Except for the times he’d arrived in or left Arnor City, Rudiger hadn’t spent any time at the docks, so he had not been prepared for the crowds. Those couple times he had been here, it hadn’t been anything like this. The embargo had been lifted a little over two weeks ago now, but there were still throngs of people trying to get out of the city. Rudiger couldn’t blame them. He wanted out too, though not in the way he was actually getting out.

Moving through the crowds could be awkward, especially as Lidda simply expected everyone to move out of her way, and if they didn’t, she expected Rudiger to move them for her. Huuh was doing that without reluctance, growling at and shoving people as necessary. Rudiger, however, preferred to use less physical methods. Luckily, his size and Slay’s noticeable presence on his back did most of the job for him, and people usually moved aside without him having to say or do anything, other than look a little grumpy—an easy task, considering he really was grumpy.

Having Slay back was somewhat comforting, although it didn’t make up for everything else. The sword had been lying sheathed on a table in the greeting room when he’d gotten back to is apartments, just as Lidda had promised. Her doppelganger, sitting near the sword, rose and curtsied as Rudiger entered.

“Apologies, my Lord. Her Majesty ordered me to come here and see to your...um...comforts.”

“Yeah, she told me.” Rudiger walked over to the table with Slay and leaned on it.

“Wine, my Lord?”

“There won’t be any there. My valet never fills it.”

“I had it filled when I arrived, my Lord. There is ample.”

Rudiger looked over to the wine table. “In that case, why not?”

She glided over to the table, and began to pour two goblets of wine.

“So,” Rudiger said, “I was thinking on the way over here. These apartments are actually Felitïa’s—Princess Felitïa, I mean. There are a bunch of rooms I don’t use, including several for all the handmaids she’d have if she were here. You’re welcome to use any of those tonight.”

She handed him a goblet of wine. “You don’t need my...services?”

He shook his head.

She sighed and slumped forward a little. “Oh, thank the gods.” Her cheeks immediately reddened. “I mean...that is… You won’t tell her I reacted this way, will you?”

He shook his head again.

“It’s just...my mother…”

“You don’t need to explain.”

“Thank you, my Lord.”

“Just Rudiger.”

“Of course.” She held out her goblet. “Thank you, Rudiger.”

He clinked his goblet against hers, and they each took a drink.

“The servants all say you’re a good man,” she said after taking another sip.

“I try.” He drank down the rest of the wine and placed the goblet on the table. “I”m going to head to bed, but if you need anything, just holler.” He reached for Slay.

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

She looked aside and adjusted her feet. “I wanted… That is, I’m scared.” She looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes.

Rudiger looked her in the eyes for a moment. This wasn’t some tactic to make him feel sorry for her and lure him into her bed, was it? “You should be scared. You’re involved with some very scary people.” He picked up Slay and headed for his bed chamber. “And I’m still not sleeping with you.”

“No, that wasn’t… I mean… Okay, that was part of it, but I really am scared. She told me…”

He stopped and looked back at her. “Look, I get it. She wanted you to do whatever necessary to seduce me, and if you or your family are in some sort of danger if you fail, I’m completely willing to tell Lidda we slept with each other.”

She curtsied and wiped a tear from her eye. “Thank you, Rudiger.”

“There’s not much more I can do to help you right now, but with a little luck, Lidda will not be returning from this trip of hers.”

“You’re going to kill her?”

Rudiger eyed her for a moment. “Just stay close to Malef, and by that, I don’t mean intimately close. Just stay physically near him. He’s made mistakes, but he’s basically a good person. He’ll do what he can to help you, and he’ll keep you safe when Cerus and Felitïa take this place back. Good night...uh…” He considered asking her name, but it was probably best he didn’t know, so he turned again and continued to his bed chamber.

He assumed she slept in one of the handmaids’ chambers, though he didn’t stick around long enough in the morning to find out.

As they’d left the Palace grounds and headed into the city, Lidda asked him about his night.

“Fine,” he said.

“Just fine? Not going to tell me you slept with my lookalike to help keep her safe from me?”

He stumbled slightly at that. Damn.

Lidda laughed. “Stay close to Malef. He’ll help you. You really are a fool, Rudiger. You think Lamaën wouldn’t find me someone who could be trusted. She’s not just a lookalike, you know. She’s a loyal Servant of Sunset.”

Fuck.

So now he was scaring people aside, grumpy as hell, as he, Lidda, and Huuh made their way through the docks. It wasn’t that the lookalike had played him. She hadn’t. Well, maybe a little. But he had suspected she was trying to play the role she thought he wanted. His mistake had been assuming she was an innocent who had been bullied and blackmailed into compliance. Now, he suspected the story about the threat to her mother was just that: a story.

Gods, he was an idiot!

“The ship we’re looking for is the Marigold,” Lidda said. “Keep your eyes open for it. Oh, and obviously, I can’t use my real name for this trip. Instead, I’m travelling under the name Zandromeda Armida, Zandrue for short. Please call me that from—”

“What?” Rudiger stopped moving and turned to face her.

