I grit my teeth against the piss off that’s formed in the back of my throat. It’s an expensive wool coat that was tailor-made for me by one of the newly arrived French designers in Paravel. Everyone else is in jeans and hoodies, and denim or leather jackets.
“Sachelle is a vital part of our plan,” Tieman announces to the group, and my attention is drawn back to him. “She knows people we don’t. Can go places we can’t. We’re going to be indebted to Sachelle in the very near future.”
My arms loosen on my knees. They are? I thought I could provide support if I came here tonight, but I didn’t think there was much I could actually do. I’m too conspicuous.
Tieman crosses the circle and crouches down in front of me. His blue eyes are friendly and sparkle with intelligence. He’s cute, and he carries himself with confidence. I can see why Briar would get flustered whenever she talked about him.
“Sachelle, can you get inside the administrative offices at the palace?”
I think for a moment. Those offices are on the far side of the palace from the State rooms, the ballroom and the King’s quarters. I haven’t been inside, but that’s where Archduchess Levanter works. Wraye and I are close enough that I could drop by and see her.
“Yes, I think I could. Why?”
Tieman smiles. “Excellent. There’s a reference library in that part of the palace and it contains records from when the palace was being built two hundred years ago. I need you to find a way into that library and take those plans. Just the plans for those offices. I don’t need them for the whole palace.”
The request is so strange that I can only stare at him for a moment. “Why do you want the plans? I thought this meeting was about getting Briar and the others out of jail?”
Tieman opens his mouth, but Louis speaks over him. “You can’t tell her everything.”
“We can’t ask Sachelle to do something like this without an explanation.” Tieman looks back at me, and then says, “That part of the palace is across the road from the City Guard station where Briar, Corbin and Emily are being held. The City Guard don’t seem like they want to release them, so…” He trails off for effect.
“You want to bust them out?” In my surprise, I exclaim this so loudly it echoes around the room.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Louis roll his eyes. Tieman grins and gives me a look through his lashes. “Well. Let’s just say that we’re looking into it. We’re keeping all options open.”
That’s risky as hell. Even through a sewer or an underground tunnel, it would be dangerous to even try breaking into a jail.
I remember Mum praising the King at dinner tonight, and how wonderful it was that everything was back to the old ways; the warning glances she gave me every time I opened my mouth to try and talk about anything that has happened since. I don’t want to upset my father and make him sicker, but the silence at home is stifling.
“I think I can get into the offices and find those plans,” I say slowly. “I know people who work there.”
Another smile lights Tieman’s face. “Thank you, Sachelle.”
“But you won’t do anything dangerous, will you? The guards won’t be hurt, and you and the others here won’t get hurt, either?” I glance around at the faces of the others in the dim light.
“I promise you that we don’t plan on hurting anyone,” Tieman says. “We’re Paravel’s liberators, not its enemies.”
I nod, and relax a little. As long as no one gets hurt, I don’t care how we free Briar, and neither will she.
Tieman stands up and starts to address the rest of the group, but there’s a pounding of feet on the metal stairs, getting louder and louder. We all turn toward the noise. A moment later, the lookout bursts into the room, terror written all over her face. I jump to my feet.
She’s out of breath and doubles over. Then she looks up and gasps, “Soldiers. Coming. They’re here.”
Some people dash toward the door the lookout came through, but if we all run out there then we’ll be caught.
There’s another door in the shadows at the far end of the warehouse. I grab the three people nearest me. “This way. Come on, quickly. All of you.”
I’m about to go through with them when Tieman grabs my shoulder. He points toward the other door I didn’t see. “Go that way. Straight down the stairs and head north. Keep running and don’t look back.”
There’s no time to answer. Behind us, soldiers pour into the warehouse, and the air is filled with the crack of gunshots.
I tear away from Tieman and run for my life.