When she peered around the corner, she saw Ayesh lingering near a door, her fingers stroking the surface of one of the few tapestries Phalue hadn’t sold. The woman had stripped the palace near bare before Ranami had stopped her. They had enough in the treasury to enact the policies they wanted to; there was no point in being overly austere. What they needed most was time, and that couldn’t be bought with artwork or baubles.

There was a conversation happening behind that door between two servants, though Ranami could only hear bits and pieces of it.

“… think I’ve not noticed… other ways out. And how… not everyone can… we’ll drown!” The last word was thrown with vehemence. Someone else was speaking in a low, soothing voice. Ranami couldn’t make it out.

Some of the servants knew about the old Alanga entrance in the wall – the one leading straight down the slope. Ranami and Phalue couldn’t keep all things secret, and they’d needed help to prepare for the possibility of Nephilanu sinking. She was certain some of them had pieced together what the preparations were for.

There had been no easy choices – should they have been open with the servants about their plans? Or should they keep them quiet and project the confidence that the island needed? After lengthy discussions, they’d decided on the latter, but the decision hadn’t rested easily with either of them.

Ayesh continued down the hall, gazing at the painted beams, the carved doors, her hand trailing along the wall. At last, she turned.

Ranami ducked back into the kitchen. Phalue hadn’t finished her conversation with her father, which Ranami was grateful for – she wasn’t sure how to explain why she was skulking around as though she didn’t own the place.

When she thought Ayesh might have passed, she cracked the door. The girl’s back retreated down the hall, disappearing behind the archway that led to the courtyard.

Ranami hesitated on the threshold of the kitchen. Phalue liked the girl. But Phalue liked her father too. She liked damn near everyone, and fiercely disliked the few she didn’t. It would hurt her if the girl was a spy. But it would hurt her even more if she never found out and Ayesh carried information to the Shardless Few.