The Death Kingdom

Chapter Eight

I'm jerked awake.

Nena's crystal blue eyes implore mine. "Gods, finally. You sleep like the dead."

"What—" I start, but she immediately cuts me off.

"Prince Auden will be arriving this afternoon." Excitement coats her features and her tone. She perches herself on the edge of my cot. Two candles are lit on my nightstand next to my head, lighting the room in a soft glow.

The corners of my mouth twitch up. "And you have a brilliant plan that allows us to see his arrival?"

"Of course, I have a brilliant plan." She rolls her eyes. "Now, listen very carefully. I don't have a lot of time." She waits until I give her a confirmatory nod before she goes on. "He's arriving before our lunch meal. You're going to tell Rome that I requested your help to assist Prince Kavi. If he throws a fit like I know he's prone to do, just tell him you won't be gone long and you'll make up the work you missed. Don't worry, I'll help you with it later." She winks at me.

"After that," she continues, "you'll need to exit out the back and walk around the west side of the castle towards the front. I'll find you before you make it too far."

I give her a questioning look. "How will you know where I am? And how should I know when to leave?"

"I'll walk by the washroom. I'm not even going to look at you so you'll have to be watching the doorway very carefully for me. Once you see me walk by go talk to Rome and then make your way out to the courtyard and around from there."

I grin at her. "What happens after you find me?"

Her lips tilt in a smirk. "I'm just going to leave it as a surprise." Her eyes bore into mine. "Now, one last thing. There will be guards stationed around the outer perimeter, but all you have to do is look like you should be there. Try not to look suspicious, greet them like it was any other day. The entrance to the castle I'm taking you to leads into the ballroom where they're setting up a celebration for the Prince's arrival for later tonight. There are baskets servants are constantly moving from our sector into the castle via that route. Just pick up one of them and no one will blink an eye."

"I'm impressed. This is a solid plan, Nena."

"You shouldn't expect anything less from me." She flips her curly hair over her shoulder with a dramatic flair. "Now, get your lazy butt out of bed, there are chores to be done."

I groan and bury my head back into my pillow. "There are always chores to be done."

"Exactly." She pulls the pillow out from under my head and smacks me in the face with it.

"That was incredibly rude," I tell her, a frown on my face.

She laughs, a light bubbly sound, and drops the pillow onto my lap. "Are you always so petulant? Where's your pleasant side?"

Hiding with the rest of my real identity. But of course, I can't tell her that.

"It's in there deep down. I'm just an irritable person most of the time." I smile at her as I say it though.

"You're still adjusting. I get it. It took me a long while before I felt like myself in these walls. It helps when you make a friend." She gives me a meaningful look, and I get the feeling she's a bit lonely and needs a friend.

"Who was your first friend here?" I find myself asking, my curiosity about her time here ruling my mouth.

"David." A shadow crosses over her face as she says it. "He was the one who showed me the ropes. I don't know what I would've done without him."