She stopped and smiled up at him. “Is there a problem, Rudiger?”

“You are not using that name.”

“Why ever not?”

“You know why not.”

Huuh moved between him and Lidda, staring menacingly up at Rudiger.

“Fuck off, asshole.” Rudiger slammed him in the side of the chin and sent him reeling. Gods, that felt good!

Huuh got back to his feet and people nearby hurried away, opening up the most space they’d had since arriving at the docks. His hand reached for the sword at his side.

“Try it,” Rudiger said. “The city watch will come running, and this whole charade will be over.”

Lidda held up her hand to Huuh, who let go of his sword and rubbed his chin.

“Pick a different name,” Rudiger said.

“I felt a familiar name would be easier for you to remember, especially as we’re going to be pretending to be husband and wife for this journey. The two of you were supposed to be married, weren’t you?”

“Pick a different name.”

Lidda shrugged. “Too late. Lamaën already booked the ship in that name.” She walked around him and continued along the dock, where most of the people were resuming their previous activities. “Come along!”

Fuck!

Rudiger turned and followed her, keeping her in sight, but staying behind her this time, letting her deal with the crowds until Huuh caught up and resumed pushing people aside. For the sake of protecting people from Huuh, Rudiger reasoned he should move into the lead again, but he couldn’t be bothered. After all, it wasn’t like Huuh was harming anyone. He was just shoving the occasional person aside, maybe knocking them over.

Rudiger sighed. He needed to catch up and ensure no one got hurt. He picked up his pace, but a voice slowed him.

“Hey, big guy!”

Looking back, a figure was walking just behind him and to his side. Wearing a heavy cloak to protect from the cold and spray, the figure had the hood pulled forward, hiding their face, but the voice had been familiar.

“Keep moving forward and avoid looking back. I don’t want your companions noticing me.”

Was that…? “Gabby?”

“Shush.”

“You’re alive?”

“I said, shush.”

“It’s all right. They’re not looking back and they certainly can’t hear over the noise in this place.”

“I suppose your height does have its advantages. I’d never have noticed you if you didn’t soar above almost everyone else. And admittedly, your little altercation a moment ago helped draw my attention. Now, unless I’m gravely mistaken, that woman is Lidda Plavin. She may be dressed in common garb, but I’ve seen enough of her to know. What the fuck are you doing with her?”

“Waiting to kill her.”

“Seems to me you’ve had several chances in just the last couple minutes.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt it. I don’t like it either.”

“Neither do I, but there are...circumstances.”

“I realise there isn’t time for you to explain everything, so I’ll trust you know what you’re doing.”

Rudiger glanced back at her. She was walking huddled over, and he wasn’t sure she even noticed him looking back. “What about you? What are you doing?”

“Looking for a ship out of this hellhole. Unfortunately, so is everyone else. There just aren’t enough ships to handle it. Two weeks since the embargo was lifted, and I’m still stuck here. No money. Not enough, at any rate.”

Up ahead, Lidda had paused to look back, and was waving at him, apparently saying something as well, though the sound of the crowd drowned her out. He waved to her and picked up his pace, hoping Gabby would follow along, but also manage to remain unseen. “You’re officially dead, you know.”

“I know. And I very nearly was.”

“What about the others? Quilla and the others?”

“Pastrin, Ned, and Hang got safely away before the embargo. I was with Annai and Quilla. We got separated. I was injured, missed our rendezvous, spent weeks recovering. I’ve looked for them, but…”

Rudiger risked another glance back, and she actually looked up. Her nose and eyes were just visible under the hood, and… No, only one eye. The other was covered with a patch. She lowered her head again, and Rudiger turned his attention back towards Lidda and Huuh.

“I better disappear before her bitchiness notices me. I hope you know what you’re doing, Rudiger.”

“Me too. Where you headed?”

“Quorge, if I can ever get a ship.”

“Good. Zandrue and Felitïa are there.”

“I know. Well, Felitïa. Didn’t know about Zandrue. Take care, Rudiger.”

“You too.” He glanced back, but she was moving away, vanishing into the crowds. He picked up his pace again, almost, but not quite, pushing people out of his way to reach Lidda and Huuh.

“Were you talking to someone?” Lidda asked as he reached them.

He gulped. “Beggar wanting funds for ship passage.”

Lidda curled her lip. “Next time, don’t even answer. If they don’t shut up, give them a good slap, but don’t fall behind. You are to be near me at all times. Got it?”

Rudiger took a deep breath. “Yes, your Majesty. Apologies, your Majesty.”

At least he knew Gabby was alive. Everything else might be going to shit, but, apart from Zandrue also being alive, that was about the only good news he’d had in some time.

It didn’t take much longer to spot the ship, but reaching it still took time. There was a line-up of people hoping to book passage on the Marigold and several other ships berthed near it, and many people didn’t appreciate Rudiger trying to, in their opinion, cut ahead of them. Even Rudiger doing his best to look menacing didn’t always work. Huuh slamming two people’s heads together did the trick, though.

