The turban was lopsided and lumpy, though she pushed and tucked as best she could with cold, clumsy fingers. The robe, lava cloth woven into thick, velvety material, warmed her instantly and made her feel like an overlord lady despite the dirty work smock beneath.
"But I can't walk," Repentance whispered when Sober directed her to jump down from the dock.
Concern filled his eyes. "Your feet? They're frozen?"
"They're warm, but still wet." The dock was covered with lavacloth so nothing would freeze to it. But she knew as soon as she stepped onto the icy ground her damp feet would stick in place.
Sober grabbed the lava cloth from the floor of the boat and tore it in two. The ripping sounded too loud in the still night. Repentance looked around frantically, sure a skein of troopers would attack at any moment. Sober wrapped each foot, applying the cloth right over top of her shoes.
The three sneaked along the back wall of the palace, staying in the shadows. When they reached the point where the two wings met, Sober made to leave the palace's cover to cross the exposed kitchen courtyard. Repentance yanked him back. "Stop," she whispered.
"We have to get to the yak barns."
She shook her head. "The prince will see us. He watches out the window. He's watching, I'm sure."
"How would you know he's watching?" Sober said. "If he is, he won't recognize you. You look like a noblewoman."
"What would a noblewoman be doing wandering around in the night?"
"We have to go. People are waiting to help us—the longer we make them wait, the greater the danger. Pray Providence you're wrong and the prince is not watching."
She couldn't go. The prince had seen her the last time she'd crossed that courtyard by moonlight. Thinking about being caught and thrown back in the dungeon, she stood trembling. "I can't do it."
Sober took her shoulders and looked at her intently. "Much is at stake. You cannot selfishly sit here and wait to be caught. Your friends have risked their lives to free you."
At the other end of the palace, yellow light splashed into the courtyard when someone opened the kitchen door. Generosity came through the door, grabbed the garbage sled, and started in their direction.
Dragging the sled noisily behind her, she came. She was nearly even with them when she saw them and jumped back, a hand over her heart. "You scared me that much," she whispered, once she'd caught her breath. "I wondered where you'd gotten to. I meant to go around by the lake to see what I could see. Figured I'd take the garbage sled along as an excuse, though it's empty. And then I see movement in the shadows and I think I'm as good as caught by the swingman for sneaking about with an empty garbage sled."
"We're stuck here," Sober said. "Repentance is afraid to move, lest the prince see us from one of the palace windows."
"Get in the sled then, and be quick. Crouch down. I'll pull you to the yak barn."
"The garbage sled doesn't go to the yak barn," Repentance said. "The garbage goes to the other side of the palace."
"But the prince, should he be looking from the palace windows, will not know that, will he?" Generosity said. "He's never taken the garbage to the burn pit, I'll wager."
Repentance and Sober climbed in and lay on the bottom of the sled. Tigen stretched out on top of Sober.
Generosity threw her cloak over the piled bodies in case someone should look down from an upstairs window. She grunted and puffed and panted, getting the sled moving, but once she got them gliding along, they moved at a steady clip, the ice squeaking under the runners, and sounding way too loud in the clear air of the mountain evening.
Repentance looked through a gap, and saw the stars, shining brilliantly in the cold, crisp sky. She remembered the first time she'd seen a starry sky. Sober was lying next to her that time, too. Tears filled her eyes when she remembered how she'd hated him that night. How could she have ever hated him?
The way to the yak barn ran over even ground, fortunately, and Generosity pulled without stopping. Repentance, through her peep hole, counted the barns as they passed. The top of the last barn slid into view and disappeared behind them before the runners slid to a stop.
They disembarked on the far side.
Repentance hugged Generosity. "Thank you, my friend," she said softly. Her friend. She had found dear friends on the mountain. She wasn't cursed after all.
"You are most welcome," Generosity answered.
Sober, with Tigen on his heels, peered around the corner of the barn. "No one following," he said over his shoulder. "But we must move on."
"Did I not tell you he was in love with you?" Generosity whispered, giving Repentance another squeeze. "He risks his life for you."
Repentance felt her cheeks flame. "That means nothing. Tigen risks his life as well."
"You make my point for me, Repentance. For we all know young Tigen is utterly smitten." She turned then, chuckling, and pulled the garbage sled back toward the palace.
Sober and Tigen joined Repentance. She took a final backward glance toward the courtyard, wondering if she'd ever see Generosity again.
Sober tugged on one of her arms and Tigen on the other, and the three hustled toward the bluff that overlooked the city.
As they neared the bluff, Shamed separated himself from the dark silhouette of the pine tree, which stood on its brow.
Repentance hugged him. "Thank you, Shamed."
His blush was dark enough to show in the moonlight. Repentance turned away so as not to embarrass him further. She looked out over the city, stretching out below
