I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or worried about Luard's arrival in Neveri. On the one hand, it was more allies and soldiers, but also…he had a habit of inserting himself in places where he didn't belong. And with my nightly activities under heavy scrutiny, I would have to be careful how I allowed myself to be seen with him.
I spent most of the day hiding my face and avoiding attention from the local soldiers. I didn't want to approach Luard or his team until I had them alone, and unfortunately, they spent most of their first day in town in the middle of taverns and whatever shops were open. As the afternoon drew on, they returned to their inn. I had a good vantage point from the rooftop across the street, but since the caretaker at the Wicked Duck knew my face, I couldn't just walk in the front door.
When dusk started to settle, and Ivan rose from his nap, I dug around on the roof until I found something big enough to throw. I lobbed it at the window. But, of course, Luard's boisterous laughter echoed at the same time.
I threw another—same thing.
"Mother damn it all, shut up, Luard." I grunted as I scrounged around for another stone. I listened for the laughter then threw the rock once it had subsided.
Ivan came to the window and pulled it open.
I waved frantically.
"What are you—"
"Ssh!" I hissed, glancing at the alley and putting my finger to my mouth. I motioned for him to move out of the way then popped up and walked to the other edge. With a running start, I leapt over the alley, my fingers connecting with the overhang of the roof. And with a heave, I swung myself through the open window, landing in a crouch.
"Well," Luard said, his eyes wide. "That was quite an entrance. You've certainly taken to vigilantism again, haven't you?"
I walked to the window and closed the curtains. "It's been difficult to move around here. How did you guys get past the guards at the city limits?"
"My charm," Luard said, with a knowing glance. "Though they still searched our entire carriage. I made sure to file an official complaint. Maarit should be paying me a visit."
My eyes bulged. "Are you serious? She could—"
"Relax, Brynna," he said, holding up his hands. "It's merely a tactic. If I act like a spoiled prince, offended that I was treated like an enemy combatant, she's less likely to assume I am, in fact, an enemy combatant."
I relaxed, but only a little. "She's a real piece of work. You'd better be careful about pissing her off."
"Duly noted," he said. "So? How goes it?"
I wished I had more to share with him. "The good news is that Riya is here—she's one of Felix's lieutenants and she's promising to find me a way to the gates so I can get a closer look. But from what I've seen so far, it'll be tough."
I heard voices outside the room, and Ivan and I shared a look. Someone knocked loudly on the door. "City of Neveri guards. Open up."
One quick look out the window told me I'd be unable to escape that way, so I opted to dive under one of the beds and hope they didn't look there. No sooner had my feet disappeared from the light than the door opened and black boots walked inside.
"When we knock, you open. Or are things different in Niemen?"
Maarit had made a personal visit, as expected, along with four other guards. I couldn't tell if Riya was one of them, but I assumed not. I might've given her a reprieve, but not enough to fully restore trust.
"Things must be different, because the last time I visited Forcadel, I wasn't barged in on," Luard replied casually, leaning on the bed I was under. "Good thing I wasn't in here with a woman, or else I would've been really cross."
Maarit walked to the window, opening the curtains. "I am curious why a prince of Niemen decided to enter our city. On your way to visit your sister in Forcadel?"
"Oh, I'm a wild stallion," he said, his weight crashing down on the bed. "But I do think I might write to my dear sister in Forcadel and tell her just how I was welcomed into the country. She does have the ear of that new queen now, and I know she'll be most interested to hear how visitors are received in the border city."
There was a pregnant pause, then Maarit cleared her throat. "We have a lot of unrest in the city as of late, and I'm merely concerned about your wellbeing. I would be happy to leave an extra guard here."
"Oh, there's no need for that," Luard said. "My men are quite adept at keeping my nose clean, as it were. But I would love it if you'd give me a personal tour of your great city. I like to know where I should spend my money—and where I shouldn't."
"Of course." Her shadow moved, perhaps into a half-bow appropriate for a prince of a foreign nation. "Anything else I can do for you during your short visit?"
He made a noise. "I confess, I would like to see these great gates I've heard so much about. They're closed now, aren't they?"
I bit my lip, curiosity and fear zipping down my back.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Maarit said, predictably. "Ferrying a prince isn't something I want to allot resources to right now."
"No resources necessary," Luard said. "I'm well-equipped with guards of my own. I'm sure we can commission a ferry—"
"Only military vessels are allowed west of the city." Maarit's tone had grown terse, and I closed my eyes as I willed Luard to tread carefully. It wouldn't do him any good to arouse suspicion.
"And when is the next vessel leaving?" Luard asked, sounding oblivious to everything except his own ego.
"Why so interested?"
"Silly reason. Ariadna is curious to know if the Niemenian steel used to construct the gates is still strong. Apparently, there's something in the old treaty that dictates if the steel rusts or deteriorates, Niemen will replace it. She received a note from Her Majesty, Queen Ilara, some time ago asking her to inspect it. And so I got the short end of the stick and was sent all the way here."
I craned my neck upward, knowing he couldn't see the look of disbelief on my face.
Above me, paper rustled, and I heard the telltale sigh from Maarit's nose. "I see. Why not mention it when I asked you why you were here?"
"I didn't think it was any of your concern," Luard said. "After all, I'm not a prisoner. I can move freely in the city, can I not? I thought the same would go for the gates. Silly me, I forgot we're in a war."
