They’d reached the outer wall and Lita stopped. She glanced up top, where a single guard was walking along the wall. The human looked bored and barely glanced at them as he passed overhead. Then she put a finger to her lips and pulled him toward the cliff.

The wall she stopped at was so thickly covered in blackberry vines it made an impressive barrier by itself. With one last grin at Dalius, she began pushing her way through the vines and disappeared inside.

“Careful of the thorns!”

By the time Dalius had fought his way to her, she’d opened a hidden wall door.

“I never would’ve guessed this was here,” he said. She flushed at the admiration in his voice. “How did you find it?”

“Oh, I, it was a guess. I noticed that the south courtyard matches the garden like a mirror. They have a gate in the exact same spot. The only difference is they use the south gate all the time.”

She slipped outside and he followed her. Brushing leaves off his clothes and absently rubbing at scratches.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!”

Embarrassed, she touched a long scratch on his arm and winced. She’d worn clothes that were not only pretty but protected her from the thorns while he’d been somewhat exposed. Though she was looking a bit rumpled now, too.

“Not a problem.” He twisted his arm expertly to grab her hand and kissed it. She flushed and he winked. “It was worth it to know this little secret.”

Flustered, she took her hand away.

“Uh, good. I’m glad you’re fine. Let’s go before my half-day is over.”

As they walked to the main road and into the city, they talked. About life after the troupe, the troupe, and rumors and gossip.

Some of it about the rebels and whispers of a rebellion.

Dalius was quick to shut up that talk but Lita’s heart thundered with anticipation.

Soon.

She didn’t know what the Chief was up to, but soon he’d find a way to save them from demon oppression.

She wanted to ask Dalius about the three women who claimed a tryst, but decided not to. Too embarrassing.

It took about an hour to reach the cafe. Which was, unfortunately, busy.

“Sit here and I’ll get our food,” he told her. Motioning to an empty stone table before getting in line.

It’s so strange to have someone serve me instead of the other way around.

As she waited, she looked around.

It had been a long time since she’d come to the pier. The morning haul was already in, so it was full of fishing boats. Fishing boats. They were the largest things made of wood around and the demons mostly owned them. There were a couple of boats she knew of which the demons took out themselves, but mostly the fishermen had to pay a percentage of their catch for the privilege of using the rare wooden contraptions.

Of course, there were always the canoes. The cheaper wooden frames with skins stretched across them. But they couldn’t compete with the bigger boats.

As she looked around, she stiffened.

Ah, no.

Sheldon?

Of course, he’d be here when she was out on a date with Dalius! He was going up the pier with a donkey cart and several of the troupe hands. As she slid down to hide behind the table, they stopped outside one of the fish stalls only a building down.

“Why?” she moaned under her breath.

“Lita, what-?”

“Dalius! Get down here, now!”

She pulled on his arm, almost making him spill the stew he was carrying. Obligingly, he put the stew down and crouched with her. Silently, she pointed and he spotted Sheldon.

He winced.

“Seems I owe you one,” he muttered. “Let’s sneak around the side.”

She nodded and watched for a chance. Then they both hastily moved between the stall patrons to the alley, where they sat against the wall behind a rubbish bin.

Lita laughed.

“Not funny.” Dalius grinned anyway and leaned his head back.

“I’m not sure who he’d be angrier with. Any bets?”

“He’d forgive you eventually. Me, I might find myself trussed up like a hog on slaughter day.”

Lita laughed again and balanced her bowl on a knee. “You used to be friends. What happened between you two? He won’t tell me.”

“What did he tell you?”

“That you’re a viper and I should stay away from you.”

He pretended a dramatic wince. “A viper? How cruel.”

“Well, you are a known womanizer.”

“True.”

She rolled her eyes. You’re not supposed to agree with something like that, she thought as she took a sip of soup. Her eyes lit up. It was really good!

“Back on topic. What happened?”

“You’ve become quite nosey.”

She pushed that aside. Better to not admit that she’d become that on purpose. “Are you going to tell me, or are you going to keep going around in circles?”

Dalius sighed and stirred his stew. Then looked up with a pained grimaced. “I was framed.”

“Framed? For what?”

“Well, after that fiasco with Kelly, about the time you left actually, the troupe supply pebbles were stolen.”

Lita’s eyebrows shot up. “Stolen? But Taiken closes that box himself. They would’ve had to break it open.”

“Yes,” Dalius agreed grimly. “Anyway, after doing an investigation, the conclusion was it was either me or you. I was the one the whole deal got dumped on.” He took a bite.

“Wait- what?!”

It was the first time she’d heard of something like this happening.

“It’s true. Some people were even speculating it was something you did as part of running away. What they think I wanted all those pebbles for, I don’t know.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“I agree. Fortunately for you, you were cleared.” He sipped some broth. “And I was kicked out.”

Lita slumped back. Stunned.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Why should they? You’re not the thief, so they had no reason to accuse you. And you weren’t part of the troupe anymore, so their hardships because of it didn’t affect you.” He gave her a wry smile. “It’s fine, Lita. It was just another hard blow after an already hard blow. They just needed someone to blame.”

“But-”

“I got a better job. I’m even in line to take over as the next Kahnay magistrate. So it worked out for me.”

She bit her lip. “It still isn’t fair.”

“What in life is fair?”

She grimaced and quietly ate her soup.

The afternoon was melting into evening when they finally got back to the Palace. Instead of going in via blackberry bushes, they went in the front gate. No one seemed to notice that they hadn’t gone out that way.

“Lita,” someone called to her as they walked down the servant’s corridor off the Entrance Hall. “Diana Veran’s clothes are done.”

“I’ll be down in a moment.” She turned to Dalius. “Are you alright from here? I need to change before I go back to work.”

“I’ll walk you down.” He winked and lowered his voice. “I have nothing better to do.”

Her stomach fluttered, and she bit her lip before nodding.

The hallways to the servants’ rooms were quiet, since it was still too early for anyone to be there for longer than quick visits.

Too quiet.

I should’ve refused, she thought as her heart pounded in anticipation. Ears burning. Lita, stop. Friends. He agreed it was just a friends’ outing. And I already decided I didn’t need a tryst. Not now. Not ever.

Her stupid heart didn’t stop pounding as they neared her room.

“Lita.”

“Uh huh?” She half pushed open her curtain and looked back at him.

“May I come in?"