Page 53 (1/2)

"Is so?" said Scarlet, steel in her tone

"N-no I’ at her"

He opened his ht he wanted to riain and kept his head down

Some of the alcoves they passed had heavydocked ships within

"See?" Winter whispered "Mushrooesture The spacecrafts’ shadows on the walls did look so mushrooht

"Bay 22, Your Highness"

Scarlet glanced at the number over the arched door and the podship enclosed within It was a two-person carrier, inset with the gold insignia of the royal court

"Thank you," said Scarlet "That will be all"

The ether "Will … will you need an escort back?"

Scarlet shook her head and linked her elboith Winter’s again, but had only taken two steps when she paused "Tell no one you saw us," she told the la us Understand?"

His round eyes fell on Winter, who smiled warmly His blush deepened

"I’ her eyes, Scarlet hauled the princess toward the ship She checked that the ed Winter inside "All the way over, unless you plan on flying this thing"

Winter complied without question Scarlet removed the knife from her waistband and settled it between them She shut the door and the noise of the docks silenced in the vacuu her hands to stop shaking Willing the mess of controls in front of her to co as similar to the delivery ship she’d flown since she was fifteen and as different

"I can do this," she whispered, pressing her fingers against the htened The controls lit up

SECURITY CLEARANCE UNDETERMINED

She stared at theof the words sank in She half expected their phantoines for her too When nothing happened, she reiven her She fished it fro her breath as she ja security port

An icon whirled over the htened A drop of sweat slid down the back of her neck

CLEARANCE GRANTED WELCOME, ROYAL GUARD JACIN CLAY

Scarlet whooped, dizzy with relief She jogged a feitches The engine hunetic force beneath the ports, steady and sure Outside their alcove, a series of cargo ships weretheir way toward the sealed chamber that separated Artemisia’s Port E froht behind them and no one would stop a royal ship, no one would even question--

"Wait," said Winter as Scarlet nudged the podship forward

Scarlet’s heart dropped "What?" she said, scanning the port for a thauuard, a threat

Winter reached over and pulled the pilot’s harness over Scarlet’s head "Safety first, Scarlet-friend We are fragile things"

Thirty-One

Winter was mesmerized by Scarlet’s confident hands as they skimmed over the ship’s controls Behind the ship, enor the to be released fro her attention away frolanced over her shoulder at the interlocking doors--so ancient they looked almost like they had existed on the moon even before colonization