When I could no longer hear my mother’s footsteps, I brought my hand out from under the bedsheet and tickled the tip of Faheem’s nose. He did not stir. I peeled back the sheet and slid one foot, then the other onto the floor. Faheem did not wake even as I tiptoed across the room and opened the door just wide enough to slip through. I stepped past the library and rounded the corner of the hallway, the clanging of aluminum pots and lids growing louder. To my left was a narrow set of stairs that led to the rear of a bustling kitchen as the palace staff prepared to serve dinner for the dignitaries. I continued down the hallway, my path dimly lit by small sconces.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, I froze. I held my breath and listened. I heard what sounded like a door close at the far end of the hall. When I was sure footsteps were not approaching, I put one foot in front of the other, stepping with my heel first. I’d not moved three steps when I paused again.

This time I was certain I’d heard something.

I pressed my spine against the wall and looked left and right, already knowing there was nowhere to hide here. My heart thumped loudly.

I inched farther along until I reached an arched cutout. Tucked into its rounded space was a half-moon table draped in embroidered silk. Atop the table was a vase of pale green onyx.

I paused, debating the chances of running into someone if I made a dash for the end of the hallway.

That’s when I felt someone—or something—grab my ankle. I gasped and fell forward. My arm grazed the table and braced my fall. I rolled onto my back and saw the vase teeter perilously on the table’s edge before coming to rest. Relieved, I looked to my left.

“Neelab!”

Crouched between the legs of the table was Neelab, with a bright and mischievous grin. She’d pulled the table cover to the side.

“You little sneak!” I hissed. “You nearly killed me!”

“Danger lurks around every corner,” Neelab whispered ominously. She emerged slowly from her secret nook, unfolding her lanky limbs.

I forgave her for scaring me and vowed to find an even better hiding spot for our next round. We crept quietly to the end of the hallway. A curved staircase led to the downstairs banquet room, and just to the side of the arched entrance was a serving station. With our backs pressed against the wall in the darkened stairway, we could stay out of sight and still have a pretty good view of the festivities.