Tibris shook with laughter, and it was easy to see the relief that had set in. “We did it,” he said. “The hardest part is over.”
I shook my head as the carriage stopped once more, directly outside the servants’ entrance.
“Somehow I doubt that.”
We got out of the carriage, each carrying a satchel that held our few belongings. A stern-faced woman appeared in the doorway.
“You’re the new recruits from Mistrun.”
“That’s right.” Tibris smiled at her.
Her eyes softened slightly. “Well, get moving, then.”
We both jumped into action, following her into the castle. The servants’ entrance opened into a narrow room, where several delivery boys were waiting. One of them leered at me, and I gave him a killing look.
Tibris elbowed me, and I forced my gaze down once more.
“Names,” the woman barked.
“I’m Setella, and this is Loukas,” I said.
“My name is Nelia. I run an organized castle. Loukas, you will go into the next room, where one of the other cellar servants will give you a uniform and show you your bed. Setella, follow me.”
Tibris gave me a reassuring smile and disappeared. I followed Nelia, taking mental notes of every turn. Directions weren’t something I was typically good at, but by the time I left this castle, I would know every inch of it.
Nelia led me through the kitchen, which was so hot and steamy, I was instantly grateful to Vicer that my position had nothing to do with cooking. By the time we walked past the roaring fire—and the cook who was screaming at a maid—I was sweating in my cloak.
We exited the kitchen into a long corridor. “These are the servant hallways.” Nelia nodded at varying doors, which must have opened to more corridors. “They allow us to travel through the castle without disturbing the nobility.”
Because reminding the nobility that there were people catering to their every whim would be the height of bad manners.
Nelia seemed to be waiting for a response, so I gave her a nod.
“Tell me you’re not another empty-headed, slow-moving fool,” she growled, striding down the hall.
I trotted after her. “No, not at all,” I protested. “Merely taking everything in.”
“Move faster.” At the next intersection, she turned left and led me up a flight of stairs. Glancing down at the paper in her hand, she nodded. “We have an empty bed in the third room to our right.”
Opening the door, she gestured to the bed farthest from the fire. “That’s yours. Put your things away and follow me.”
I counted eleven other beds.
Sleeping in a room with that many women would make sneaking around this place even more challenging.
“Dress, and meet me in the corridor. I’ll return for you.”
I nodded, and she just rolled her eyes at me, stalking away. A few minutes later, I was wearing a maroon woolen dress that fell to my ankles. The dress had a row of tiny gold buttons down the front—even the maids had to wear the king’s colors.
With nowhere else to store my satchel, I shoved it beneath the bed, meeting Nelia in the hallway once more.
Where were the dungeons?
That question played in my mind over and over. Obviously, they were below us. But who kept the keys? Where was the entrance? How well was it guarded? Was Asinia still alive?
“In here,” Nelia said, opening another door. The room was large, shelved, and stuffed full of cleaning supplies.
“You will be in charge of cleaning the floors,” she said. “We have a woman who uses her magic on each floor once a day, but so many people walk through this castle that many of them are filthy again by lunch.”
My pulse stuttered, and I fought to keep the eagerness off my face. It was easy to see why Vicer had worked to get me this position. I would have a legitimate reason to be in different areas of the castle. Lingering in those areas as I learned everything I needed to know.
“You’ll get started now,” Nelia said. “You can mop the servant hallways until I’m satisfied that you’re a good worker.”
“Thank you,” I said when she handed me the bucket.
Within a few minutes, I was swiping water over the floor outside the servant bedrooms. I got to work, replaying every turn I’d taken, every door I’d seen so far.
“Hello,” a voice said.
I turned to find a woman standing in front of me. Her skin was flawless, her blue eyes large and curious, and she was wearing a dress that matched mine, several blankets piled in her arms.