“What do you mean? Nobody has seen her since the attack?” My pulse races. I find a simple dress in my wardrobe and pull it on, then rush to the door.
“Where are you going?” Charlotte asks.
“I need to make sure Katherine is safe,” I say.
Juliette stands. “We’ll come with you.”
All of us step into the hallway, and the guards straighten their postures. The young guard who spoke to me earlier addresses me, “Is something wrong, Your Highness?”
“We need to check on one of my ladies,” I explain.
He nods. “We’ll walk with you.”
I know I don’t have a choice. We look like a parade as our group travels through the halls. Antonia guides us to Katherine’s rooms.
When we arrive, I knock. Then, wait.
Then, I knock again.
And again.
One night legionnaire must read the concern on my face because he opens the door and steps inside, weapon drawn.
I follow and scan the empty room. “Where is she?”
The guards fan out, checking every crevice. They look sympathetic when they tell me they didn’t find anything, either.
“Did she say anything to anyone?” I ask my ladies.
They all shake their heads.
“Maybe the attack scared her and she went home,” Charlotte says.
“Maybe.” I know that’s not the case, but I can’t say that.
“You should get back to your rooms, Sabina,” Juliette says. “You’ve had a long day.”
The sun is already setting, but I feel an odd mix of exhaustion and anxiety-fueled energy. I know what I need to do. “Alright, I am tired. I’m going to rest. The legionnaires can walk me back. You all should rest, too. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Are you sure you don’t want company?” Charlotte asks.
“I’m going to take a bath and go to sleep, so I won’t be good company,” I say.
“One of us can stay with you,” Genevieve offers.
“No, please rest in your rooms. You’ll be more comfortable.”
They don’t look convinced, but they curtsy and travel down the hall together toward their own rooms.
The guards escort me to my quarters in silence, and I don’t look back at them as I close the door behind me.
I know it’s a risk, but if something happened to Katherine, I have to inform the rebels. And they need to know about the emperor. I can’t wait.
I run water into the bathtub in case anyone is listening and then I pour in scented oil. While it fills, I wash the blood from my face and hands. As soon as the scents of rosemary and lavender fill the room, I turn off the water. If anyone comes into my rooms, they should smell the oils and with any luck, they’ll assume I am still in the bath. I’m hoping it buys me enough time.
I grab a lamp, then open the panel to the secret passage and close it behind me. I follow the stones I left myself to get to the catacombs. When I reach the end of my path, I travel slowly, careful to mark my way again. Only this time, I’m using bones.
“Sorry, Mara,” I whisper. “I mean no disrespect to the dead.”
