Kate sat on the low wall surrounding the pool in the gardens behind the High Priest's building in Kadir. It felt like weeks had passed since Jorad first brought her here to meet Tyreth. A larger fish rippled the surface of the water between the angular floating plants. Whatever Jorad was up to and despite his convoluted new scheme with the bald man, Jorad had also been knocked out and taken prisoner along with her. In a small way she felt a bit sorry for him but that did not mean she would ever trust him again. Kate reached down and dragged a finger across the ripples.

  "Madam Toreg will be along just as soon as she can."

  Kate jumped at Garek's voice. The man always appeared out of nowhere.

  "I thought this would be the safest place to bring you,” Garek said softly, “given that Jorad is out looking for you in the crypts,"

  "Who was the bald man that gave his soldiers to Jorad?" Kate asked.

  "That is the current mayor of the City of Refuge, the place where Madam Toreg used to live and where she was formerly on the city council.” Garek sat down from her on the wall surrounding the pool. “She is genuinely concerned for you, Tyreth, and it isn't only because she does not want Jorad or the mayor to get their hands on her medallion."

  Kate gazed down into the still water of the pool. Her reflection seemed to be accusing her of deceiving Garek. Turning away, she looked to the alcove next to the stairs where Tyreth had been hiding when Kate was kidnapped. It was time to tell Garek the truth but before she could speak Garek cleared his throat.

  "Looking after your mother is a full-time job. She likes to get herself in all kinds of trouble." He touched her shoulder lightly. "It looks like her daughter takes after her."

  Kate took a deep breath and looked over at him. "I’m not her daughter."

  Garek's smile fell away with a slight shake of his head. "Madam informed me how your father turned you against her, but please don't deny her to her face. She speaks of you often, right back to when since she and Atiya were forced to flee from Kadir."

  Kate looked at the ground, her mind connecting the snippets of conversation together. It Atiya and Tyreth were sisters it would explain why Atiya was always comparing herself to Tyreth and was jealous of her. She never quite understood that about sisters. If she would have had someone to look after and also to support her through all the difficult times growing up, she would never take them for granted.

  Garek continued. "I don't know what your father said about your mother but now that he’s dead, she and Atiya are the only family you have left. You should at least listen to her side of the story." He paused. "I was close to your father in the early days and although I am sure you must miss him, you need to know that he was responsible for a lot of the trouble in Kadir."

  "It's not that I don't believe you,” Kate said. “I'm just not the person you think I am."

  "I have been told that you are more rigid in your judgments at present, but that must be due to the recently acquired weight of leadership. I feel it myself at times, but you are still young. You will learn how to seek the truth while still being compassionate." He pointed to her neck. "Your mother's medallion can help you balance justice and mercy, and she will be happy to instruct you in the ways of the Sisters."

  Kate shrugged. She had no idea what he was talking about, and he wasn't able to understand what she was trying to tell him about her true identity. She would wait until Tyreth’s mother arrived and then the situation would be crystal clear. The mother would know right away that Kate was not her daughter.

  There was a drawn-out silence, the Garek got to his feet and studied the shadowed row of huts. "Your mother is delayed but she instructed me that whatever happens I must make sure you get across the plaza and into the palace before the light returns. The captain of the guard must not find out the rebel leader abducted you or we will immediately be at war." He smiled. "They would have to be blind not to notice that something has happened to you tonight. A princess from the palace has no reason to be running about Kadir in a rebel soldier’s uniform.”

  Kate jumped up from the wall. “I forgot I had this on, and I have the matching pants and shirt underneath. I can’t go back like this.”

  Garek chuckled and held up a priest’s robe. “That’s why I went to search their rooms. This will get you back inside the palace. Tyreth has been known to wander the streets in disguise to avoid talking with people but not as a rebel.” He handed the robe to Kate and turned away.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Kate quickly removed the soldier’s outer tunic and pulled the priest’s robe on over the rest of the soldier’s clothes. She was happy to discover that although it was musty, this one didn’t reek of sweat. She cleared her throat and held the soldier’s tunic out.

  Garek took the uniform from her. “I will hide this away in the huts. We may need it again in the future.” He frowned. “That priests robe is better than a rebel uniform but now Mara might think you stayed out overnight at the temple with Jorad.” He shook his head. “She might believe you left your other clothes behind."

