The actual trick of faking the queen’s exit from the city was accomplished with a minimum of fuss. The first step was the queen’s announcement that, in the interest of safeguarding the Orboan line, she had reluctantly agreed to leave the city for an unnamed, more secure location. She gave quite a nice speech for the occasion, Marcus had to admit, but the occasion was somewhat spoiled by the fact that it was only lightly attended; the commons had apparently decided it was dangerous to get too close to the queen. Those who did attend, forced to by custom or social position, came with conspicuous bodyguards. Combined with the heavy presence of Patriot Guards, Grenadier Guards, and red-coated Mierantai, the armed men probably outnumbered the civilians.

Marcus had reluctantly agreed that the performance was necessary to reassure the public that the queen had not, in fact, been killed in the blast, contrary to rumors already racing through the city. Having proven that she was still in one piece, at least to those who’d bothered to show up, Raesinia was whisked down from the platform and into a waiting coach, guarded by a phalanx of Grenadier Guards on horseback.

It headed north, toward the road that led past Ohnlei and into the country. Near the edge of the city, however, they stopped to collect the queen’s luggage and supplies for the journey. A servant girl, dressed in a hooded robe, climbed into the darkened vehicle with a few personal effects. Raesinia, suitably reattired, climbed out. The double would be told the switch was for security reasons, to guard against an ambush on the road.

Marcus waited beside Raesinia, watching the convoy of coach, wagons, and guards rumble away. He had to keep reminding himself that it was the queen standing beside him. In plainclothes, she looked like any other pretty young girl, her slight figure making her look younger than her twenty years.

“Colonel?” she said as the convoy turned a corner and passed out of sight.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

Raesinia winced. “For starters, you’re going to have to stop calling me that, or this ruse isn’t going to last very long.

“Oh.” Marcus tapped the hilt of his saber uncomfortably. “Then . . . my lady?”

“Raesinia,” said Raesinia. “I have a name. Raes, even, if you prefer. Remember, I work for you now.”

Officially, Raesinia was now a courier in Marcus’ service, giving her a plausible excuse to be staying at Twin Turrets should anyone inquire. Only Lieutenant Uhlan and his Mierantai guards knew the truth.

“All right.” Marcus gritted his teeth. “Raes.”

“Is something wrong?”