Page 56 of Sworn to the Alien

If I did wake him up, I would just tell him I was on my way to the bathroom.

I began to pull on my clothes.

And if I managed to wake him up now?

Then I would say I was on my way downstairs to get some milk.

I would tell him to go back to sleep and continue with my plan for the Blue Orb.

I felt terrible about his experience with his wife.

No one deserved such a fate.

Least of all someone as kind and gentle as the Governor.

I grabbed my things, shoved them in my bag, moved to the door, and looked back over my shoulder at the still-sleeping figure.

What would my excuse be for when he woke up and found I was no longer there?

That I wasn’t sure if he wanted his servants to know I stayed the night.

Although, I supposed they werealwaysgoing to find out somehow.

I shut the door and hustled down the hallway, listening carefully in case I heard a servant.

Hearing none, I raced down the stairs, once again listening every few steps.

I didn’t want anyone to see me, not until I had snatched the Blue Orb and gotten away from the palace.

I checked down either hallway, relieved the palace was so quiet.

Then I rushed toward the office the Governor used to store his travel souvenirs.

I crept inside, hastened over to the shelf, grabbed the Blue Orb, and tucked it in my bag.

I immediately backed up, and hurried down the hallway, turning the corner.

The exit was just ahead.

I’m going to make it!

Then I heard voices and skidded to a halt.

I placed my back against the wall and, realizing the voices coming from around the next corner, I hastily turned back the way I had come, shoved open another random door, and shut it behind myself.

I turned to find I was in one of the drawing rooms, home to some of the official artefacts the Governor had shown me earlier.

As I backed up, my elbow hit something.

I nearly leapt out of my skin as I spun around.

There, tilting, teetering on its edge, was a historical bowl intricately inlaid with complex carvings.

It looked like it was going to fall over the edge.

I lunged forward to catch it.

As I did, my bag caught the plinth it was standing on.

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