Page 52 of The Royal Throne
“Don’t worry about it,” Sabine said.
“How was the ball?” Harper came over and sat on the edge of the bed, petting Harta’s back.
“Eventful.” She didn’t feel like talking about it.
“I heard the king’s mistress showed up.” Harper folded her arms, raising a single eyebrow, looking like she was personally offended.
Sabine propped herself up on her elbows. “Harper, I’m glad that you’re here.” It was nice having someone she not only felt comfortable around but could talk to as well.
“Me too. I hated working at my aunt’s shop.” She started pushing her cuticles back.
“Does the king ever ask you anything about me?” Sabine had no idea if Rainer was checking up on her through her lady’s maid.
“No,” Harper said with a snort. “And I wouldn’t talk to him if he did. I work for you, not him. Besides, Drew already told me how he is. I know to be careful.”
That was not how she thought Harper would answer. First, she was thankful to have the woman’s loyalty. Second, it warmed her to know that Drew had thought to put Harper on guard.
Sabine needed to word this carefully and clearly. “Do you believe the king can override me?”
“What do you mean?”
“If he asked you something about me, and you refused to tell him, he is still your king and you must answer to him.” Now she waited to hear how Harper responded before she decided what to do next.
She shrugged. “He can claim he’s my king all he wants. But I am your lady’s maid. Drew said the law protects me as long as I protect you.”
Sabine smiled. “Excellent. I need your help—but it requires your utmost discretion and complete secrecy.”
“I’m all in.”
Sabine started the day like any other. She got up, dressed, then ate her breakfast. After, she declared she was headed into town to go shopping. Shortly thereafter, she left the palace with Harper, Drew, and a handful of guards. Though Sabine was nervous since she didn’t know the details of the plan, Harper kept patting her arm, telling her not to worry about a thing. Apparently Harper and Drew had spent the night planning everything.
“Okay,” Sabine said, “we’re in the middle of town, now what?”
“Just keep walking.” Harper smiled as she led Sabine along the road.
At the seamstress’s store, Harper led Sabine into the back room where she was given commoner clothing to put on.
After changing, Sabine came out and found that Harper and her guards were all dressed similarly in nondescript outfits befitting a commoner.
“From here on,” Drew said, “we’ll be in groups of two. No names or titles will be used once you step foot out the door. Make sure everyone stays spaced out so we don’t attract unwanted attention.”
Two men exited the back door. Sabine and Harper waited a minute before leaving. The two women walked arm-in-arm, laughing and chatting as they made their way along the back road. They passed a few people but no one paid them any heed.
Sabine knew the rest of her guards followed in groups of two, but she made sure not to look back at them.
Harper chatted about the fabric her aunt had received, a recipe for bread she wanted to try, and about the family party for her niece’s birthday that would be held in a couple of days.
After about a mile, they turned and began to descend the mountain on a steep, dirt path.
“Two of your guards will remain in town to keep an eye on things,” Harper explained. “We want to make sure no one else comes this way or tries to follow you.”
It took nearly an hour to reach the bottom, and by the time they did, Sabine was hot and her legs ached from the descent.
“Another two guards will remain here,” Harper whispered.
The two of them continued on, following a narrow path into the jungle. At a large boulder, Harper stopped and whistled a bird call. A matching whistle sounded back.
“This is as far as I go,” Harper said. “Continue on straight ahead. Follow the trail. I’ll be here with Drew and Erikin. We’ll see you in a few hours.”
