The city downslope from the castle close was blanketed by a thick layer of fog, pierced only by the tallest buildings. They floated magically atop the grounded clouds. Only the area immediately around the palace was clear. Overhead, thunderclouds rolled down over Hanalea, obscuring the waning moon, their undersides backlit by heat lightning. Raisa frowned. It was odd to see fog with the weather so hot.

To the south and west, the Market Temple punctured the mist—the tallest building between the castle close and Southbridge Temple, where Raisa had first met the streetlord Han Alister.

From what she could see, Karn had kept his promise to clear Ardenine soldiers from the area between palace and temple. But he could have an army hidden under that layer of mist.

Karn had mages. Could they have conjured this billowing shroud to hide flatland treachery?

Turning away from the view, Raisa descended the servants’ stairs to ground level.

Thunder rumbled over the Spirits as she crossed the deserted bailey. Perhaps the oppressive heat would finally break, on what might be the last day of her life.

She reached the shadows of the outside wall without being challenged, and followed the wall around to the postern gate. Still, her shoulders prickled as if she were being watched. She’d expected it, but…was it friend or foe? Or both?

She saw movement amid the shadows as her eyes adjusted to the murk. “Your Majesty.” It was Amon. The others murmured their greetings. She knew them by their voices, though all were cloaked up despite the heat. Mick. Talia. Pearlie. Cat. Nightwalker. Even Hallie, defying Raisa’s attempts to dissuade her. Hallie was the single parent of a three-year-old girl. Raisa had tried to talk her out of what would likely be a suicide mission.

“There’s lots in the guard have lytlings, Your Majesty,” she’d said. “I won’t stand down because of Asha. I’ve been with you this far. I’ll stay with you till…till this is over.”

“Your Majesty,” Amon said, making a last-ditch try for a change in plans. “Nightwalker and Mick took a walk around. It’s hard to tell in this murk, but it appears Karn has cleared the area of soldiers, as promised. This may be your best chance to leave the city. The rest of us will head for the temple. Talia will stand in for you. I think she’ll pass, cloaked up as we are, if anyone is watching. Likely none of the Ardenines have ever seen you in person.”

Raisa glanced at Talia, who hunched over gamely, doing her best to look short.

Perhaps encouraged by Raisa’s lack of objection, Amon went on. “You and Nightwalker wait here until we’re clear, then go the other way.” He thrust a bundle of cloth toward her. “These are Ardenine uniform tunics. Put ’em on and slip through the lines while it’s still dark.”