Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(56)

And, of course, the entire harbor was guarded by as many soldiers as the entire citizenship of Langli.

I drew a sharp intake of breath and Darren noticed. "It's a very important post," he explained. "This is the harbor they ship all of their exports, including the rubies, from. My father said one third of Caltoth's militia guards it – and most of them aren't visible. The ones we see are the ones they want us to see."

Flint had of course told us the same thing, but I had forgotten until now – looking down at what could easily rival the capital back in Jerar.

"How many?"

"How many what?"

"Sentries, Ryiah." Darren gave me a sideways look. "Stop staring and get to work. Mira will cut our throats if we give her the wrong numbers."

I made a face. "Not yours."

"Well I still don't want to spend all night freezing while you gawk."

I almost smiled. For a moment it felt like things were back to the way they used to be between us, before that night at the ball. Before the awkwardness at the last ascension. A friendship that was slightly insulting, but with enough undisguised humor to let me know it was in jest.

After twenty minutes of counting, and then another hour of matching up Flint's landmarks to their actual positions, the two of us confirmed that the guards' formation hadn't changed. We hurried as quickly and quietly as we could back to camp.

Andy looked happy to see us but everyone else looked cold and impatient.

"Well?" Mira demanded. The mage's yellow eyes glinted like a cat's in the tiny orange light she was casting. Real fires were out of the question. We couldn't leave any trace of our presence for a patrol to find.

Darren smiled grimly. Shadows danced along the strong line of his jaw. "Everything is as Flint said."

"Good. Then we set out at first light."





****





I straightened the maid's dress and brushed my sweating palms against its clean underskirt, reciting Mira's instructions one final time. Even though I had just eaten, my stomach was twisting and turning and my hands wouldn't stop shaking. The sun was about to set. It was time to go.

If I failed in any part of my assignment, the mission would fail.

I was sure Mira would have given my task to someone else if she could have – but the task was best given to a woman who could act the part of a lady's maid. Mira was too famous as the sister of Jerar's Black Mage. Andy, far too imposing in size. I was their best bet.

I stepped out into the packed village square and made my way to Baron Cyr's castle, which shone like a gray beacon amongst the red sky above. There were two guards who watched my progress as I drew close. I handed the one nearest my forged papers and then entered the great doors of the baron's hall with a deep breath and a steady walk.

"Two flights of stairs to your left after you pass a long corridor upon entry. Take the stairs and make three rights to the lady's chambers, which will be the first room you come across. Make sure you carry something so the others don't find your presence suspicious. The lady will be taking her dinner on the southern balcony since the baron is still away. She always does this whenever he travels so she can be the first to spot his ship upon its return. While she and her ladies-in-waiting are there, you must enter her chambers and locate a tapestry of the baron's keep."

Trying to appear hurried – as if I had already been assigned some household chore instead of wandering - I scurried past various servants to the second floor and located Lady Sybil's room. I was carrying a vase of flowers I had grabbed upon entry. I quickly deposited them on her dresser.

I scanned the walls for a tapestry. I found it at the corner of the lady's bedpost and then felt underneath for a hidden latch. I twisted and a door swung back, leading into a dark passage that Flint had said would lead to a relatively unguarded cellar in the back of the castle.

"The only people that know about this tunnel are the guards and the baron's family. The door can only be unlocked from the inside so they usually don't bother with an extensive patrol at its entrance… Ryiah, once you unlock this door you need to use something to jam it. Try a piece of cloth or something similar to keep the latch from catching. Do not cast. You can't expel any of your magic or have anyone notice you are not who you seem to be."

I left the room after I had successfully jammed the door with a bit of leftover candle wax from the lady's nightstand. To the untrained eye it would be easy to miss the slight line in the otherwise untouched wall and its secret door behind. It was what we were counting on.

I found my way to the balcony and then pushed my way past two guards, the ladies-in-waiting and their mistress. I feigned interest in lighting a torch overlooking the edge of the railing. It wasn't dark yet and to anyone else it would appear I was preparing for night to fall.

In truth I was lighting the signal fire to the others below.

"Miss, miss, what are you doing? The lady does not light that unless her husband is returning!" A lady-in-waiting quickly doused the flame I had just cultivated.

Panic reached out and gripped my throat like an invisible hand. The fire had only lasted for a minute. What if the others missed it? Flint had never told us that the torch was ceremonial. Mira was counting on me. They all were.

"Surely the lady does not wish to eat in the dark?" I asked with a simpering smile, trying not to grate my teeth.