Wyneth kissed her cheek and left first to be sure the hall was clear. When she didn’t return with warning, Aerity and Caitrin picked up large baskets of clothing and headed out, their heads down.
The princess followed Caitrin to a part of the castle where she’d never been: the laundry chambers. Scents of soap and wet fabric wafted down the damp-feeling halls. Behind her, Aerity heard the voice of her younger brother, Donubhan, and her heart stopped.
“I’m not even tired,” her brother whined.
“Back to your chambers, young prince,” called a nursemaid as she ran to catch him. “You don’t want your father finding out you’re roaming the halls after dark.”
“But I’m nearly eleven!”
Aerity bit her tongue and rushed away as the maid chased Donny down a different hall and their voices faded. It took all her might not to turn and tell her rascal brother to be obedient for once. Caitrin’s eyes were big as she waved the princess to a squat cellar door and took the basket from her.
She helped Aerity into a brown hooded cloak that cinched at the waist, and put a strap over her shoulder, across her chest. “Here is your bag. I’ve wrapped enough food for ten days. More than that would go bad, so Harrison will have to hunt.”
Aerity nodded as she adjusted the bag. Her heart beat so loud she could scarcely think.
“I’ll lead you out the servants’ door, but try not to let the other maids see you. Wait here while I check.” The twoof them froze at the sound of footsteps passing and hushed female voices. She could have sworn she heard one of them mention Lord Alvi. Caitrin shook her head as if to tell her to pay no mind.
When all was quiet again, Caitrin peeked out and grasped Aerity by the hand, pulling her out to the very end of the hallway, beyond the bustling laundry room where she could hear voices. Aerity had no idea the staff worked well into the night on laundry. These were details she promised herself she would learn when she returned. Caitrin stopped at the servant cloakroom and grabbed her own cloak.
“Just keep your head down,” Caitrin whispered. She led Aerity through the door where two guards stood outside in the crisp air. The coolness went straight through her thin clothing, and Aerity grasped her cloak tighter.
“Evening,” Caitrin said to the men as she pulled her cloak over her head. Aerity heard their muttered polite replies as the girls made their way down the stone steps. Delight rushed through the princess as she realized they would not be followed—that they wouldn’t even have to explain where they were going! For the first time in her life she was free of a guard’s presence. She stifled an exhilarated laugh.
Caitrin accompanied Aerity until the stables were in sight. A lantern was lit within.
“This is where I shall leave you,” Caitrin whispered. “I will enter the castle at the west doors and finish my night’s work. I wish you all the blessings of the seas.”
Aerity hugged her hard and quick. “The seas be with you as well.” Her heart never slowed, and she began to wonder how long she could go at this pace of excitement. She made her way into the guests’ stable and found a capable mare ready, as planned. She was to leave royal lands first, heading east then south, and Harrison would join her on the other side of the bay bridge.
She blew out the lantern at the stable entrance and made her way in the dark. Aerity led the horse from the stable, cooing at it in a tone she hoped it found comforting. It was a cloudy night, which made it darker than normal. A chilly breeze forced her breath to catch as she pulled herself onto the thin saddle. Her nerves shot up an extra notch. Being on horseback always made her uneasy. She hitched her heels into the horse’s side and they began moving down the cobbled path.
In ten minutes’ time she could see the gate of the royal lands, and for the first time Aerity wondered if this was a dire mistake. She rarely left royal lands and had never done so without protection. She breathed through the fear, slowing as she neared the guard. Surely he would recognize her! A mustached man came forward with a lantern so bright she lifted a hand to shield her eyes.
“Name?” he asked.
“Callie Hazlett, sir.” She hoped he didn’t detect the tremor in her voice.
“Hands,” he said.
She held out a hand and he inspected each finger before releasing her and holding the lantern higher. “You don’t look familiar, Miss Hazlett.”
“I am a new maid in the soldiers’ quarters.”
“Where are you headed?”
“To the south village of Port Lorn where I’m from.”
He tilted his head to stare up at her, and Aerity looked down at the reins.
“Why are you leaving so late?”
“I received message today that my gran is ill, but I couldn’t leave until my work was done.”
He gave a gruff nod and lowered the lantern. “Hope she heals. Be aware of your surroundings. It’s not safe these days. Seas be with you.”
“And also with you.” As her horse trotted forward she let out a heaving sigh.
“Keep an eye out for foreigners and strange folk!” The guard called. Aerity raised a hand to acknowledge him. She could hardly make out the worn path as the lantern light faded. Her horse could apparently see as badly as she could in the dark, and she kept having to steer it back to what she believed was the center of the path. Thankfully they were surrounded by fields of low vegetation where it would be hard for people to hide.
