“Of course I’m partial to ours as well.” I’d forgotten Taz had never been here. I’d been inside the main halls of the castle a few times but I hadn’t ever been outside the high-walled grounds. With the crowded street, I lost count of how many times someone bumped into me.
“Watch it, woman,” an older man growled at me when he slammed into my shoulder. He hit me hard enough that I almost fell. It particularly set my anger ablaze the way he spit the word “woman” like it was a curse.
“Watch yourself,” I snapped, hands shaking with rage.
The man with dark hair, slightly graying on the sides stopped and looked me up and down. Then he lifted his chin toward Taz. “Get your woman straight before she gets hurt.”
Cheeks turning a light shade of red, Taz marched for the man but I snatched the front of his shirt. The last thing we needed when we were trying to avoid attention was a brawl in the streets. Taz halted at my grasp but I could feel him tensing up.
“You better learn how to properly speak to a lady with respect,” Taz said, hand resting on his sword. “Or she won’t be the one getting hurt.”
“Is there something you think you can do about it, boy?”
The gruff man wore expensive clothes but not a uniform, and had some size to him. By the look of his arms he was strong. The worn sword at his hip had gotten a lot of use. Perhaps a former soldier.
“We’re not looking for a fight,” I said, not letting my anger show.
“I wasn’t speaking to you,” he said, stepping closer. His eyes traveled down my body and back to my face. “Why don’t you wear a dress?” His top lip curled. “And your light hair—you’re Delhoon, aren’t you?”
People nearby began to stop to watch us. Some whispering behind their hands, others gathered closer. Some of the men looked like they might intervene. We hadn’t been in Hesstia but five minutes and already drew a crowd. I set my jaw. My magic burned beneath my skin. “I am. And as you know Delhoon women don’t take orders from men, so back off, dog.”
His hand darted forward going for my throat. I knocked it aside and pressed my dagger against the underside of his chin in a flash. “All it will take is a quick flick of my wrist and you’ll bleed out on this street.” My heart hammered but my arm and voice were surprisingly steady.
Throat bobbing, he held up his hands.
“Do we have a problem here?”
I looked over at a uniformed man on a horse. The patrolmen had spoken.
Slowly, I lowered my dagger and took a step back but said nothing.
“No problem, sir,” my would-be attacker said, red-faced. He should be embarrassed.
“Good,” the patrolmen said. He looked to the gathering crowd. “Move along. Nothing to see here.”
Taz and I slipped away before the city patrolmen could question us. At this rate I’d be found out before I even made it to the castle. When we finally got close my heart began to thunder. “We need a plan.”
Taz looked at me, eyes widening. “I thought you had one.”
I couldn’t very well walk up to the front gates and demand an entrance. Unless I told them who I was they wouldn’t allow us in and I didn’t want them to know. “I do. Kind of. There is a servant’s door to the left side of the castle’s wall. I brought a dress so we can say we work inside. But beyond that I figured we’d play it by ear.”
“Won’t the guards know all the servants?”
We started on the dirt path that led to the door. “How could they possibly know all of them? There are so many.” I looked around for a place to change and spotted a large bush. I could stash my bag there too. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
I slipped out of my pants and shirt and pulled the light blue dress over my head. It was simple but likely too nice for a typical servant. Unless I was one of Queen Saveena’s ladies. I forgot one thing though, dress shoes. I had my black boots on and hoped no one would notice. I stuffed my bag in the bush and then looked longingly at my sword. I’d have to leave it. Women servants in Hesstia did not carry swords. I carefully set it down and pushed leaves over the top of it.
When I stepped out Taz gave me a once over. “That should do.”
When we arrived at the wooden door in the wall, a guard at the top peeked down. “Hello. What can I help you two with?”
“We work here,” I shouted back. “I’m Queen Saveena’s newest lady in waiting. This is my escort.”
“I don’t recognize either of you and I wasn’t made aware of any new Queen’s servants.”
Taz slowly turned toward me with a pointed gaze. “I told you,” he whispered.
“It’s my first day, and I’d hate to be late and make a bad impression with her. Please let us pass.”
The ten seconds of silence seemed so much longer. “Open the door,” the guard called down. It was pulled open from the inside.
I grinned at Taz. “Easy.”
He rolled his eyes as we passed through.
When the door shut, one of the guards on the ground, a burly young man walked beside us. “I’ll escort you to the door.” His dark brown eyes fell to mine then to Taz. “What are your names? You’re new here?”
“I’m—Brinna,” I said and then looked to Taz who used his actual name. It’s not as if anyone would know who he was other than Zyacus.
The guard brushed dark red hair off his tanned face. “I like the name Brinna. I hope to
