After a very brief night of sleep, Brinn woke to complete her latest mission. She had needed the rest, and the elf had fallen much deeper into slumber than she intended. If not for something in her subconscious prodding her to wake, she would have blissfully remained unconscious.

As her eyes focused in the darkness, the elf could tell something was off in Mairwen's room. She stretched her aching muscles and sighed.

"You are so determined to come that you are watching me sleep?" Brinn asked.

Renat sat quietly at the princess's vanity. "You and I both know your would not have woken me."

"Yeah, but watching me like that is creepy," Brinn argued, forgetting all the times she had spied on others including the Empress when they had first met. "I could have you punished for stalking the princess."

"You already made everyone believe I am a eunuch…" The boy glared.

"Alaron said that…but if you want to give me credit I could…" Brinn stroked her chin.

"Don't even think about it!" Renat blanched. Whatever Brinn was going to say, he did not want to hear it. "We need to go before the changing of the guards. You can talk about my ability to father children some other time… or never!"

Brinn wanted to tease him further, but he was right. They needed to leave. Alaron had agreed to pull the second watch away from their side of the palace. The prince claimed that an intruder 'resembling the Empress' had been spotted near the front gate and required all available resources. But that would only hold the attention of the soldiers for so long.

"Hold onto me," Brinn told him as she came up to the balcony.

"If this another excuse to wind-punch me, I will pass." Renat eyed her carefully.

"Not this time, I promise," the elf responded impatiently. "Hold on to my shoulders and wrap your legs around my waist."

"I hope your fiance is an understanding fellow," Renat muttered. "What is your plan?"

"We will jump there, and then there. Then leap down from the wall." Brinn said.

"What?! That's impossible!" Renat looked out at the courtyard and wall. Mairwen's room was high, and the first stop Brinn indicated was a balcony lower and much closer to the outer curtain wall. The second spot was the wall itself with a lone guard drowsily looking out into the dark void of Valiant.

"I will use my wind magic of course, which is why I need you to climb on my back. The magic will give us the extra push to make it. Do not worry. I have done this a hundred times." The elf bent forward for the boy to get on.

Renat reluctantly wrapped his arms around Brinn from behind. The lanky boy was roughly the same height as elf, and the end result looked like a four-armed spider wrapping its limbs around a pole. The elf was strong, and Renat noticed that Brinn carried him to the edge of the balcony with almost no effort.

"Are you ready?" She whispered.

"You promise you have done this a hundred times," Renat asked nervously.

"Of course, but never with anyone on my back."

Before Renat could respond, Brinn stepped back and got a running start, leaping easily over the banister. The world passed the scientist's eyes in a blur before he felt the distinct thud of their landing. Then a second period of lifting and whooshing passed as Brinn made the next jump.

Realizing he had shut his eyes, Renat peeked to see that they were on the palace wall. The guard was still facing outward and to the left, oblivious to their arrival.

'Oh no.' Renat's stomach churned. It was time for the dizzying drop to the ground. The boy tensed as his body tried to get off Brinn's back, but the spymaster gripped his legs held him firmly in place.

The elf stepped between the crenellations and dropped just quickly enough for Renat's vision to fade. At the last second, a puff of air pushed up against them to set them softly on the ground.

"I think I am going to be sick," Renat groaned.

"Get off of me first!" Brinn pushed the boy away from her back and pursed her lips unsympathetically. "And finish quickly, we have work to do!"

————

Many of the dwellings in Valiant now lay empty or occupied by the enemy. The few regular citizens that were left in the capital hurried home as soon as dark fell, afraid of what might await them in the night. So the streets which Brinn and Renat traveled were deserted.

The manor where Anna's family lived was well protected by low walls to keep out the average ruffian. Brinn stopped when the home came within sight and slipped into the shadows of the other buildings.

"There it is," she whispered while pointing.

"How do you know?" Renat did not want to barge in just anywhere.

"I'm an elf." Brinn responded easily.

"That is not an answer…"

"And I am the spymaster. I know where things are." The elf laughed at the boy's scowl. "Come on. Hopefully Anna has already managed to leave and we can head back to the palace with good news."

The pair went around the back of the house and scaled the long hanging vines. As the two came over the wall, they were immediately stopped at spear point.

"Don't move," a servant boy wavered held the weapon awkwardly.

Brinn hid her grin. "We have come to see Lady Anna. We mean no harm. Is she still here?"

The servant paused to think of how to answer.

"Let them pass," a voice called softly from the house. "They are friends."

"It is good to see you, Anna." Brinn walked up to the lady and gave her a hug. "Sorry to wake you."

"The baby is already affecting my sleep. I was restless, so when a servant came to warn me of someone coming over the wall, I wanted to investigate." Anna touched her belly gently. Even though it had barely begun to bulge, the woman had an unmistakable glow. "Do you have news of Bella, Candela and Ezer?" she asked nervously.

