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“The ca around the palace and one of the in a closet Opened it up and found Woodith Lady Marlee”
“But that’s”—I alht myself just in time—“crazy,” I finished
“You’re telling me” Avery picked up his socks and continued to dress “He seemed so smart Must have just had too much to drink”
He probably had, but I doubted that hy this had happened Woodas smart He wanted to take care of his family as much as I did etting caught would be the same reason I had risked it: he must love Marlee desperately
Ithe headache to clear I couldn’t feel like this right now, not with so My eyes popped open as I understood what this ht mean
“Are theyare they going to kill them?” I asked quietly, like maybe if I said it too loud everyone would remember that hat the palace did to traitors
Avery shook his head, and I feltto cane the to be front and center for it The blocks are already set up outside the palace walls, so we’re all on standby Get your uniform on”
He stood and walked to the door “And get some coffee before you report in,” he said over his shoulder “You look like you’re the one getting caned”
The third and fourth floors were high enough to see over the thick walls that protected the palace from the rest of the world, and I quickly made my way to a broadon the fourth floor I looked down at the seats for the royal fae for Marlee and Woodwork It seeuards and staff had the sauards ere standing at the , and the one butler, his unifor freshly pressed but his face wrinkled orry Just as the palace doors opened, and the girls and their fa of the crooLucy and Mary, I made a space for them beside me
“Is Anne co?” I asked
“No,” Mary said “She didn’t think it was right when there was so much work to do”
I nodded That sounded like her
I ran into Aht, and while I always tried to be professional in the palace, I tended to let some of the formality slip with theirl; in s they did for her
I looked down at Lucy and could see she ringing her hands Even in ot stressed, her anxietiescaht me to look for nervous behavior when people entered the palace, to watch those people in particular I knew Lucy was no threat, and when I saw her in distress, I felt a need to protect her
“Are you sure you want to watch this?” I whispered to her “It won’t be pretty”
“I know But I really liked Lady Marlee,” she replied, just as quietly “I feel like I should be here”
“She’s not a lady anymore,” I commented, sure that she would be torn down to the lowest rank possible
Lucy thought for a irl ould risk her life for someone she loves certainly deserves to be called a lady”
I grinned “Excellent point” I watched as her hands stilled and a tiny smile came to her face for a flicker of a second
The crowd’s cheers turned to cries of disdain as Marlee and Woodwork hobbled across the gravel and into the space cleared in front of the palace gates The guards pulled theuessed Woodwork had already taken a beating