I shut my eyes for a moment and near fell off my horse, clutching the saddle with shaking arms.

“We’ll be at the palace soon, my lady,” David promised me.

I drew a breath. Palace. Royals. “Christ—I didn’t even think—Prince John will be there,” I realized.

He shook his head. “No, my lady. The prince said he was riding north.”

A sigh chased out of me, and it seemed to take more of my strength with it. I nodded.

We slowed at the sight of Newgate, the tall city wall that had been made into a prison under Henry’s rule. It were fast becoming legend I’d been a thief, but I’d never ended up there myself.

“Who goes there?” called a man from the guardroom.

“We’re knights in the queen’s service,” David called. “And this boy is under her protection. We’re headed to Westminster.”

“You best go round the city,” he called.

David frowned. “That’s not possible. Why would we avoid the city?”

“There have been riots,” the guard said. “Closer to the White Tower and the river.”

“Not here, then,” David said.

“No.”

“Then let us pass. We don’t have time to spare,” he said.

“Eh,” the man grunted. “It’s your necks.”

I looked at David as the gate were raised slow.

“A knight,” Allan muttered. “As if I would ever be a knight. I’m far too handsome to be a knight.”

“Shut. Up,” David ground out. “If your mouth endangers my lady, I will extract it.”

“Always so angry.” Allan sighed.

They let us pass through and lowered the gate behind us.

The road were dark and empty, but every hair on my neck stood on end.

“Not far now, my lady,” David told me.

“Let’s hope it’s not the worst of the ride,” I returned.

We made our way toward the Strand, the road that led out to Westminster Palace. We’d bare made the road when a noise started to rise behind us.

We turned round, and I could see the glow of orange light seeping through the streets.

I frowned at David, and he looked grim. “Stay close to me, my lady.”

“Something’s happening,” I told him.

“Then we should hurry,” he insisted.

I nodded, spurring my horse.

Our horses started to gallop down the lane, and the crowd finally showed themselves from between the buildings. I looked back as they pushed into the lane. We were far enough ahead, and faster besides, that I didn’t need to worry.

Looking forward, I tightened my thighs on the horse, and they shook in response. My whole body trembled and shivered, too tired and weak by half. But after months in a prison, locked in a box and brought to my knees, I were free, and I weren’t letting my own weakness stop me.

The road turned, and I thundered round the bend. It weren’t long until I saw the tall turrets of Westminster Palace in front of us. I stared at the flags, trying to see well enough to make sure the prince’s flag weren’t up there.

My head snapped forward when I heard David roar, “My lady! ”

He and Allan were stopped; there were a wall of guards with swords drawn, guarding the palace from the rioters. I pulled sharp on the reins, looking behind me to the growing noise of the crowd.

“Let us through!” David bellowed. “The queen mother is expecting us!”

“Desist or you will be run through!” a guard yelled back. “No one shall come near the palace tonight!”

I hesitated. It would be an easy thing to throw off my hat and raise my chin and tell them I were a princess, Richard’s daughter, Eleanor’s granddaughter. They would take me behind their swords and they would defend me.

But then Prince John would hear I lived, and he would change his plans, bend his mother’s ear, and make sure I were thought a liar for my words.

Before he found another way to see me dead.

“Follow me, my lady!” Allan shouted, pointing back at the road.

“Are you mad!” David roared.

“Ride fast to try and break through and go sharp right,” Allan said. “We have to get away from the rioters!”

I nodded, trembling in the saddle. I spurred my horse hard, David out in front of me and Allan somewhere behind.

We turned round the bend, and the rioters were closer than I thought. They’d separated for David, but now they were turned, looking at him, and not moving for me.

My horse reared and tried to stop at the same moment, twisting to the ground with an unearthly scream. He threw me off as he went down, and my legs landed bare shy of the horse’s back. People swept back from the horse, stepping on my body as I struggled to move away, off the road.

My sword were gone—I couldn’t even see where it went.

I got to my knees, and a body slammed into mine, sprawling me backward again.

Panicking now, I got to my knees again, desperate to stand, fearing the force of the crowd. I got one foot under me, and someone pulled me up.

“Hush, I have you,” a voice said in my ear.

My blood rushed over with dizzy relief. “Allan!” I cried.

“Hold on to me, lady thief. We need to get you out of here,” he told me.

I nodded, holding tight to his arm. I’d lost a boot, and the other one were tatters. I felt every rock in the road as we pushed against the tide of people, trying to find a way off.