The Gold in the Dark

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Despite all of Tia's misgivings, Lorna Sempis's plan so far seemed to be working perfectly. They staggered their walking; staying in a group would have looked too suspicious. Lorna walked ten paces ahead of everyone else, as she was the only one who knew the layout of the palace, and Thurie followed behind her. Natlin and Tia brought up the rear, Tia doing her best to keep her steps steady and even. Each step felt like a knife was worming its way between the tendons of her ankle.

The ornate cloak's hood draped over her face just enough to hide her features, especially in the dim, lamp-lit hallways. The stink of the dress, meanwhile, both identified Tia as the noble Lady Mae, as well as caused anyone walking down the hall to give them a wide berth. Even the guards they passed didn't spare more than a glance in their direction.

"How embarrassing for the real Lady Mae," Natlin muttered to Tia.

"Her misfortune is our blessing," she replied through clenched teeth, then went back to counting steps in her head. Just ten steps—you can do it. Eight. Nine... That's ten. And now ten more—come on, what are ten measly steps?

Fortunately, their first stop, the healing ward, wasn't an overly long walk. Lorna jerked her head at a door to her right and waited down the hallway with Thurie as Natlin and Tia approached.

Natlin was playing Lady Mae's attendant, so she was the one who had to actually speak with the healers to procure a wheeled chair. Luckily, she took to her role with relish; as she knocked on the door, she straightened her posture so that she appeared to grow three inches, and she radiated cool disdain. The healer who spoke with Natlin quailed under her haughty expression and immediately wheeled out a luxurious chair, complete with a cushy, padded seat and four well-greased wheels.

Without a shred of acting, Tia sank down into the chair with a heavy sigh of relief. With a subtle nod to Lorna and Thurie, they resumed their journey, Natlin pushing Tia from behind. Tia kept her eyes downcast, the hood hiding her face in shadow—all the better to keep up the disguise.

Now all they needed to do was get to the carriage house. Lorna turned down this hallway and that corridor, and nobody, not the other servants or the guards, paid them any mind. Maybe they would really pull off this laughable plan after all...

"Hey there, boy! Come over here."

A guard ahead of them waved a hand at Thurie, beckoning him over. An icy shiver raced over Tia's skin, and she heard Natlin's sharp intake of breath from behind her. Natlin slowed the pace, not wanting to pass Thurie and leave him behind. Further down the hallway, Lorna halted, her head cocked slightly to listen to the guard. She dug through the pockets of her smock as if she had lost something, a pretense for stopping right in the middle of the hall.

So close. They'd been so close.

Thurie approached the guard, his footsteps reluctant.

The guard let out an annoyed huff. "What's wrong with you pageboys nowadays? You know, when I was young they used a switch and trained us proper. Pick up the pace when your betters address you!"

Thurie looked side to side nervously, but he straightened his slouch. Tia's heart thumped wildly. Would the guard recognize him? What if the guard asked him a direct question?

"That's better," the guard said. "I want you to head to the king's council room and tell Captain Weston we've swept the hallways on the first floor. Ask him for his next instructions. You understand?"

Thurie gave him a quick nod.

The guard's eyes narrowed. "That's 'Yes, sir.'" Tia held her breath as the guard lifted an eyebrow expectantly. Natlin's pace pushing the chair had slowed to a crawl.