feeling unloved than from an inferior inheritance. And at times, I also suspected feeling rejected by her family had caused her to close herself off to her children. Perhaps she unconsciously believed if she didn’t love anyone, then she wouldn’t be hurt again.
Whatever the case, I’d stopped having any sympathy for her the day she’d tried to have me killed. The last vestiges of respect and love had vanished. Henceforth, I didn’t care what became of her, only that I could free Ruby from her control.
As I crept across the antechamber toward the door, the floor squeaked. I halted and waited, listening for the approach of footsteps from the noble knights, squires, and pages resting amongst the rushes of the great hall.
After a moment of silence, I expelled a breath and continued. Thankfully, the door didn’t squeal on its hinges as I opened it. I stayed low and slipped along the perimeter of the room with my back pressed against the cold wall. The hearth fire glowed low, adding enough light that I could make my way without bumping into anyone or anything.
When I was close to the bottom of the double marble stairway that led to the second floor, a nearby dog lifted its head and looked in my direction. When it stood and released a low huff, I froze.
One of the pages murmured something to the dog before he rolled over and went back to sleep.
I remained motionless, waiting for someone else to sit up and spot me. But only the dog lumbered over, its snout in the air. It gave another soft bark, then wagged its tail. Did it recognize me? Or at the very least remember my scent?
It sniffed my legs before it plopped down, peering up at me with its ears cocked. I held out my hand and let it sniff me more closely.
“Stay,” I whispered as I started up the stairs.
It watched with curious eyes each step I took up the broad stairway, but it made no more noise or effort to follow me. When I reached the landing, I ducked behind the balcony where my mother presided over the Choosing Ball each Midsummer’s Eve.
Though I’d never attended the event, I oft peeked from the hallway, glimpsing the fairest maidens in the land dancing in their emerald gowns. The music had been festive, the clothing beautiful, and the decorations lavish. Though the queen required everyone to smile and be happy, nothing was ever able to mask the fear in each of the faces. I’d sensed that fear as palpably as if it had been a living force hovering above the gathering.
Now, as I slipped into the passageway, my thoughts turned to Mikkel’s brother Vilmar. If he was anything like Mikkel, then he was a good and brave man, and I hoped one day I’d have the chance to thank him for capturing Grendel.
I still didn’t understand why my mother hadn’t been more pleased by Vilmar’s defeat of the monster. Mikkel’s suspicions from the previous night had stayed with me. And the more I thought about them, the more I agreed. The queen had been using Grendel for her own purposes, something to do with her alchemy. Since it was the most important thing to her, everything always had to do with her alchemy. Always.
Sconces glimmered at intervals down the long hallway. Though I didn’t see any guards on duty, I stayed along the edge until I reached a doorway leading to the servants’ corridors.
Most of the castle staff would be asleep, but I remained alert as I raced through the narrow halls and reached the tower housing Ruby’s chambers. Once there, I peeked in the direction of her door. It was guarded. The queen was attempting to prevent Ruby from escaping—or perhaps had anticipated a rescue effort.
I’d suspected that would be the case. With haste, I unrolled the habit I’d pilfered from the abbey and donned it over my garments. While the gray undyed wool was scratchy and stifling and several sizes too big, it would have to do.
I hesitated but a moment before I removed the veil that had been my shield for many months. I couldn’t keep it over my face if I hoped to pass as a nun. Instead, I wound the nun’s wimple around my head and neck, leaving only my face showing as was the custom. I hoped the guards would believe I was a nun arriving to pray with Ruby.
As I backtracked through the servants’ corridors and entered