Page 29 of To Save a Kingdom

“It needs ta be shut down, yer prisoners liberated. Assumin’ you consider the war over with?”

Raising her eyebrow at the challenge in the other woman’s eyes, Aliya leaned back. “We agree on both points. However, I don’t have anyone who can convey the orders who the guards will believe, and whom I trust to make sure the elves are released unharmed.” Except herself, but she could hardly leave right now.

“Yeh could do it.”

Aliya’s gaze drifted to the corner of her desk. She sighed, the words tumbling from her lips, unbidden. “I can’t. At least, not anytime soon. I need to establish a strong support base and root out which nobles are still loyal to Malkov and supporting Brooks. And my father’s pushing me to pick a ‘suitable’ nobleman to marry so I can start popping out heirs.” She ran a hand through her hair, yanking loose strands away from her face. “As if that’s my only value,” she muttered.

Something softened in Zadé’s eyes. “Yer good fer more than makin’ babies, Princess,” she said. “But th’ elves’re a decent part o’ yer backing, and they’re gettin’ cagey. If’n yeh don’t close Brisimin, ye’ll have another revolt on yer hands.”

Aliya pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes as if by applying pressure she could make everything and everyone go away. “Do you have any suggestions on who I could send?” She glanced up, meeting the other woman’s eyes once more. “Is there anyone you judge to be trustworthy enough to undertake the task?”

One corner of Zadé’s lips quirked up. “O’ course! You, Elsan n’ me! Just like olden times.”

Something warm bloomed in Aliya’s stomach at the thought of the carefree weeks she’d spent on the road with Elessan and Zadé. Before she’d gotten Zadé’s Aunt Cressida killed and been hauled back to Malkov. By the mages, the thought of sneaking away for the few days was beyond tempting.

“I want to, Zadé. I do,” she said. “But if I leave now…” Her gaze drifted to Shadow. At some point in this conversation, the black cat had appeared and was sunning herself on the windowsill. She’d been looking for Shadow for the last day, so she could ask the older woman if she’d cover for her while Aliya dealt with Brisimin.

“I know, I know.” Zadé waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, the drunken slur fading from her words in her fervor.

So it had been an act this time, after all.

“Power vacancies, greedy nobles grasping for influence. But Princess, this is just as important as yer Whisperers.”

Aliya raised an eyebrow. For something that only she, Elessan and her father were supposed to know about, Zadé was remarkably well informed. Elessan must have informed her.

The other woman paused, taking a deep breath. “If’n the elves feel slighted, you’ll lose our backing, too. Then yeh’ll be on yer own.”

Without allies and a strong support base, she had no hope of holding on to the throne. She’d be deposed and executed by day’s end.

As if sensing her gaze, Shadow peeked one eye open and met Aliya’s.

Excellent. Her aunt was paying attention. That would save her from having to repeat the conversation to her later.

Zadé glanced back and forth between Aliya and Shadow, her eyebrows pinching, as if she felt there was a secret she wasn’t in on and intended to ferret out.

Aliya swallowed. Despite appearances to the contrary, Zadé was smart and observant enough to piece together the fact the cat was more than she appeared if Aliya wasn’t careful.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ears, Aliya turned to the other woman. “I may have an idea, but I need some time to see if I can work it out. Do you think you can arrange to get us out of the castle tonight after dark? Quietly, so no one will notice?”

Zadé chewed on the inside of her cheek. Aliya could practically see the cogs turning in the other woman’s brain as she schemed. After several heartbeats, the elf nodded. “Yeh, I think so.” She gestured to Aliya’s dress. “As long as yeh don’t wear something so…fancy.”

Fair enough. There was bound to be some sort of travelling outfit in her wardrobe somewhere. One that wouldn’t require her to squeeze herself into a corset. Or maybe she could borrow something from her lady-in-waiting. She dipped her head. “I can handle that.”

One side of Zadé’s lips quirked up. “Good. Should I tell Elsan?”

Elessan was going to flip his lid when she told him they were leaving to decommission the labor camp. But with his background as a spy, he likely understood the consequences of both action and inaction in this even better than she did. “No, that’s okay. I’ll do it. I have to touch base with him in a few hours, anyway.”

Zadé smiled. “Sure, Princess. I think I can hold off the masses for another couple o’ days. Meetcha an hour after sundown by the stables?”

Aliya fought back a grin. She couldn’t wait to escape the oppressive confines of this castle and be on the open road with her friends once again. “See you later.”

As soon as the door closed behind Zadé, Aliya turned to Shadow. “I need your help.”

Shadow stretched her legs, putting her razor-sharp claws on full display. Twitching her whiskers, she met Aliya’s gaze. “What are you scheming, niece?”

“I need you to impersonate me while I go and decommission the Brisimin Labor Camp.”

Shadow’s tail twitched as she dropped out of the window and sauntered over. “You want me to impersonate the queen? I’m pretty sure that's treason.”