Oris didn't need to think hard about that one, she already knew the answer. She had come too far for something as meager as a wall to stop her. She needed to be in the palace. If she wasn't, Rodholf wouldn't be able to find her.

What had stunned her was the fact that it had barely been ten minutes since she had come in contact with the palace, however indirect said contact was, yet she had already been targeted.

Oris shook her head, feeling that the situation was a bit too humorous. Fate was clearly at work again. So much for my plans to blend into the shadows.

"This," she began, running her thumb over the red stain drawn over her lips. "Do you think this will be able to break me?"

For a moment there was silence, silence she was afraid of because if her closest maids had no faith in her, her chances of survival would plummet. They were the physical extensions of her will. If they didn't think she could make it, what would make them fight for her?

"Hell naw!" Andrea yelled suddenly, scattering Oris' train of thought. The girl clapped her hands together cheerfully and grinned. "I'm with you, Mistress."

"Really?" Oris teased with a smile, a relieved smile, while examining the deep red on her thumb. "And what about your fellow maids?"

"This servant is with you," Seline muttered, color flooding her cheeks, "always."

"Of course, I'm with you, Mistress," Mayree cleared her throat, looking a bit flustered. "We all are."

"I'll do my best," Keziah added.

"Then I have no doubt we'll make it through," Oris said softly, a plan already forming at the edges of her mind. "Mayree, can you—"

A knock on the carriage door interrupted her. "My Lady?" A squeaky voice asked with misplaced uncertainty.

"Faeradaigh?" Oris called back as though she wasn't sure that it was the fat eunuch that was asking for her. It was a game nobility liked to play, pretending that they had lost the ability to recognize each other's voices.

"It is I, My Lady," he replied.

"So it is," Oris let out a loud sigh of relief. "If it had been any other. . ." she purposely trailed off, she herself not knowing what she intended to imply.

"Never," the eunuch declared. "I shall never allow anyone unworthy disturb your rest, My Lady."

"I am glad." Oris smiled lazily, watching as Mayree and Andrea clapped their hands over the other's mouth to silence the laughs that would have given them away.

Even Seline had a slight twitch to her lips and Keziah's eyes glittered with mirth.

"Faeradaigh, why haven't we advanced into the palace?" She tried her best to inject distress into her tone. It wasn't nearly as much as she felt and it was for all the wrong reasons as well.

"Well," he started then went silent. Oris could imagine him wiping at his sweaty face again. It wasn't a pleasant image. It never was.

"Well?" she repeated, trying to coax what she already knew from the man.

"The gates can't be opened by this time," his voice dropped a beat in volume as though the words were a secret and did not state the obvious.

"Which time?" Oris scoffed, not having to fake her displeasure. "It is clear that the guards are on orders not to let us in."

"My . . . My Lady," Faeradaigh stumbled over his words while fumbling for a reply. "The maids. . . They must no hear such words of. . .treason."

"They sleep still, milord. You are the only one who can hear me speak of treason. Will you report me to the Emperor and have me beheaded by dawn then?"

"I. . . I did not mean—"

"Who has the audacity to block the path of the Emperor's royal envoy?" Oris let her voice fall into the calm timbre she used when talking to her ministers, the type that left little room for excuses. "They are the ones committing treason."

"My Lady," Faeradaigh started, his previous haughtiness now sloughing off his words. "This. This was a palace-wide order, it wasn't targeting us specifical—"

"You haven't answered my question."

"It was the Empress Dowager," he said so quietly she almost didn't catch it. But she did. "She discovered that some of the crown jewels were missing so she ordered for the gates to stay shut until the thief was found."

"And when was this order issued?"

"This morning." he answered, then as if he realized what Oris had been implying, hurriedly added, "there was no way for Her Majesty to have known that we would reach the palace ahead of schedule, My Lady."

Somehow aggravated by the eunuch's words, Keziah's mouth began to open. Oris shook her head and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. I know, she mouthed, hoping Keziah saw it.

"I see." Oris said in reply to Faeradaigh's comment. "So it was just a coincidence?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then what are we to do while this thief is. . .yet to be found?"

