“What’s the contingency plan?”
“She gets out. We rendezvous at the castle at the full moon with everyone else.”
I swore under my breath. “You are impossible, Eira,” I growled. “That might have been nice to know earlier.”
“We can still use her home as a hideout even if she’s not there,” Eira said. “That doesn’t change our plans.”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, stay close to me. As effectiveas your glamour is, I doubt it would stop someone from running right into you.”
“That’s happened before,” she said.
“Why am I not surprised?” I muttered before moving forward, my steps shifting from snow-covered brush to ice-slick cobblestone. A carriage wheeled past me, occupied by at least half a dozen soldiers.
It looked like Calista was preparing for a siege. Was there an outside threat I didn’t know about?
“This is weird,” Eira whispered in my ear, no doubt noticing the same thing.
“Agreed. Keep a sharp eye. And try not to talk.” I hissed the words out of the corner of my mouth, hoping no one noticed I was speaking to myself.
We idled down the road, my insides quivering with nerves. Every instinct told me I should run and flee from the presence of so many soldiers. But nothing was more suspicious than someone running away. Instead, I forced my steps to be slow and casual, meeting the gaze of each person I passed by and dipping my head politely in greeting. Harlan, my villager persona, was a kind fellow, the type of person who helped a stranger in need and smiled at children.
He was the exact opposite of myself. Which made him the perfect disguise.
“Should we get a horse?” Eira whispered.
“No,” I said under my breath. “It will take us longer, but horses and carriages are more likely to be stopped and searched. Andstop talking.”
She huffed angrily but said nothing else. Mercifully.
Our leisurely pace down the road was excruciating. Every soldier who hurried past flicked their eyes over me briefly before moving on to the task at hand.
I was no threat. Just a farmer making his way to the tavern after a long day of work in the field.
“Do you even know where you’re going?” Eira asked.
“Yes,” I ground out. “Follow my lead andbe quiet.”
“So demanding.”
“You there!” bellowed a voice.
Shit. I stilled and turned to the speaker. A trio of swordsmen approached, the metal of their armor clinking with their hurried steps. The one in front lifted his visor, eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “What’s your business here?”
I raised my eyebrows and pressed a hand to my chest before glancing behind me as if expecting the soldier to be addressing someone else. “Don’t mind me, good sir. Nothing but a local farmer.” Being unable to lie meant I had to speak in fragmented sentences. But it worked for my persona.
“Where?” barked the soldier.
I pointed down the road in the direction we’d come from. “Down that way. I’m tired and could use a drink.”
“The tavern’s closed,” the soldier said. “You should make your way home immediately. There’s a curfew in place, and anyone outside after dusk will be arrested.”
Curfew? What the hell?I didn’t have to force the look of alarm on my face as I asked, “What’s going on? Is the village in danger?”
“Queen’s orders,” he said curtly. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind…” He gestured in the opposite direction, waiting for me to walk that way.
Damn it all.
“I—I have someone expecting me,” I said.