"We aren't in a war," Maarit said, rustling the papers more. "Let me see what I can do for you, Prince Luard. I'll send a messenger in the morning with an update."
"Not too early," Luard said lightly.
The footsteps shuffled out of the room and after a few minutes, the door closed. I waited even longer for the echoes on the stairs to disappear, and Luard poked his head under the bed with a smile.
"Still alive down there?" he said in a quiet voice.
"What in the Mother's name?" I breathed, sliding out. "How did you come up with all that?"
"Easy," Luard said, handing me the paper he'd given to Maarit. It was written in a loopy scrawl I recognized as Ilara's from the few letters we'd exchanged. It was exactly as Luard had said—a request to Ariadna to send someone to inspect the gates, as per the treaty.
"This… What…?"
"Obviously, it's a forgery," Luard said, snatching it from me. "Asdis used a couple of letters Ariadna received from the queen as a practice guide."
"We used it to get past the border," Ivan said. "And to get into the city, as well. It's a convenient excuse for a Niemenian prince to be traveling to the city—especially since the gates were recently closed."
"I didn't want to play it unless I had to," Luard said. "Since Maarit was one of Ilara's, it would be harder to fool her. But it appears to have worked. So now we have a way to the gate, and you have one problem solved."
"Do you actually think there's an issue with the gate?" I asked.
"Of course not," Luard scoffed. "Niemenian steel is good for thousands of years. But… it's incredibly combustible with the ore from the mines. The very same ore we have in our carriage down below. Which we should—"
"No," I said with a shake of my head. "Not yet."
Luard sighed and sank onto the bed. "And why not? We've got the opening."
"Because if the gate explodes, Maarit will point a finger at you," I said. "And besides that, if it is as combustible as you say, you might get caught up in it. I said I wanted to understand the layout before I took action, and I meant it."
Luard looked at Ivan, who thankfully nodded. "I agree with Brynna. As unstable as ond is, it's best to be more cautious."
"Fine," Luard said. "It's your schedule."
"There's still the problem of getting inside the fortress," I said. "I can't just waltz in with you guys."
"You leave that to us," Luard said. "For now, you should probably rest. You look terrible. Look at those bags under your eyes. What've you been doing? Acting like some kind of vigilante all night?"
"There's no way this is going to work," I said with a roll of my eyes. "I look nothing like a Niemenian."
"Nobody ever looks at my guards," Luard said, adjusting the white sash across my chest.
When I'd awoken this morning, Luard had filled me in on his insane plan. I was to dress like a Niemenian, complete with white powder on my face and blond wig, and pose as one of Luard's guards on the trip today. I thought it was quite possibly the dumbest thing I'd heard to date—and I was trying to take back a kingdom without an army.
"You look fantastic," Asdis said. "Luard came with four guards. Three men and a woman. He'll leave with the same number."
"See, Asdis, I knew you were useful for something," Luard said.
She pursed her lips at him, but I still wasn't convinced. "The innkeeper saw my face."
"Then we'll make sure to avoid her," Luard said, placing the cap atop my head. "Don't pout. It's a great honor to be one of my guards."
I stared at the ceiling. "If you say so."
There was a knock at the door, and I tensed. But Luard casually strode to the door, opening it without a care in the world.
"Good morning, Prince Luard." Riya was on the other side of the door, her face stoic and her stance tense. "Captain Maarit sends her sincerest apologies, but she's unable to take you on a tour today. So she's sent me in her place. My name is Lieutenant Riya Kellis. I have a contingent of guards waiting downstairs and a horse ready to take you."
"Oh, Lieutenant, don't stand in the hall like that," Luard said. "Please, do come in. I'm just putting my shoes on."
She walked inside, standing stiffly in the door as she watched him. "We really must get going. The ship will be leaving at the top of the hour."
"Perfect," Luard said, looking over at me. "I'll be taking two guards with me. Ivan and Asdis."
Riya nodded us, then did a double take. She stepped fully inside the room, shut the door, and pointed a very angry finger at Luard.
"What in the Mother's name are you playing at?"
"Oh, come now, nobody else will recognize her," Luard said, gently pushing her finger down. "Because nobody will be looking at her. I'm more than enough to draw attention, and you'll vouch for her."
"They're all Severians down there," Riya said. "They don't trust me. And they definitely don't trust you."
"Then we'll have to tread carefully. Asdis, dear, are you ready?" Luard asked me.
Riya exhaled loudly. "I have to protest, on behalf of Lady Katarine and Felix. If Brynna is caught as a spy, or at any point of this ill-thought-out plan, Luard, you could be in serious trouble. I'm not sure if even your connections to Niemen would save you then."
"Brynna won't get caught, will she?" Luard said, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"That's not—"
"I appreciate your concern, as I heard quite enough of it from Brynna on the way from Linden, and more from Ivan and the rest of them on the way down here," Luard said, some of his casual veneer disappearing again. "But I made a promise that I would help, and Mother willing, I'll help." He grinned tightly. "I am certain she can pull this off. I've seen what she's capable of. And there's no way she can get on the ship otherwise, hm?"
Riya sighed. "No, all the guards on the ship will be Severian—and on a roll call. But this is…this is a lot."
"Well, if it fails, we'll just all just jump overboard and swim to shore!" Luard said with an overly cheery smile.