Mistake hugged Wendal and dashed off before he changed his mind. She stopped in an alley to attach the pin and frowned when she looked at her clothes. Nobody would believe that she was a member of a lord’s family. Working her way around the row of inns, Mistake returned to the marketplace in a way that would keep her hidden from Wendal. She hurried through the stalls until she found the clothes she was looking for.
Mistake hurried back to her room at the Wine Press and changed into her new outfit. The corner of her mouth turned downward as she looked at herself. She wore a blue city-girl dress with a yellow belt and collar. Its short sleeves required her to leave her arm sheaths in the room. Feeling naked, Mistake raced down the stairs. The innkeeper stared at her as she dashed out the back door of the inn.
It was only a few blocks to the large park outside the Imperial Palace. Mistake halted there and watched the people coming and going. When she saw an appropriate group heading for the palace, she walked briskly to get in front of them. She marched right up to the doors and one of the soldiers stepped in front of her.
“This is the Imperial Palace,” stated the guard. “What business do you have inside?”
“I need to see my father,” scowled Mistake. “He did not give me enough gold to buy anything decent in the marketplace. You must take me to him immediately.”
“And who is your father?” asked the guard as he stared at the small pin on her dress.
“Lord Samert, of course,” Mistake said in an annoyed fashion. “Everybody knows that. You will have one of your men escort me to him immediately.”
One of the other Imperial soldiers tried to stifle his laugh, but the squad leader talking to Mistake heard it. He turned and glared at the offending guard. The guard turned his face away in embarrassment, but he could not stop laughing. Eventually, even the squad leader’s smile broadened.
“I cannot spare any men to escort you,” said the squad leader. “Go up the steps inside and around to the left. There is a long corridor with doors on both sides. You will see the Vessi name on one of them.”
“Hmmph,” spouted Mistake as the squad leader held the door open for her.
She marched inside and took a deep breath as the door closed. She could still hear the guards outside laughing.
“I wouldn’t want to end up wedding that,” laughed one of the men. “She would probably have me beat each night for dipping into my ale.”
Mistake could not stifle a chuckle of her own as she moved across the entrance foyer and up the small flight of steps. She walked swiftly to avoid spending too much time in the wide-open area, but nobody paid any attention to her. She walked down the long corridor, swiftly scanning the names on the doors. She started sweating nervously and was almost at her wit’s end when she finally saw the Torak door. Without knocking, she opened the door and stepped inside.
* * *
HawkShadow strode across the open field behind the Imperial Palace where thousands of troops were encamped. The field was ablaze with clan colors as each clan marked out an area for themselves. Some of the clans had large sections of the field roped off, while others sported nothing but a few tents and a banner in their clan colors.
HawkShadow’s eyes roved constantly in search of one of Lord Marak’s clans. Finally, he spotted the green and yellow of the Situ clan. He walked purposefully up to the tent and ducked inside. Three squad leaders were inside and one of them immediately pulled a sword.
“What are you doing in here?” demanded the man with the sword.
“My name is HawkShadow,” declared the Sakova. “I am a friend of Lord Marak’s. In case you have not heard, Lord Marak is being held prisoner inside the palace. I need your help to get him out.”
“What game are you playing?” scowled the man with the sword.
“Let him speak,” interrupted one of the other squad leaders. “I have seen this man in Fardale when Lord Rybak attended this last meeting. He is Sakovan.”
“That is correct,” nodded HawkShadow.
“We have heard about Lord Marak,” the man said as he returned his sword to its sheath, “but there is little we can do about it. We are but a single corte of troops. We cannot stand against all of the lords of Khadora. Have you seen the field outside?”
“I walked across it,” nodded HawkShadow. “I am not suggesting that we fight everyone to get him free. I plan to go in and get him out without anyone noticing.”
“You are daft,” the first squad leader shook his head. “This is the Imperial Palace that you are talking about. They won’t even let you in there.”
“I will get in,” declared HawkShadow, “but I need one of your uniforms to do it.”
“One of our uniforms?” echoed the squad leader. “Tell us what your plan is and we will go do it. We are not afraid to put our lives on the line for Lord Marak.”
“I do not doubt your sincerity and loyalty,” smiled HawkShadow. “I would gladly tell you my plan if I had one. The first part is getting StarWind and myself into the palace. Then we will find Halman and Gunta. I know both of them well. We will put our heads together and develop a plan at that point. I just need a uniform to get us inside.”
“A uniform will work for you,” frowned one of the squad leaders, “but what about the girl?”
“I can handle that part,” assured HawkShadow. “Will you help me?”
“We will,” nodded the man. “Take my spare uniform. If there is any way that we can help, be it a diversion or an attack, we stand ready.”
“I do not know where Halman and Gunta are,” offered one of the other squad leaders, “but the Situ chamber is down the leftmost corridor. It is near the rear of the palace. They will know where the Torak clan is quartered.”
“Thank you,” nodded HawkShadow as he slipped into the Situ uniform.
HawkShadow left his weapons in the tent and crossed the field to meet up with StarWind. Together they approached one of the palace doors. The Imperial guards gazed at StarWind and stopped them from entering.
“What are you doing with her?” asked the Imperial guard. “She has no pin.”
“Lord Rybak has requested her,” HawkShadow explained. “She is an interpreter of dreams. Lord Rybak had a disturbing dream last night and has demanded that she be brought to him at once. I do not question my lord’s orders.”
“You are wise not to,” nodded the guard. “Do you know the way?”
“I do,” nodded HawkShadow.
The guard opened the door, and the Sakovans passed through it. HawkShadow acted as if he was escorting StarWind. Together they made their way to the Situ quarters. They knocked on the door and entered as soon as it opened. Lord Rybak looked at the intruders with a puzzled expression.
“Sorry for the intrusion,” apologized HawkShadow. “We need to find Halman and Gunta. Borrowing one of your uniforms was the easiest way to get into the palace.”
“You are the Sakovans,” Lord Rybak said with recognition. “Why do you seek Halman and Gunta?”
“To make a plan to free Lord Marak,” StarWind answered.
“You risk your lives for Lord Marak?” questioned Lord Rybak. “It should be us fighting to free him.”
“We do not plan to fight anyone,” retorted HawkShadow. “We would like to sneak him out of the palace without disturbing anyone. Halman and Gunta know him better than any, and they both know us well. I think together we have a chance.”
“If anyone in a Situ uniform is going to rescue Lord Marak,” smiled Lord Rybak, “it will be me. I will go with you.”
“No,” HawkShadow shook his head. “I know that there are many clans who would willingly die to free Lord Marak, but it is better if we do it. If we are captured, the Imperial troops cannot tie us to any clan. I will have removed this uniform before then. If you are caught, your people will suffer needlessly. At least let us try it first. If we fail, then you can do what you think is best.”