Rudiger sighed. He was going to enjoy killing Huuh when the time finally came.

“Lady Armida, Lord Fonivan,” an officer said as they finally climbed onto deck. He bowed to them. “I am Elgar Olgan. First Mate of the Marigold. Captain Yollan has asked me to escort you to your cabin and to extend an invitation to dine with him this evening.”

Lidda curtsied. “Thank you, First Mate Olgan. Please inform your captain that we delightedly accept his invitation.”

Olgan bowed again. “Do you need help with your supplies?”

“We travel light. Our manservant can handle them.” Lidda indicated Huuh.

Olgan nodded to Huuh. “Of course.” He indicated a nearby crewman. “Crewman Dalk will show your manservant where he can sleep. If the two of you would follow me.”

Lidda nodded, and Olgan led the way below deck.

Once they were in their cabin, and the First Mate had left, Lidda sighed loudly. She turned slowly, scowling. “I do hate ship travel. They call this a cabin for nobility. I can stretch my arms out on both sides and practically touch both walls.” She demonstrated; however, “practically touching” turned out to have several feet of space on either side.

Rudiger hadn’t been on a lot of ships, but compared to the few he had been on, this cabin was fairly large. It even had a bed in it rather than just bunks. There were four footlockers and a mirror on one of the walls. Beneath it was a table bolted to the wall, and beside that, a water barrel.

Lidda turned slowly again, and sat on the bed, still scowling. “You can have the floor.”

“Whatever you want, Lidda dear.”

“Zandrue.”

Rudiger groaned.

“I don’t care that you don’t like it. It’s too late to change. You need to call me by that name. No one must know who I really am. Now, what is my name?”

It would be so easy to draw Slay and run her through right now. He wanted desperately to do it, but no. He need to be sure she was beyond the range of her link with the dragon. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself.

“Rudiger? My name?”

“Zandrue.”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

“Zandrue,” he said louder.

“Better. Just pretend I’m her, and it’ll be easier. I look a little like her, don’t I?”

“No.”

She laughed. “No, I really don’t, and thank goodness. Too much muscle for a noblewoman.” She frowned and scoffed loudly. “Noblewoman indeed. She’s not even a full-blooded Folith. Mongrel.”

“Careful,” Rudiger growled.

She looked at him with a smile. “Or what?”

He didn’t answer.

“Exactly. For the duration of this journey, you will call me by her name. Or my love, or my dear, or whatever pet name you choose, as long as it’s complimentary. But never my real name. You will stay near me at all times and you will look happy. Understood?”

He nodded. “Won’t using my real name be a problem? What if it’s recognised?”

She laughed. “No one’s going to recognise you, Rudiger. You may be a noble, but you’re still a nobody. Oh don’t frown so. We’re stuck with each other. Make the best of it.”

Rudiger took a couple more deep breaths, and said nothing.

There was a rap at the door, and Lidda jumped to her feet with a grin. “Please answer it, Rudiger dear.”

With a sigh, Rudiger turned to the door and opened it. Standing on the other side was Lamaën.

“Good morning, Rudiger.”

What the hell?

Lidda pushed past Rudiger and embraced Lamaën, exchanging kisses to their cheeks. She then led him inside, pushing past Rudiger again.

“When did you come aboard?” Lidda asked.

“A couple hours ago,” Lamaën said. “I’m staying with the rest of the passengers in the hold. Not the greatest of accommodations, but I’ll make do.”

“What’s going on?” Rudiger said.

Lidda waved a hand at him. “Shush, Rudiger. You are, of course, welcome to stay here. You’ll have to sleep on the floor beside Rudiger, but I’d appreciate having you nearby.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Rudiger stamped his foot on the floor, and they turned to look at him. “Time to answer a few questions.”

Lidda rolled her eyes. “Oh very well.”

Rudiger looked at Lamaën. “I thought you were staying at the Palace and guiding the lookalike.”

“I am,” Lamaën said. “But I’m here as well.”

Rudiger shook his head. “What?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It makes perfect sense. I am coming with you, and I am staying at the Palace. What do you not understand?”

“You can’t do both.”

“I can, and I am.”

Lidda chuckled. “Oh, poor Rudiger. Did you really think Huuh was my only protection? The man is loyal, but incompetent. I would never rely on him alone.”

Rudiger sighed. He had known she had to have something else up her sleeve. He should have seen this coming. “I assume the Lamaën at the Palace is also a lookalike?”

Lamaën smiled and stroked his moustache.

Lidda patted Rudiger’s arm. “I confess, I don’t actually know how he’s doing it. He does like to be mysterious.” She linked her arm around Rudiger’s and leaned up against him, resting her head on his chest. “But the important thing is, he’s here and he’s going to help you and Huuh ensure I come to no harm.” She gazed up at him. “I won’t come to any harm, will I, my love?”

Rudiger shook his head, and Lidda laughed uproariously.