  Kate swallowed the lump in her throat as her face grew warm. She was already nervous about pretending to be Tyreth. The priest’s tunic would only raise more suspicions and accusations. The last thing she wanted was to start rumors that she and Jorad were sleeping together.

  Garek pointed to the stairs that led through the priest’s main building and out towards the main plaza. "It would be best to get you to your quarters before Mara is up and about in the palace." He helped her to her feet. "Please be careful who you talk to inside. There are many who will want to take your medallion. Do not trust anyone."

  Garek guided her over to the stairs leading through the temple, then vanished into the shadows. He was telling her not to trust anyone but the nameless voice in the tunnel had warned her not to trust Garek or Madam Toreg because he believe they also wanted the master medallion.

  Making her way up the back stairs and down a hall, Kate paused at the high room with the big table and peeked inside the door. A large, embroidered tapestry of a garden scene and a large tree hung on one wall. Someone had cut out a hole near the bottom where the roots of the tree would have been.

  Leaving the high pointed building behind, Kate continued out across the temple courtyard and into the main plaza. On the other side was the small door where Jorad sought an audience with Tyreth.

  Kate hurried across the empty plaza toward the door, then slowed down. It might not be good for a princess to be seen running. She had almost reached the door when a soft whistle came from behind. Garek stood in the doorway to the priest's courtyard. A woman with red hair stood beside him, waving at Kate and wiping tears from her eyes. When Kate took a step toward them, the woman shook her head and waved her on toward the palace gate. Kate turned back. She would net to wait tell the woman that she wasn't her daughter or maybe it would not be needed if the real Tyreth was rescued. That was what she needed to focus on now.

  Pulling her hood up over her head, Kate took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Nothing happened. She knocked louder.

  The door swung slowly open. A soldier wiped the sleep from his eyes. "What do you..." He dropped his hand and jumped to attention. "I'm sorry, Princess, I did not realize you were out in the plaza. You should have called from outside so I would know it was you."

  Kate looked at him. She was supposed to ask the man to fetch the captain but if she spoke to someone who knew Tyreth’s voice, he would realize something was up.

  He pulled the door open wide and bowed as he backed out of the way, keeping his eyes to the ground. "I beg you not to report me to the captain, your Highness."

  Kate walked past him into a compound surrounding a tall stone building inset with rows of windows. A wide set of stairs led to double entry doors. Maybe there would be another guard just inside shed could ask about the captain. Halfway up the stairs, the guard from the gate scurried past to open the door at the top.

  "Please, your Highness. I did not intend to fall asleep. You know me well and that I speak the truth. The captain ordered extra shifts to prepare us for a possible attack from the rebels. We are all very tired. I promise it will not happen again."

  Kate nodded and he sagged with relief. "Thank you. I always knew you would be merciful in spite of what the. . ." His face flushed and he straightened again, extending a hand toward the open door. Kate stepped into an ornate hall with a wide staircase that curved up to the second floor of the building. The door shut briskly behind her, its echo reverberating through the halls. There was no one else in sight.

  "It's about time," a shrill voice called sharply from above. A short wiry woman peered over the second-story balustrade, waving Kate toward the staircase. "Get yourself up here. I won’t let the staff see you in such a state." It was the sort of voice Kate was used to obeying and she ran up the stairs, her hand gliding over the polished railing.

  The woman stood waiting for her to the left side of the landing as Kate drew near. "Where have you been? I have never seen your face so dirty. I can't imagine what the captain would think to see you in such a state."

  The woman put her hands on her hips, obviously expecting Kate to come directly to her but instead Kate turned sharply to the right and down the hall.

  "Yes, I would imagine you must be tired after staying out the whole night, and what in all the Cor are you wearing?" The woman was quickly catching up and Kate sped up.. "Don't tell me you were sneaking about the Temple trying to find Jorad again. He's no better than that brother of his. You need to forget both of them."

  Kate headed for the first flat-topped door.

  "Yes, you get cleaned up. No doubt the captain of the guard will be stopping by. I still don’t understand why such a tough soldier turns to mush around you."

  As Kate yanked the door open, the woman hissed at her from just a few steps back. "I hope your walkabout helped you make up your mind about his proposal of marriage. You can't keep him waiting forever."