
“Fantastic,” I grumble, taking the dainty pink slippers. “Tell me you were able to at least find some coats so we can conceal the weapons.”
“Aye. That I was able to do.”
He reaches into the satchel, which I’m beginning to think is a bottomless pit, and pulls out two tattered coats. I turn to my pile of fake animal parts and hand him the lion’s tail. He dangles it in front of his face, watching it swing like a pendulum.
“It’s the best I could do,” I say.
He lifts a brow and nods. “Much like me and finding ya shoes.”
“That’s fair. Turn around so I can put it on you.”
After securing his tail to his breeches, I paste the small furry pelts to Ulric’s cheeks, using a jar of sap that Ashavee obtained for us. The whiskers I fashioned from some of the coarser fur hang limp, framing his mouth. I stick the soft brown fur surrounding a pink cat’s nose over my own. When I finish, Ulric and I just stare at each other.
“Ya look stupid,” he says, pressing his palms to his cheeks.
The sap is already irritating my skin, and it feels like my fake nose and whiskers are going to slide off my face at any second. “You’re not looking like the epitome of intelligence yourself. This isn’t going to work.”
“We will make it out of here, Elle. I promise you that,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
All I can do is nod and pray he’s right.
We set to work strapping as many blades as we can to our bodies. Using strips of the fabric from my dresses, we tie down the daggers. I manage to get the sword hidden under my skirt, and Ulric sheaths two blades into the lining of his coat. Finally, I take the cat ears and place them on my head.
Tension weighs heavy in the air between us, so thick I have to gulp down my next breath. This is it, and it won’t be the first time we’ve gone into battle together. We’ve faced unstoppable forces and unfavorable odds. We’ve marched into battle and fought until we’ve bled. But never have the stakes been so high. What happens next will alter more than just our lives. It will define Pliris’ future.
Ulric runs his palm over his head, leaving his short ginger hair standing on end. “If I slow you down?—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t you fucking say it, Ulric. I’ve already told you that we’re leaving together,” I say, my words an emotional whisper.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you out of here, Elle.”
“And I’m going to do the same for you.”
