Planning

News of Anna's escape and a strange feline attack on the palace walls reached Cafer's ears early the next morning. Wondering if they were connected, the gnome wisely kept the news both from the Council and his allies. There was no need to worry yet. As long as Ezer thought that they had Anna, that was what mattered.

Anyway, the gnome had other matters on his mind. He sought out Ravenna and found her watching the gnomes and servants clear and rebuild the palace. "They work so quickly," the woman in a dark blue wig said as she saw Cafer approach. "How long do you think it will be before I can move into a more permanent set of quarters?"

Cafer watched the progress. "A couple of days at the most. You are anxious to get settled?"

"I want as much distance from the dungeon and myself as possible. His Majesty was very gracious to give me the suite I requested." Ravenna did not take her eyes off of the construction as she spoke. There was an obvious mix of magic and masonry occurring, but it was unclear where one stopped and the other began.

"Future Emperor Alaron can sympathize with being put in that despicable dungeon by Aurora. She did the same to him after all." Cafer smoothly transitioned to his next topic.

"Yes, we have that in common," Ravenna agreed.

"I have a final way that you can humiliate the Empress." Cafer watched at the woman stiffened.

"It was never about humiliation," Ravenna argued. "I wanted justice for my son, Lord Turpilius. Obnoxious as he was--I know my son's faults--he should not have been murdered in such a way. And then the Empress has the nerve to deny her involvement. I made many sacrifices to protect Turpilius from Zephyra's purge only to see him die at her daughter's hand. I made choices no one should have to make."

Cafer listened quietly. Turpilius had been killed by the advisor's own hand, not the Empress's. The gnome had stabbed Turpilius in order to stop the lord from revealing Cafer's plot to take over Valiant. Now, Turpilius's mother was actually working against her own goal.

The advisor gently patted Ravenna on the arm as he comforted her. "Turpilius did not die in vain. Now you can stop others' children from being slaughtered."

"How?" The old woman arched her brow.

Cafer continued, "By ensuring a smooth change of power. By pretending to be Aurora."

Ravenna laughed. "Aside from our beautiful hair and soft spot for our sons, we have nothing in common. No one will believe I am Aurora. We are not even close to the same age or physique."

"I can fix that." Cafer pulled the Semblance Stone and some hair from a hidden place in his robes.

"What are those?" Ravenna peered down at the objects nearly tipping her wig off of her head.

"This snippet of hair belongs to Aurora; Xander acquired it at His Majesty's birthday party. And the bracelet is something I will lend you. With a little magic, you would be amazed just how much like the Empress you will look. Let us go somewhere and see what we can do."

"Being Aurora will prevent bloodshed?" the old lady considered his words. She was secretly relieved that her men had not fought in the takeover. None of them had died for the cause, and now they might not have to.

"Absolutely," Cafer could say without hesitation. "I just want a peaceful transition."

Ravenna nodded. "Show me this magic."

-------------------------------------

Alaron did not require much of Brinn's attention, and so the spymaster and Renat spent the day firming up their next set of plans.

The pair, with an escort, went to the dungeon. "You can wait here," the princess ordered the guards when they reached the main entrance. "It is not like I can escape from down here, and no one in the cells can hurt me."

"But!" the guard, who was human and not a gnome, tried to argue.

"I will tell my brother that you were babysitting me and not protecting me. I do not think he will take that news well." Brinn threatened. The guard nodded and allowed them to go in alone as he joined the other soldiers at main the door.

Following the jailer, Brinn's heart sank as she viewed the cells full of those who would not betray the Empress. Other than the assassins and a couple of other real criminals, most of the prisoners she saw were just paying the price to do what they thought was right. The jailer had submitted to Alaron's rule in exchange to keep his position, but it was clear he had done so to protect those in his care. He led Brinn and Renat slowly through the cells as they searched for their targets.

"I would love to get all of them out," the elf said to Renat as she saw all the sad faces. Maybe after we are successful the first time, we will create a system to rescue as many as we can."

Renat nodded. The jailer, who was walking slightly ahead of them, did not hear. If he had, he would have offered his help.

"Who are you looking for?" the man asked politely as the keys jingled from his belt.

"Take me to the most secure cells. I believe those I want to see are there." Brinn ordered. The jailer let the elf and Renat into the most secure area and locked the door behind them.

"Let me know when you want out," the jailer told them before shutting them in.

Almost immediately a voice called out to them. "Princess!"

Brinn hurried over to the heavy door and picked the lock. Nurlan was waiting inside. "Eat this." The elf passed the general food and water from her bag. "How have they been treating you?"

