Back at the palace, things were coming to a head. The palace was nearly reconstructed, and that meant that Baak would be moving his "trophies" soon. There was little time to lose.

Alvar had been changing his appearance often to avoid detection since his arrival. So far, no one seemed to suspect that not one, but two elves were hiding in plain sight.

Brinn had decided not to tell Alaron about her beloved's arrival. The prince was surprisingly tolerant of many of her antics lately, including a heated discussion of whether to serve chocolate gnomes as the dessert for the coronation feast.

"Princess Mairwen" had insisted it would be fitting, but Cafer did not like the idea of people eating the heads off the little edible sculptures. In the end, Brinn prevailed, knowing that she would enjoy destroying the little chocolate beast almost as much as taking down a real one.

However, the spymaster was not sure that his tolerance would extend to Alvar or to the upcoming escape of Bukuri and company. Therefore she kept him in the dark. As usual, it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

Just now in another part of the palace, Alaron was trying on his coronation garments for his final fitting, so Brinn gathered with Alvar and Renat to finalize the preparations.

They were positioned around a small table that had been brought into the Princess's bedchamber. It was one of the few places that was protected from prying eyes.

"The escape has to be tonight," Brinn said. "We can delay no longer. Baak keeps hinting that he is ready to move in to his suite, but Cafer has asked for one more day. We will have to change all our plans if they move my aunt before we act."

"How was Bukuri when you saw her?" Renat asked Alvar.

That morning Renat and Brinn had been tending to another useless decoration selection for the coronation. Brinn hated the task intensely, but chose what she thought Mairwen would select instead of the burned orange color that was too tempting.

Alvar smiled warmly as he remembered his visit with the purple-eyed elf. "Bukuri is getting stronger. She was able to walk across the cell today, and was putting together sentences without growing weary. Her recovery from what you initially described it quite remarkable!" The he-elf was truly impressed. "With Faris to ride on, I think she stands a good chance of being able to make the journey."

Brinn nodded. "And then she can finally return to Gandr and the rest of our family."

"I still cannot believe Gandr is your cousin and you had no idea." Renat mused aloud. The small thwack to the back of his head was far softer than he expected.

"Not everyone can be a genius like you. Do you know all your extended family?" Brinn crossed her arms defiantly.

"Well, no…probably not," the boy conceded.

"Then for all you know you could be distantly related to the royal family! Maybe the princess is your cousin too," the she-elf said.

"Oh, I hope not." Renat was not fond of the idea. He unconsciously shivered.

"It is unlikely," Alvar encouraged him. "I mean there are quite a lot of humans. And you are a commoner while she is royalty."

"Thank you for that reminder," Renat was feeling worse instead of better. His face was grim.

Alvar received his own thump on the arm. "What did I do?" he protested.

"You hurt the kid's feelings!" Brinn rolled her eyes as if it were obvious. "He does not care when I say stuff because I am a mean jerk. But he takes all your words to heart because you are far too nice."

"Sorry," Alvar apologized with sad eyes, though he was still unsure of his crime.

Brinn's face softened at his penitence. "I am sure you meant no harm. You forgive him, right, Renat?" She gently touched the he-elf's shoulder with a small smile as she leaned toward him, not bothering to look the scientist's way.

"Of course," Renat answered quickly. "We cannot let anything distract us from rescuing your aunt and reuniting your family," the boy added, hoping to break up the lovey-dovey scene unfolding. He had seen quite enough of those recently.

His word had the desired effect as Brinn pulled herself from her fiancé's embrace. "Stop distracting me!" she scolded Alvar. She shook her head. "As I said, we need to act tonight."

"What time were you thinking of having all this occur?" Alvar asked, trying to focus on the plan and not the she-elf's beautiful green eyes.

Brinn seemed to read his thoughts and looked down at the plans spread across the table. She placed her hands on her hips and thumped her foot on the ground. "Well, we cannot do it in the dead of night like last time. I think Cafer suspects someone from the palace helped Anna. He has increased the late night guard."

"It is worse than that. I think Cafer suspects you, Brinn. The way he looks at you behind your back is chilling." Renat shivered. "He keeps his composure as long as you or Prince Alaron is looking, but when his facade slips, he seems like he will murder you with his gaze."

"Let him try!" Brinn stuck her chin defiantly in the air. "Then maybe the prince will finally see that no good gnome for the backstabbing fraud he is."

"Do not be reckless, my love!" Alvar's golden face became pale. "We need to be smart if we want to succeed and remain in one piece."

"Alvar is right. I think it would be best if you were not involved in this escape," Renat said, bracing himself.

"What?!?" Brinn nearly pounced on the boy, but Alvar was quick to take his side.

