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I gulped and checked the time in the tiny screen’s corner. It was 2:40.
Shit.
I checked the next message:
WHERE ARE YOU?
It’d been sent at 2:10 AM.
At about that time, I was furiously grinding against Kal. But I doubted they wanted to know about that.
The final message said:
COME BY 3 AM OR DEAL IS OFF
Now my heart raced. I grabbed the dressing gown and put it on. I moved to the window and peered down at the wide-open expanse of the miniature training yard. I couldn’t see anyone down there. Maybe they were inside the main building?
I quickly typed a message:
WAS ASLEEP - COMING NOW
The Changelings weren’t the most understanding of creatures. I wondered how I was going to be punished for being late to one of their meetings. I ground my teeth and edged back out the door.
The castle was silent as I crept through the empty halls and standing suits of armor. I doubted it would matter how long I lived in this castle. There would always be a new hallway left to explore, new treasures, and items unique to the Titan culture to uncover. I made a mental note of my location so I could come back here again.
If I ever got to return.
I’d completed my mission. I expected to head home soon.
That made me both happy and sad.
When I reached each corner, I paused and listened for the tap of nearby feet and rattling armor of the guards. The smart thing to have done was ask Kal how the guards conducted their patrols, then I wouldn’t have to be constantly on alert.
I’d have to remember for the next time I was recruited by an alien race to spy on their recently vanquished foe. Somehow, I doubted I would get to sharpen my spying skills in the future.
There were moons in the night sky but they were dim. Most of the light came from the host planet. Big and bright, it was far brighter than Earth’s moon. It flooded the world with red light. It looked eerie and more than a little alien to my eyes.
The training yard seemed like a strange place to meet until I realized it was probably the closest they could get to the castle without setting off the guards that patrolled along the walls.
I reached the outer courtyard where the training yard was housed. The guards paused in their march along each wall. They were not difficult to make out. Their torches flashed as they turned around and headed back the way they had come. All I had to do was wait for them to make another turn and I could dash toward the building in the center.
I took a deep breath and waited. The moment their torches swung around, I stole across the open ground. The dirt was hard-packed by thousands of footsteps. My slipper made a soft noise but even that was louder than I’d like.
I reached the building. It was not made of stone like the rest of the castle but fallen timbers. I pressed my back to it just as the guards made another about-face.
I felt for the door and gently eased it open—just enough for me to squeeze through. I shut it so gently I might have been handling a newborn.
If they caught me, what excuse was I going to come out with?
That I was sleepwalking?
Yes, that sounded good. I would do my best to look as sheepish as I could so they wouldn’t doubt I was being sincere. Then I would tell them about all the embarrassing things that happened to me over the years due to my affliction.
Of course, it could easily backfire. What if Kal grew worried—which I knew he would—and insist on setting up a guard outside my room in case I began wandering off again?
Or maybe he would tie me to the bed…
Focus, girl!