"Bella and Candela escaped with Emperor Devrim and Princess Mairwen. Ezer is being held at the palace, but he is safe. He and Alaron struck a deal. If I can get you out of town, he will relay messages to the Council." The elf relayed the information quickly.

"Ezer will become a traitor for me?" Anna was suddenly worried. How could she put her husband in such a situation? She hugged her shoulders and looked like she might cry.

The elf placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Ezer will never be a traitor. It is not in his nature, and you know it. But he will play the game for now." After a half smile of recognition from Anna, Brinn nodded and continued. "Where is your family? We need to get all of you to safety."

"My mother, other sisters and children have gone west. We have family there. Father and I are the only ones left. I did not want to leave without Ezer." Anna sighed. It seemed like she would have to break her promise to never leave him behind. Of course, he had told her never to make the promise in the first place. Anna needed to consider their unborn child. It was time to go. "We cannot go out the front gate. There are guards stationed there claiming that we are being detained. I guess you already knew this since you came over the wall."

Brinn smiled. "I guessed you were being monitored. I am glad my instincts were right." The elf turned and faced the scientist who had come with her. "Anna, this is Renat. He is going to come up with a brilliant plan to distract the enemy while I get you and your father out of here."

Renat rolled his eyes. "No pressure," he joked, then his face became serious. "Where is your kitchen? And where do you keep your household medicine. I am hoping you have what I need."

"My family has their a full staff including a healer. We should have whatever you require," Anna confirmed.

"I and the other servants will help," the boy with the spear offered. "Get to safety, My Lady."

"Thank you," Anna said. "I will get my father."

The two ladies entered the house together to ready themselves to leave. The servant turned to Renat, "Follow me. I will take you through the manor. What is your plan?"

Renat gave a sly grin. "I will need as much help as I can get. Also, have you ever considered being an actor?"

------------------------

Many of Cafer's soldiers were stationed outside the manor. Although Alaron had said that he did not want to bring Anna to the palace, the gnome advisor knew he should keep her in Valiant. She was the only hold Cafer had over the Council. It was a reason that most of them never married. The dozen or so men kept watch while others were nearby in case of trouble.

"This is boring," one soldier said to another. "Why do we need so many men to guard a woman, an old man and some servants?"

Before the other could answer, a servant boy ran out of the front gates screaming. He was immediately apprehended by the guards. "Help!" he yelled. "My Lady is sick. She started murmuring in the night and began to walk while sleeping. Then strange foamy liquid came out of her mouth. It infected the servant next to me and they both became like the walking dead."

The soldiers who were nearby were noticeably disturbed by what they heard. Before they could question further, the boy began to cough strange liquid into the nearest man's face.

"Oh no! Ugh--" the boy gave a guttural sound as the light in his eyes went dim. He collapsed on the ground and began mumbling nonsense. This created a panic. The newly infected guard was wiping feverishly at the foam while the others backed up considerably. Other soldiers around the manor wall came to investigate the problem.

Only one of the men had the bravery to push on the gate to enter the manor. but as he crossed the threshold, something dripped on his sword in the darkness. It was foam. He backed up quickly and found more foam waiting for him at his feet. He slipped, covering himself in the strange frothy bubbles.

He exited the manor completely covered, and most of the other men, seeing his condition, began to flee. The rest were frozen in fear as foam began began to pour over the walls in excess.

"Run!" the last of the brave soldiers yelled, and they did. There was no way to fight a ghostly disease, and they knew it.

Inside the manor, servants shook hands and congratulated the scientist. "Who knew that mixing a few simple things would create such a violent, bubbly reaction?"

"Science, my friend," Renat was proud to be recognized. The scientist puffed out his chest. He searched for Brinn, who he had not seen for quite some time.

Appearing from nowhere, the elf came up behind the boy and whacked him behind his head.

"Ow!" He grumbled.

"Sorry, I was trying to knock back down the swelling from your growing ego," Brinn claimed. She motioned into the distance. "Anna and Ezer got out during the mayhem. I stayed behind them and watched to make sure no one followed. With their horses, they should make good time."

"So....we did it?" Renat smiled broadly and received another thwack.

Brinn frowned. "That head of yours is determined to grow! Yes, we did well. Let us head back before we are discovered missing."

The boy froze. "Uh... We jumped down. How will we get back up?"

"You do not want me to take flying leaps again?" the elf tilted her head to one side curiously.

"No," Renat answered bluntly.

"Then I hope you are good at climbing, because I do not want to have to lift you. And can you screech like a cat? It might come in handy if someone gets too close to discovering you."

"I really hope you are joking," the boy leveled his gaze at her. Seemingly oblivious, Brinn only smiled.

"I guess you will just have to find out, mighty scientist. If you fall, maybe gravity will try to save your mighty scientific brain, but I doubt it..."