"You would not be in on the escape part, but you would still be helpful. If Cafer suspects you, then you need an airtight excuse for your whereabouts. You can keep an eye on him while he keeps an eye on you." The he-elf smiled wide.

Brinn tilted her head. "You mean during dinner?" she asked, considering his statement. "It is not the worst idea you ever had."

Renat was quick to jump in. "With you distracting the big boys, we will be sure to succeed."

Brinn scowled and tapped her fingers on the table. "I see that you are trying to butter me up! I will do it, but you better get out free and clear and find the princess. If the Southern Fort is overrun like Alvar heard, then Emperor Devrim will need all the help he can get. That mirror could be his best shot."

"I will do my best to get the bag them," Renat promised. "Now you need to get all dressed up and looking pretty. 'Mairwen' has to be extra charming tonight." The scientist's grin was infuriatingly innocent.

Brinn's eye held a dangerous glint. "If we both live through this, I may just kill you…"

——————-

"You are looking particularly lovely tonight," Baak complimented the fake princess sitting across from him at dinner. His large eyes looked at her in a ways that made Brinn cringe inwardly.

While Brinn had been dressing in Mairwen's most boring dresses to keep unwanted attention away, tonight she was clothed in an exquisite light purple gown with her hair tied up in coronet braid. Even Cafer, who never entertained such thoughts, noted her beauty. And Xander was a pirate. His smile said it all.

"Thank you, King Baak," Brinn managed without gagging.

Ravenna politely inclined her head. "You will make a very gorgeous bride for some fortunate man. I am sure your brother will choose wisely who you should wed. That nobleman will be very lucky indeed." The woman was gently reminding the others at the table to keep clear of the princess. She did not like their gawking any more than Brinn.

Alaron choked on his food at the Councilwoman's words. "My sister can choose whoever she likes to marry. I will not stand in her way."

Ravenna looked offended. She placed her hand on her chest in shock. "You care so little about her sister that you will not select select the best candidate for her hand?"

Now it was Alaron's turn to be offended. "It is not my hand to give," he looked at Brinn meaningfully, "but whoever ends up trying to marry my sister will have to prove he is worthy."

"Thank you, brother. I know he will," the fake Mairwen blushed. She smiled sweetly at Alaron and nodded.

Though usually rather pinched and sour, Ravenna's face became bright as she saw the twins' understanding glance. "Ah, so there is someone! Who is the man who dares to court a princess?"

Xander leaned back in his chair and clapped. "This I want to hear!" While this was not a juggler, it was at least entertaining.

Baak looked angrily at Cafer, and the latter furrowed his brow in concern.

Brinn could hear commotion in the hall, but it seemed the others had not noticed. She decided to keep their attention as long as she could. Ravenna had provided the perfect opportunity for her take center stage. The elf sat up excitedly in her chair and batted her eyes as if recalling some beautiful dream.

"Oh just someone..." Brinn sighed happily.

All of them leaned in to hear her say more. "Don't stop now!" Xander gave her a gesture to keep her story coming. His informal manner, which was improper in front of the princess, actually worked to cover up Brinn's diversion.

She twiddled her thumbs nervously. "I mean. He is tall, very tall. And handsome beyond my dreams. When I am with him, I am out of sorts and want to hide and burst into song all at the same time. His kindness is only outpaced by his loyalty. I know there is no such thing as a knight in shining armor like the stories say, but that is what he is."

The Fake Princess stood and walked to the head of the table. She knelt and kissed her brother's ring. "I hope when the time comes, you will give permission for us to wed, my brother."

"Of course," Alaron agreed, pulling Brinn from the ground.

"What is preventing you now?" Ravenna asked. She was so caught up in the story that she did not notice a soldier enter the room with a worried look. The soldier knelt at the entrance of the banquet room, waiting to be recognized so he could speak. Brinn would prevent that as long as possible.

"If only he would ask me! When we dance, I feel like I am flying." The spymaster twirled around the room with her fake partner. "But alas he has not professed his love, yet. Next time we dance, I am sure he will tell me how he feels. Perhaps it will be at your Coronation, brother."

Brinn continued to spin with the invisible partner, and Xander could take it no longer. "You must not dance alone, Your Highness." He stood to join her, but Brinn saw him coming. Rather than have the pirate embrace her, she 'tripped' and they both fell into Cafer, knocking food and drink all over the gnome's lap.

Cafer wanted to scream but held his tongue. "I will go get changed," the advisor said with only a hint of malice.

Then he noticed the soldier at the door. Alaron also saw the man. "Speak!" the prince ordered. "Don't just kneel there, gawking!"

"Sire," the soldier said. "Some prisoners are missing from their cells."