"I have already made the arrangements for our lodgings. Someone has also been sent to alert the harem of what has happened," he said, pausing a bit before he continued, "does this please you, My Lady?"

"No," Oris laughed coldly. "It does not please me at all."

"Then, what does My Lady want to do?" Faeradaigh sounded disgruntled now.

"I will go to none of the lodgings you suggested," she said slowly. "I will wait here until the harem gives us a reply."

"But, My Lady—"

"That would be all, milord." Oris swiftly cut his protests short. "I feel a little weary from the journey. I had not slept due to excitement. I had been looking forward to entering the palace tonight but alas. . ."

For some moments there was a bit of shuffling before at last the man spoke, "Yes, My Lady."

When Faeradaigh finally walked away, Oris let out long sigh, only now realizing that all her maids were staring at her in what could on be defined as shock, even Keziah had her lips parted like her soul had left her.

"What?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Are we really going against the Emperor's mother, Mistress?" Andrea squeaked. "Like really?"

"It would be a form of retaliation if we remained here," Mayree grabbed her chin and tilted her head back, her gaze now focused on the carriage ceiling. "In a few hours it would be time for the morning court, the officials would start trooping in and they'd see us. They would have to pay their respects to us as they come and go. It would be the opposite of what she intended. We'd be getting attention."

"That's right but that's not all of it," Oris shook her head lightly. "What I really want is for word of this to spread. The Emperor is not allowing his bride into the palace, that should be the latest news on the tongues of the people."

"But the officials wouldn't spread that news," Seline frowned. "They'll acknowledge that we're being wronged but they wouldn't speak out."

"We need another way," Keziah said softly. "A way to reach the people."

"If the people complain then the Emperor wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye towards this." Andrea gasped in realization. "The Empress Dowager would have to give him face and call us in!" she almost shouted.

"Shh," Mayree pressed a finger to the girl's mouth. "Don't let our enemies hear you."

"Oh." Andrea shifted to back then slapped her own hands over her lips before nodding.

"Mayree, before I was interrupted earlier," Oris pointed towards the carriage door, "I was going to ask you for some paper."

"Paper?" The maid reached beneath her seat and pulled open a compartment. "I have some right here."

"Good." Oris smiled. "Take one and pass the rest to the others."

Mayree did as she was told and returned the excess sheets. "What next, Mistress?"

"I need you all to write some things down." Oris started, and as she dictated, Mayree passed pens around.

"Mistress," Andrea held her paper away from her and squinted at the words she had written, "are you sure about this?"

"Pass it over," Oris held out her left hand and collected the papers. "Mayree, is there any tea left? Or water?"

"There's some water."

"Can you please fill a cup for me?"

"Of course, Mistress," Mayree said while reaching for the flask on the panel beside her.

"What are you up to, Mistress?" Andrea asked curiously when Oris collected the water.

"Watch," she smiled mysteriously then dipped her thumb, the one covered in lip stain, into the cup. She tapped the digit against the edge of the porcelain then lightly pressed it onto each of the papers, leaving a red thumbprint on the lower right corner.

"A pen please." she said softly, and when Keziah handed hers over, signed under the four fingerprints.

"You have been intending to do this," Keziah said with a subdued kind of fear. "You had a plan all along."

"The moment you knew we were being obstructed by the Empress Dowager, you already knew what to do." Andrea blurted out and leaned forward. "That is so awe-inspiring, Mistress."

"What are we to do, Mistress?" Seline asked and yanked Andrea back to the seat.

Oris handed the papers back. "When dawn breaks, go out and paste these where people in need can see them. I will handle the rest."

"Mistress, you intend for us to leave you unattended?" Seline looked mortified.

"I will be fine, Seline." Oris laughed. "I was on my own long before I met all of you. Besides, what could happen to me when I am surrounded by so many servants?"

"But—"

"We need to enter the palace," Keziah surprised everyone when she laid a hand atop Seline's. "Let us have faith in our Mistress."

"Okay then," Seline nodded solemnly and held onto Keziah. "This servant shall obey."

~