“Then they won’t attack,” Pedrón finishes.

“Exactly. Rito, I need you to return to the barracks and find anyone who is not poisoned. Itzal, maybe. Tanix and the second years. Check the kitchens and the storerooms too. Surely some of them heard the rumor and refrained from eating or drinking today. Find them all, and get them to the bell tower. Make sure that signal never happens. Can you do that?”

“What if I can’t find anyone?”

“Use your best judgment. Stop that signal if possible, but don’t get yourself killed for no reason. Lay low until this is all over if you have to. Don’t do anything dangerous alone.”

He straightens. “All right, Red. I’ll find everyone I can. If there’s any way to stop that signal, we’ll do it.”

“Good man. The rest of us will make for the ballroom.”

We say our goodbyes to Rito. Arturo wraps him in a tight hug and kisses the top of his head. “Be careful, Rito,” he says.

Rito lays his palm against Arturo’s cheek. Then, with a nod to the rest of us, he dashes away toward the barracks.

The way to the grand ballroom is across the plaza and through a wide tunnel. The tunnel is jammed with lords and ladies in their Deliverance garb, all awaiting entrance. The sun is low, but the air is still hot and dusty. Several people fan themselves as they wait. Serving staff with trays skirt the crowd, offering cold water and hors d’oeuvres.

“I wonder if that food is poisoned,” Pedrón says, staring mournfully at a tray of tiny meat pies garnished with parsley.

“If we stand in line, we’ll never get in before opening ceremonies,” Arturo says.

Iván leans down and whispers in my ear, “Do you know of another way in?”

Only through the Sky Wing, which is swarming with mercenaries. If I lead a bunch of unarmed recruits that way, not only will we never reach Rosario, we’ll never reach tomorrow.

“I’m thinking,” I tell him.

In very short order, I realize I don’t have any ideas.

24

Now

“IT doesn’t have to be complicated,” Pedrón says. “Let’s just shove our way in.”

We can do that? Obviously, I am the wrong size to think of some solutions.

“They’re nobles,” Pedrón explains. “They’ll be angry and make all kinds of threats, but they won’t push back.”

“It’s better than any plan I have,” I say.

“Maybe if we yell ‘Make way for the empress,’ they’ll get out of our way faster,” Iván suggests.

Pedrón nods enthusiastically. “That’s really smart,” he says, and starts heading for the door.

I grab him and pull him back. “We can’t yell that. It will draw all the mercenaries and everyone else who’s part of the plot to come and stop us. We need to delay that as long as possible to give us the best chance of reaching Rosario.”

“So what’s the plan?” Iván asks. He bounces on his feet. We’re all anxious.