“Belén?”
“Franco is coming here,” he whispers. “Now.”
Oh, God.
“The others accompany him, but at a distance,” he adds. “He’ll slip inside the inn, and his companions will block the entrances to prevent escape. Majesty, it’s a siege.”
I fling the covers away and sit up. “Where is Storm?”
“He came in not long after our meeting.”
“And how long until sunrise?”
“About three hours.”
My heart thumps in my chest. This is it. We have to make it happen now, or never. I glance at decoy Elisa, sleeping in the narrow bed against the opposite wall. She could die tonight. I could die tonight. Please, God, keep us all safe. The Godstone responds to my wispy prayer by sending dry heat up my spine. At least it has not yet gone cold. “Get Hector. I’ll wake the ladies.”
“Stay away from the windows.” And then he’s gone, as quickly and easily as a breeze.
I shake Ximena awake first and explain. She dives into her pack and pulls out a gleaming stiletto. I gulp back a wave of nausea. A stiletto is useless for cutting; its only purpose is to stab, hard and deep, even through armor. She grips the hilt with the ease of long familiarity.
“Wake Mara,” she says. “And get into the corner beside the dresser.”
“The girl?” I indicate decoy Elisa, who is softly snoring.
“Let her sleep.” Let her be a target, she means.
“How . . . will you be able . . .”
“Rope ladder out the window, but we have to draw them toward this room first, and you must be gone by then.”
I’m shaking Mara awake when the doorknob twists. Ximena strides unerringly toward the door, elbow bent to plunge her stiletto. But it is only Hector, followed close behind by Tristán.
Hector says, “Storm and Belén will meet us in the cellar. Do you have your things?”
“At the door beside you.” I indicate Mara’s and my packs propped against the wall. They are always ready to go, a habit from our time as desert rebels.
Tristán pushes past Hector and heads toward my sleeping decoy. To my shock, he crawls into bed with her. She startles awake, but he shushes her, drapes an arm around her shoulders, says, “I’m here to protect you, my lady.”
But I realize the truth of it: They’ve brought an extra warrior to protect her, yes, and who would be surprised to learn that the queen’s betrothed is sneaking into her bed?
“Tristán,” I say. “Thank you. And please be careful. Eduardo opposes our match; I’m sure of it. If he can’t kill me, he may go after you.” And with those words, I fully embrace the staggering possibility that I am at war with my own Quorum lord.
“Just find the zafira,” Tristán responds. “Joya d’Arena needs it.”
Ximena hugs me close. “Be safe, my sky. Be wise. Remember God’s words from the Common Man’s Guide to Service: ‘Blessed is he who puts the sake of others before his own desires.’”
Even now she can’t help but warn me away from Hector. I pitch my voice low so that only she can hear. “I know you want him for Alodia.”
Ximena goes rigid in my arms. “It’s a good match,” she whispers back.
“Elisa!” Hector hisses from the doorway. “We must go now!”
“Yes. A good match. Ximena, be well.” I push her away. “Protect the girl.”
Then Mara and I grab our packs and hurry out the door.
Chapter 20
WE are met outside by four of my Royal Guard. “Go with God, Your Majesty,” one says, and I barely have a chance to nod before Hector is hustling me down the corridor.
“Wait.” I freeze in my tracks.
“Elisa, we must go!”
But it’s not right. Too much depends on sleight of hand, on stealth, on chance.
I turn back up the corridor toward the guards. “You!” I say to the one who addressed me. “Find the mayor of Puerto Verde. Rouse him from sleep. Tell him his queen demands his presence right now. Tell him to bring his entire household. Tell him I expect him here within minutes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He flees.
“And you, rouse every single person in this inn. Make noise. We want chaos. Lots of it. You two, stay and guard this door with your lives. Where are Tristán’s guards?”
“One floor below,” Hector says.
“Let’s go.” I jog down the hallway toward the stair, my pack bouncing at my back. Hector and Mara hurry after me. When we reach the floor below, I bang on doors and walls as we pass. Hector follows my lead, pounding with the pommel of his sword, producing a shocking, hollow boom that no one could possibly sleep through.