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But first there was something she had to do.
Chapter Seven
Thicket crept through alleyways, doing her best to remain inconspicuous, which proved to be rather difficult in a dress. She knew one glimpse of the fine layers of fabric was all it would take for the guards to recognize her and inform Caspian. If caught, she didn’t trust that Caspian would let her execute her plan. She had one chance. One chance to get an edge and stand a chance at fulfilling her role and saving her kingdom.
I believe we can hold them off long enough to provide you with the opportunity to sneak inside and kill her.
Thicket bunched up the layers of her skirt, hugging them close to her frame. She couldn’t think about that right now. If she couldn’t do this, there was a very good chance she wouldn’t live long enough to come face to face with the dilemma.
Still, the sickening twist of her gut followed her as she darted across the vacant street to an alley. Overgrown flowers spilled from the building’s sides, cascading to the ground in a pool of shriveled color. The leaves tickled Thicket’s bare arms and neck as she peered around the corner and into the Plaza.
After Lavender’s spectacle at the Pyre, the unease that had hung in the air like vengeful storm clouds had morphed into a cacophony of panic. People bolted through the Plaza with frenzied urgency, stuffing whatever they could fit into wagons, as though ready to leave at the first sign of danger. The torches from the Pyre skittered beneath their feet, just as forgotten as the charred obelisk.
How many of them cursed Lavender for the constant fear they were forced to live under? How many of them cursed her for being incapable of saving them?
Thicket forced herself to turn away before the guards out on patrol could catch her. By some miracle, she managed to make it to the abandoned roads bordering the Outskirts without detection. She pressed her back against the last shadowed alcove. Beyond, the yellow, deadened grass of the Outskirts stretched until the wall of astromeia caged them in.
Everything had gone smoothly so far, but she knew this was where her escape would become tricky. Even as the crown princess, Thicket would be fooling herself if she thought the guards stationed by the exit would let her leave—let alone by herself.
She could go to a different section of the wall and slip through that way, but she didn’t want to give Lavender any indication of her movements. Besides, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t encounter a guard on patrol.
Thicket wracked her brain for solutions, one that would allow her to slip past the guards undetected.
A hand grazed her shoulder.
Thicket jumped back, clutching her arms to her chest as a familiar figure emerged from the alley.
“Lotta?” It took her a full three seconds to recover from the shock. “What are you doing here?”
The girl in question adjusted a basket of fruits and fabrics dangling from the crook of her arm, leveling Thicket with one of her cool, calculating stares that gave her the impression she wasn’t pleased. “I should be asking you that, Your Highness.”
Thicket grimaced. “Would you believe me if I said I was taking a walk to clear my head?”
Lotta’s lips pursed, looking wholly unamused.
Thicket chewed on the inside of her lip, fighting the urge to squirm under Lotta’s scrutiny. “How did you even know where I was?”
“I saw you while I was running errands.”
Thicket gaped. “You followed me all the way from the Plaza?”
The better question was, how had she not noticed? She knew Lotta’s Aneuma allowed her to hide her presence and move undetected, but this was a whole different level of stealthy.
The corner of Lotta’s lips twitched. “Your appearance is not what I would describe as discreet,” she said, eyes raking over the wrinkled layers of fabric cascading around her legs.
Thicket smoothed her skirt self consciously. “Right…”
“Mr. Lazare has the entire patrol unit out looking for you,” Lotta said, starting back down the alleyway. “We should return before your absence becomes further cause for alarm.” She started back down the alleyway.
Thicket’s heart tightened, imagining how worried everyone must be at her sudden disappearance—especially after Lavender’s ultimatum and the revelation of just how important Thicket was to their plan. But her feet stayed rooted to the spot. “You go on ahead. Tell Caspian he can stop looking for me and that I am fine.”
Lotta glanced at her from over her shoulder, her blue eyes darkening. “You are not trying to turn yourself in, are you?”
“No,” Thicket blurted. “I just… I just have something I need to do.”
Lotta’s lips flattened. She could tell Lotta didn’t like the idea of leaving Thicket alone, but she pleaded with Lotta to trust her this once.
“I cannot condone you going out alone,” Lotta said, “especially without at least one guard. However, I cannot tell anyone where you are going if I can no longer see you.”