Nurlan ate the food quickly. "I am fine. So far I have not been tortured for information, but I am sure that time will come. Cafer came to visit me with the prince, but Alaron would not let his advisor harm me."

"Cafer will behave for now, I think." Brinn confirmed. "And that will give us time to get you out. We are forming a plan. If I can smuggle you out of the palace, do you think you can find Emperor Devrim? I need you to deliver a message."

Nurlan nodded and straightened his back. He was a soldier at heart and loved a good mission. "Anything for the true Emperor and Empress."

They left the general in his cell after their talk and moved down the hall. Sure enough, their second query was also in the most secure area. Brinn picked the lock a second time, causing Renat to wonder how often that skill had been useful for her. He made a note to hide anything personal in the future rather than lock it away.

The centaur looked up with a warm smile. "That jailer of yours at least has a heart, unlike the gnomes. He did not try to separate us." The horseman cradled a sleeping elf in his arms. "Bukuri, your niece is back."

Brinn expected the elf to be docile and remain mostly asleep as she had before, but to her surprise, Bukuri's bright purple eyes opened and she sat up slightly. "Thank you, Faris," she said softly.

Faris, the centaur, beamed at her words. "It is so nice to hear you speak, My Lady, and even better to hear you speak my name." The horseman stroked the elf's hair before he looked obligingly at Brinn. "Your visit sparked something in her. She has been more alert in the past day and a half than all the years I have known her combined."

Brinn knelt on the cold floor by her aunt. "Aunt Bukuri! How are you?"

"Healing." Bukuri responded. She had spent so much time being weak and helpless so that the gnomes would leave her alone that she had nearly given into the darkness.

Nearly. Every time she had come close to embracing the sweet release of death, something had pulled her back. The birth of her child, the arrival of her fellow prisoner Faris, and even the kindness of a human girl who was able to escape, all of these pulled Bukuri back from the brink.

At the mention of her son two nights before, a switch inside Bukuri flipped. If she wanted to see him again and truly escape, she would need to fight. The elf clawed back from her despair into the light. Her grasp was tenuous, but there.

"Gandr?" Bukuri asked.

"He is in the land of magic completing an important task. He will be so glad you are safe." Brinn quickly explained the situation and where things stood.

"We want to get you…both of you," Brinn added as she realized how much Bukuri was relying on Faris, "out of Valiant and somewhere a safe. As soon as we can, we hope to reunite you with Gandr and the rest of your—I mean our family."

Bukuri nodded and leaned back on Faris. She was still very weak. Faris spoke on her behalf, "Give Bukuri at least a few of days and some decent food before we try anything. She needs to build up strength."

Brinn pressed her lips together. "I will stall as long as I can, but I have to act before Baak moves you again. His new living quarters are being designed and built. He claims they are just guest rooms, but I know better."

"Let us know when the time comes," Faris said with a soft whinny. "I will watch over this lady until then."

They departed the jail after giving the two prisoners all the food that Brinn had stored in her pack. The rest of the day passed quickly with Brinn performing some royal duties including checking on the Council. Ezer was very happy to know about his wife's escape, and Nanny reminded her that 'Mairwen' needed to be careful.

After a dinner with the anti-Council (Brinn had come up with the name during the meal), the princess gladly said goodnight to Baak, Ravenna, Cafer, Xander and Alaron. The group was exhausting, and each had their own agenda.

Back in the sitting room of Mairwen's suite, the scientist and elf worked quietly as the sun dipped below the horizon. They were finally done drawing up an invention based on one of Renat's ideas when the boy voiced his thoughts.

"If Cafer finds out about all this," he said while pointing to their plans, "he is going to go after you."

"Am I doing anything Mairwen would not?" Brinn countered. "If he tries to harm me, he will certainly try to hurt the real princess."

"I suppose that is true. Just do not turn this into a suicide mission, please," the boy begged. He had every intention of making it out of the situation alive. Renat had unfinished business with the woman whose face Brinn was wearing. She could see the longing in his eyes and felt a pang of guilt for causing him pain.

"I will be careful. Good night, Renat." Brinn hurried toward the bedchamber. As usual, she dismissed the ladies-in-waiting in order to undress alone. As she was about to get ready for bed, she heard the door behind her open and close. "I would like to be alone," she reminded the visitor.

When there was no response, the elf turned to see Renat standing by the door, staring at her with an indescribable look. "Brinn?" He called tentatively.

"Yes?" Brinn responded as she tried to understand his presence. Had they not just parted ways?

But Renat did not answer. He closed the gap between them and wrapped the elf in his embrace. "Brinn," he repeated longingly.

Before she could respond, Renat locked his lips firmly against hers.