She had a limited window of time to form a plan and to gain as much information as she could, including finding out if House Maris had arrived yet. This was not the occasion to be swayed by dark eyes and a warm heart. If any questions arose about her comings and goings from the inn, she could claim she was praying and reflecting. And the viewing would give her access to the palace.

Breven let out a tired sigh as Amara pulled a toy from her pack. It was a tiny bird whittled out of wood and painted red. Opheliana had given it to her before she left.

She gripped the toy in one hand and closed her eyes. No matter what happened, no matter what it took, she needed to accomplish her mission and return home. Nothing could dissuade her from her purpose here. Everything she was doing was for one reason only.

For the sake of her little sister.

37

An hour later, Amara watched the crowds gather outside the gates of Palace Levellon. There would be three days of this. Three days where the palace would be open for the people to view their lord. Three days for her to study the palace and the guards, discover the whereabouts of Lord Damien, and plan her attack.

Grand Lord Warin’s death couldn’t have come at a better time.

She leaned against the wall of a shop right outside the palace gates with her arms crossed. The overhang from the shop offered some shade, but not much. The one benefit to having her hair cut short was the feel of the afternoon breeze along her neck and through her curls.

Every few minutes, someone would glance her way, their gaze darting to her hair, then away. The corner of her lip quirked upward. Make that two benefits to having short hair. She didn’t have to explain who she was. People simply assumed she was a pilgrim here to visit the Temple of Splendor. As much as she hated to admit it, her mother had been right about this disguise. It was perfect.

From here, she studied as much as she could of the palace, then eased into the crowd as a bell rang. The service for House Luceras and the lesser houses had finished, and now the three-day viewing would begin for the masses. She hoped to catch a glimpse of the houses in attendance to confirm House Maris was here. If not, she would have to resort to other ways of finding out, but a glimpse would be the best.

A bell rang again, and the gates slowly opened. The crowd surged forward. Amara partly wondered if some of the people gathered were more interested in seeing Palace Levellon than actually seeing their lord. There seemed to be more excitement than a body viewing would generate.

Amara flowed in through the gate with the crowd into an expansive courtyard surrounded by manicured lawns, blooming flowers, and green trees. The air was filled with a heady floral scent. Servants and guards ushered the people along in a barely controlled manner. Rook Castle had been crowded when her grandmother died, but nothing like this.