The first snick of the window latch made Bri push off the wall and crane her neck up. She grinned, proud of herself for figuring out how Lina was sneaking out. Though surely there was an easier way than climbing down from her chambers four stories above.

This Princess would be the death of her. Bri watched from the shadows as Lina found her footing on the rocky outcroppings of stone. She moved in a practiced way, knowing where each nook and cranny would be. She leapt the last few feet, her cloak flying back as she landed.

“Hello, Airev,” Bri said, stepping out of the darkness.

Lina whirled, and fast as lightning, her hand axe appeared in her grip. Bri looked at the simple weapon, a common tool, nothing like the one Lina wielded as a Princess. She wore simple breeches and a threadbare tunic, her cloak a muted gray. The hand that held the axe was bare of jewelry, but flecks of gold dust still clung to her fingertips. At a single glance, she was a commoner, but with a little more scrutiny, it was clear she was something else.

“Gods, it’s you.” Lina released a slow breath and lowered her axe. “What are you doing out here?”

“I swore I’d guard you,” Bri said with a shrug. “So, I’m guarding you.”

“I don’t want or need your chivalry,” she hissed.

Bri’s brow arched. “And if Airev gets killed, what am I meant to tell Delta then?”

“Royals have to be fair and tempered, but thieves can pass out judgment as they see fit.” Her voice dropped to a biting whisper. “I won’t hide behind closed doors when I could be out there helping my people.”

“I’m not telling you to hide behind closed doors,” Bri grizzled back, looking past Lina to see if any guards patrolled the northern side of the castle. “I’m just asking to come with you.”

Lina narrowed her eyes and Bri gave her a wolfish grin. The top of Lina’s head came up to Bri’s chin but the Princess seemed so confident that Bri kept forgetting she was shorter until they were this close.

“Fine. I’m sick of this debate,” Lina muttered, hooking her axe back on her belt. “Just don’t get in my way and don’t talk.”

“Excellent.” Bri grinned, following after her. “Guarding your door all night would have been torture.”

“What you’re doing right now is talking,” Lina growled. She pulled her hood up again, hiding in its shadows as they rounded the corner. High torches flickered in a semicircle of light from the sandstone promenade. “Seeing as you’re here,” Lina whispered, “go be a distraction for me.”

Before Bri could respond, Lina shoved her, causing her to stumble into the circle of light. She snarled, wishing Lina would stop pushing her into these harebrained schemes. The guards gripped their pole axes, straightening their posture as they spotted her. Bri leaned into her stumble, putting on a drunken swagger, just as she’d done at the brothel.