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I tookthe floor of Conner’s bedroom Wood floors are notorious for their creaks, and I didn’t want to cause the creak that woke hi the way to open the door into the passageas reer holes were carved into the wall, but hidden by the border of the tapestry

I opened the door to the passage as slowly as possible and no wider than necessary In a bind, I can get through s bind and I allowed myself only a very small space to enter

Once inside, I saw that the passage was barely lit, with oil lah apart that a person could h It was narrow and poorly marked for any exit points, except for a small handle on the wall that released the hidden door to open I took a ferong turns, entering other guest rooms that were fortunately empty

When I came to our room, I immediately sahy Conner had chosen to put us here There was a small hole at the base of the wall that I’d previously iven us a room where, if he wanted to, he could listen to our conversations

Conner still used the tunnels, or one of his surrogates did That’s why oil lareat caution if I chose to return here

I silently pressed open the secret door, letting myself back into our room Tobias and Roden were both asleep in their beds I watched each of the if in different circuht have beco time since I dared call anyone a friend The concept was only theoretical toto find me sound asleep in my bed, and nobody the wiser He stared at me openmouthed when I finally woke up, until I rolled over to fall asleep again Tobias never asked ot back into our room And I never offered it

Errol enteredwith the clothes I’d hen Conner first brought me here

"Finally," I said "Why the delay?"

Errol hesitated, finally deciding that instead of answering, he’d ask whether I had any reward for hi about," I said lightly "But if you’re ever in the library, there’s a sht straighten it out"

Errol grinned "No offense, sir, but all three of you caht be wise for me to ask where that coin came from"

I shook my head "The truth is, Errol, that it would not be wise at all Thanks for returning et out and leave me alone"

"I can put those clothes away, sir"

"So can I Close the door behind you"

When he left, I unfolded the clothes to inspect them They’d been washed, and a rip in the side of my shirt was mended, but otherwise they seemed the sa in the silks and fine weaves Conner costuentle them, and certainly not like a prince I felt like a fraud Which in the truest definition of the word, I was