He started violently and nearly dropped the basket. Turning, he faced Alli with wide eyes. When he saw she was dressed as a concubine, he dropped his own gaze and spoke mechanically.
“How can I serve you, my lady?”
“Quick—I don’t have much time. Do you know Rachel?” Alli asked in a low voice.
The young man’s eyes widened.
“I’m her brother. Who are you?”
“A friend,” Alli said. “Will you still be willing to try and get her out of here?”
His eyes widened even further but he nodded—a short, sharp jerk of his chin.
“Of course. But I heard the Overlord picked her as his next concubine.” His mouth twisted and his voice was low and thick with rage.
“He did,” Alli said calmly. “But it might not be too late to get her away from him. Listen…”
A few minutes later she slipped back into the room with the other concubines. They were all sitting around in chairs, as before, except for one sharp-eyed servant. She was a middle-aged woman with short brown hair and mean-looking eyes who didn’t appear to be Calmed at all.
“And where have you been?” she snapped at Alli. “The Matron of the Harem has gone looking for you!”
“Forgive me.” Alli cast her eyes down. “I was looking for the restroom but I never did find it. And I really have to go.” She squeezed her thighs together tightly and put a desperate look on her face. “Please, can’t someone show me the way?”
“I can’t leave—I have to watch the girls,” the woman snapped.
“Maybe someone who knows the grounds then?” Alli asked hopefully.
“Oh, well…You—Rachel,” the woman said, gesturing impatiently. “Your family works here, don’t they?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Rachel kept her eyes down.
“Well—can you show this girl to the restroom or not?” the woman demanded.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Rachel said again. She nodded listlessly at Alli. “This way.”
The moment they were out of the room and Alli was certain the sharp-eyed woman who was apparently the Matron of the Harem’s helper wasn’t watching, she grabbed Rachel by the arm.
“Come on,” she whispered. “We need to get to the kitchens!”
Rachel’s eyes widened and the dull look left her face.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Just come on!” Alli tugged at her and the two of them walked quickly and quietly along until they turned down the long hallway where she had first met Rachel’s brother.
He must have been waiting for them, because the moment they turned down the hallway he rushed out to greet his sister.
“Rachel! Are you all right?” he demanded after gathering her into a tight hug.
“I’m well enough.” But Rachel couldn’t seem to meet her brother’s eyes.
“No you’re not—but you will be,” Alli told her. “Look, it’s getting dark outside so the two of you need to leave quickly. This will be the best time to travel.”
“Leave?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “How can we possibly get away now that the Overlord has…” She choked. “Has chosen me?”
“Like this.” And Alli untied the Peace Cloak from around her own neck and swept it around Rachel’s slim shoulders.
“Oh!” Rachel’s large dark eyes went wide. “Oh, you can’t!” she whispered to Alli. “You’ll get into so much trouble if you’re found out!”
“Let me take care of myself,” Alli said firmly. “You and your brother just get out of here.”
“I’ll go first,” Rachel’s brother told her. “You follow and meet me outside the back entrance to the kitchens. We’ll take the garden path and stay hidden as long as possible.”
“But we can’t just walk away—can we?” Rachel asked.
“Yes, you can,” Alli told her. “I’ve seen the way people look right through me when I’m wearing the Peace Cloak. The Goddess willing, it will be the same for you.”
She invoked the Goddess’s name deliberately, hoping that the Kindred deity was listening to her. To her relief, the warm feminine presence returned, enfolding her like the warm blue cloak she had just given to her new friend.
“Fear not, daughter.” The Goddess’s voice was low and intimate—for their ears alone. “I will be with you every step of your journey.”
“Who is that?” Rachel and her brother looked around, wide-eyed.
“The Kindred Goddess,” Alli told them matter-of-factly. “That is, she’s a Goddess from another universe. But that’s not important now. The main thing is, she’ll watch over you and keep you safe. The two of you just have to have the courage to go in the first place. Will you?”
She was speaking mostly to Rachel. She was afraid the girl’s spirit might have been broken by the awful things that had happened at the feast.
But Rachel straightened her spine and lifted her chin.
“I’ll go,” she said, looking lovely and regal under the royal blue cloak. “And thank you, my friend.”
“Be safe.” Alli gave her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
Then Rachel turned in a swirl of blue and followed her brother towards the kitchens. With the hood pulled up and the cloak pulled tight around her, she might have been anyone at all, Alli thought.