“I made an oath to protect you from harm. This is the opposite of that. There’s still an elf on the loose, for stars’ sake!” Luzie shouted.
“There is no elf, and besides, they won’t think to attack a palace maid.”
Luzie frowned at her, hands on hips. “We don’t know for certain.”
“What if I swear I won’t leave the palace grounds?”
“If Ludwig were with you, I wouldn’t protest but wandering those tunnels alone in the dark… What if you fall and break your neck? Or worse things, I don’t even want to imagine…”
“It’s Ludwig I want to see,” Liane said, latching on and hoping it would be enough to convince her.
Luzie narrowed her eyes. “Then why not summon him to your rooms?”
She’d caught her. Luzie didn’t usually question her whims, but then again, there’d never been danger this close to home before.
“I can’t do that, and I can’t tell you why not. But I will, soon. I promise!” Liane grasped Luzie’s arm and squeezed.
“Does this have something to do with stardust?” she asked, still not looking directly at her.
Luzie had lost her mother to stardust around the same time Elias had died. When it was new, and its effects not entirely understood. Their mutual grief and desire for vengeance had drawn them together. And it wasn’t technically a lie to say this was related. After all, if she proved Heinrich was helping the gangs distribute it, then it would stop the flow.
“It is.”
Her expression softened as she sighed. “One hour, and if you’re gone longer than that, I alert the guards.”
“Two, just to be safe. Actually, let’s make it by curfew,” Liane said. Outside her window, the setting sun cast pinkish-orange light over craggy mountain peaks. If Ludwig wasn’t at the barracks, she’d have to wait until he returned. But he’d have to come back before curfew. Guards were only allowed out and about if they were on duty, and even then, they needed to be in pairs.
“Fine,” Luzie said, shaking her head.
“I will make this up to you. I promise,” Liane said, throwing her arms around Luzie’s neck; she squeezed her tight.
“Free the city of stardust, and I’ll be satisfied,” Luzie said.
Their agreement made, Liane went behind the changing screen and shed her gown, exchanging it for Luzie’s uniform. After she put it on, Luzie pinched and cinched the too-big dress in place, and for the finishing touch, Luzie removed her bonnet and placed it on Liane’s head, tucking fiery-red strands under it. When she was done, Liane examined herself in the mirror; the front of it dipped dangerously low, threatening to expose her chest while the skirt hem hit shin length. If anyone looked at her too closely, it’d be obvious she was wearing a stolen uniform, but it’d have to suffice.
“That’s as good as I can get it,” Luzie said, standing back to admire her work.
“Thank you, truly.” She gave Luzie one more fierce hug.
Eager to be on her way, Liane pulled back the tapestry to press the sunburst molding that opened the hidden door. It swung inward and revealed the darkened passage.
“Please be careful,” Luzie said, handing her a chamberstick and flickering orange light, illuminated roughhewn stone walls.
“I’ll be back soon,” Liane said as she closed the door behind her.
Darkness pressed in around the halo of candlelight as she descended the steps. She didn’t need much light to guide her and soon found the abandoned collapsed tunnel which connected with forgotten passages to other parts of the palace. Holding up her light, she found the gap in the debris before setting down her light to squeeze through. When she was on the other side, she reached through the hole and brought the candle over.
On the other side, it opened out onto a short hall ending at a cellar where wine barrels aged. Liane opened the cellar door and peered out and found it empty, then she scurried along the servant’s passageway and out into the gardens.
Out in the open, she walked slowly but intently, clutching a blank piece of paper that served as her errand should anyone stop her and ask. But at that time of night, most of the servants were rushing to finish their tasks before curfew and didn’t give her a second glance.
Rows of tall pines lined the gravel path leading to the barracks: a multistory, stone building built against the palace walls. Clusters of guards stood around talking and laughing, their faces illuminated by the braziers they gathered around. Among them, she recognized a few familiar faces, and not wanting to reveal herself, she hung back in the shadow of a tree debating how to best approach. If she were recognized, they’d march her back up to her room.
“Here to meet someone?” a guard asked, startling Liane.
“Oh no, I was just passing by,” she said, lowering her voice, and tilting her face away from the man, just in case.
The guard nudged her shoulder. “You don’t have to pretend. Got a sweetheart? Who is it? I’ll call him out for you.”
