She told him things in her letter she could never say now, but if she were gone, would not matter. At least he would know, and that knowledge would not affect his marriage, and hence, the stability of the kingdom. Then, before she could cross any of it out, she placed the letter into an envelope and sealed it.

The three letters would remain safely in the drawer, only to be found if she did not return from Blackveil.

LEADORA THEADLES

Over the next few evenings, only Donal met Karigan in the hall of the Weapons for staff training. She brought Mara along to prove to her friend she was not being inducted into any secret order, willingly or not. Mara, at first, gazed at the chamber with ill-concealed suspicion and interest, while Donal showed only mild surprise that someone uninvited had entered the domain of the Weapons. Maybe he did not turn Mara away because the hall wasn’t actually off-limits to non-Weapons, or maybe because she was Karigan’s guest. Whatever the case, Karigan was sure they received few visitors.

Donal was all business, even drawing Mara into the exercises so that Karigan had two opponents instead of one. Mara looked to be enjoying herself a little too much, sneaking in swats when Karigan was busy fending off Donal.

She learned to use the staff in both its short and extended forms to defend herself to a level Donal declared adequate. He showed her how to use the cane handle to hurt and maim an adversary.

Mara was exhilarated by the sessions, and at the end of the week, Donal presented her with a stout fighting staff of her own and made her promise to keep coming for practice while Karigan was away on her journey.

“Now look who’s being sucked into the world of the Weapons,” Karigan told Mara as they left for the Rider wing.

Mara, flushed and happy with the night’s exertions and her new staff, could only grin.

Sprained fingers and staff training in no way curtailed Karigan’s sessions with Arms Master Drent out on the practice field, or her duty to take care of Rider accounts. She showed Daro what needed to be done while she was away. Daro proved very quick on the uptake and Karigan felt sure the ledgers would not be in disorder upon her return.

There were more meetings with Captain Mapstone and General Harborough to make sure each of the expedition’s participants knew exactly what was expected of them. Karigan was beginning to feel a little like baggage for she was not given any specific duty. She lacked Lynx’s extensive experience in the wilderness, and Yates’ skills as a cartographer. The only reason she seemed to be going was that she’d been in Blackveil once before, for whatever good that would serve them.

She was run so ragged during the course of the week that she’d not been able to spare a thought for the upcoming masquerade. In fact, she’d put it out of her mind so thoroughly she’d pretty much forgotten about it.

When finally she came to her rest day, she awoke mid-morning and lounged in an armchair before the fire in the Rider common room still in her sleeping gown and wrapped in a blanket thinking she’d be more than happy to spend her entire day this way. She was exhausted. There would be one more day of preparation for the journey, then the morning after they would depart.

“Well, someone looks like she’s been out carousing all night.”

Karigan looked up from the fire to find Connly and Captain Mapstone standing there and gazing at her. It had been Connly who spoke. She probably should have at least put a comb through her hair before stepping out of her room, but it had seemed like too much effort.

“No carousing,” Karigan said. “I haven’t had the time.”

Connly nodded and smiled to indicate he’d only been joking.

“Best that you get some rest while you can,” Captain Mapstone said, “since you are leaving so soon and have a big night tonight.”

“Big night?” Karigan said, puzzled. Then it began to dawn on her.

Captain Mapstone raised an eyebrow. “Surely you didn’t forget tonight is the masquerade ball.”

“Oh, gods.” Karigan groaned and sank deeper into her chair. The masquerade. She had forgotten. She pulled her blanket over her head. Maybe if she hid, it would all just go away.

Sometime later she still sat there before the fire unable to make herself move. Stupid ball, she thought. I don’t even have a mask.

Mask? Did she even have anything to wear? A mask was the least of her problems. She flung her blanket aside and dashed into her chamber. She threw open the doors of her wardrobe and gazed at all the green hanging within. Green uniforms, some pieces of plain clothes, and one battered, ripped, and soiled blue dress. Despite all her wishing, a suitable costume did not magically appear before her.

Her plaintive wail of despair brought Mara and Tegan running to her room.

“What is it?” Mara asked.

Karigan held the dress in her arms. Her father had sent it to her in the fall to impress Braymer Coyle, but then after her disastrous encounter with the Raven Mask at the Sacor City War Museum, she’d used the dress to learn swordplay while formally attired. She’d neglected to have it fixed or cleaned.

“Masquerade ball,” Karigan said. “I must attend the masquerade ball tonight and I’ve nothing to wear.”

Mara and Tegan glanced at one another then stepped out into the corridor to confer. Karigan sank onto her bed, the crumpled dress still in her arms. Maybe she would not attend the ball after all, but the words of Captain Mapstone about supporting her king kept running through her mind and this ... this might be her last chance to see him.

Mara and Tegan stepped back into her room.