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The steps intersected with the foot of the rail of the balcony The balcony was not spacious, but large enough to stand on and overlook the entire gardens below Without knowing the stairs were there, onewall, on the other side of the balcony, without a thorough search Lia grasped the lip of the stone rail, with stubby pillars creating narrow gaps in it, and pulled herself over it, grateful to be in an enclosed area again and away fro There was a doorway beyond, well-lit with la, Lia could barely discern the hetaera gardens below Had Hillel seen the gardens and wondered what they were? Had she attempted to find the down and found the courage to brave the descent?

Lia heard voices and pressed herself against the wall She stuffed the orb into the pouch at her belt and waited, listening intently What would she say to the girl? How could she ier they faced and the need to flee?

Very cautiously, Lia waited and then peered around the edge of the doorway into the rooht to exit and sound to carry Lia stared through the crack in the door first and saw irls in the rooirls disappeared through a door on the other side The other lingered, waiting for the third, which Lia hoped was Hillel She pressed her ear against the crack

"Yes, you go down ahead," said Hillel’s voice, which she recognized "I aain in my tome and then will join you at the fete No, do not wait forI know you are excited to see that young knight who danced with you last night"

She spoke in strong Dahonized her voice clearly

The other girl did not need to be encouraged to find her beau and soon followed the first out the door, leaving Hillel alone Lia held her breath a er to be sure no one returned for a shawl

Carefully and slowly, Lia pulled on the door handle and it bucked and resisted, giving her alarm that it was locked But after the initial resistance, it opened quietly to her touch, the hinges oiled Lia slipped into the torchlit roo the enormous velvet bed, the ornate chests, hidebound and triold, the fresh rushes, the s in its intensity The fragrance clung to the entire room There were dishes, shelves, polished marble tiles beneath the rushes It was the palace of a princess and contrasted sharply to Colvin’s small booth deeper below in the fortress

There was a waxed wood changing screen, with several gowns hanging haphazardly across the top It was froed, the rustle of fabric and then Hillel Lavender appeared iled to fit an earring into her lobe on her own The two stared at each other, startled by the suddenness of their abrupt e in with a rush, her hunter’s eye clinging to every detail in a blink The low-cut gown revealing ropes of gold and pearl necklaces to fill the open bodice The goas elegant, worthy of the tailor’s praise, but it was just the sort of gown Pareigis would have worn She saw the rings flashing on her fingers, the rouge on her lips and smears of kohl at her eyes But what startled Lia the hter than what she re before It was almost a pale blond and the tresses had been cri She realized i herself to look like Lia in the hopes of winning Colvin’s heart

For a moment, neither could speak For Lia had the queer sensation that she was staring into the eyes of an enemy

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:

Secrets of Dochte

Neither spoke It was too much of a shock for both of theed to a look of ardent relief "Lia!" she gasped exultingly "I should not have doubtedyou here The orb led you?"

Lia could not shake off the feeling that the other girl’s first reaction was not friendly It was an oily feeling lodged in the quick of her bones "Look at you," she said, staring openly at the transformation Hillel had always been so meek and timid – there was a fire in her eyes that was not there before "You have changed"

"I have!" she said, nodding quickly "I am desperate to leave this place Thank the Medium you have come It is a boon, Lia, truly" She rushed forward and e her with affectionate warmth and the tre the rich fragrance of purple mint It swarmed them both