Red Hood's Revenge

nervously.
    What’s happening?
    Strange to hear Danielle’s voice in her mind. This must be what animals heard when Danielle spoke to them. Snow wasn’t sure what to make of it, though she found herself strangely pleased that her shapeshifting magic worked well enough for her to hear Danielle’s gift. It would have been far more convenient, however, if Snow had been able to respond in kind.
    Two hunters were dragging Roudette into the palace. Snow couldn’t tell whether she was dead or simply unconscious. The ghosts remained, though they had faded until they appeared little more than man-shaped mist. Naghesh and Talia were walking this way.
    Snow squeezed out of the pouch and crawled into the darkness between the fallen stones. Danielle followed a moment later. They waited in the shadows, watching as Naghesh entered the palace.
    Naghesh stopped to pick up the pouch. She turned it over, frowned, and tucked it into her belt.
    Talia followed without any sign of resistance. Snow had never been able to sense Talia’s fairy curse, though she knew some fairies were able to do so. But now the tingle of magic was so strong it penetrated her skin, making her very bones itch. If that weren’t enough, when she looked at Talia’s shadow in the moonlight, she saw Naghesh’s form outlined in the darkness. Talia was completely in Naghesh’s power.
    How long before the Kha’iida find us? Danielle asked.
    Turz should already know their location, but it would take time for the Kha’iida to reach Lakhim. It would take longer still for Lakhim to gather enough men to attack, no matter how fast her magic horse was. They couldn’t afford to wait. Snow shook her head, exaggerating the motion the best she could as a mouse.
    I promised Talia we’d stay hidden, that I’d get you out of here.
    Snow sat back on her hind legs. If Danielle tried to call a bird to take them away from here, Snow was going to bite her on the tail.
    I think she even believed me. Danielle began making her way along the rubble of the wall, into the palace. She’s getting far too trusting.
    A long marble walkway led into the palace, though most of the stones were cracked and uneven. It appeared as though a colonnade had once bordered the walk. Broken columns edged the path like rotted stumps, and fallen pillars of jade- flecked stone provided cover as Snow and Danielle ran toward the palace.
    The stairs leading to the main entrance were broken and sunken. Statues of old Arathean kings guarded the doorway. Dead vines clung to the stone, obscuring the statues’ features. Inside was a wide hallway, curving away on either side. Moonlight shone through high, circular windows, as well as through gaps where the ceiling had collapsed.
    Snow’s ears twitched. She could hear footsteps to the right, walking away from them. They were taking Roudette and Talia into one of the wings of the palace.
    Sand covered the hallway. Broken tiles littered the floor near the walls where old mosaics had crumbled away, leaving only the occasional blotch of color. Cool, pungent air wafted over her.
    She felt the ghosts before she saw them. Three princes guarded the doorway up ahead. Snow froze, eyes wide. As a mouse, her heart was beating so quickly it felt like a bumblebee buzzing in her chest.
    Will they care about a couple of mice? Danielle asked.
    Mice weren’t built to shrug. Snow crept forward.
    She made no sound, but one of the princes glanced down as she approached. A short spear appeared in his hands. Snow wasn’t certain what a ghost’s weapon might do to a living creature, but Zestan wouldn’t have used them if they were ineffective.
    The prince strode toward her. Snow backed away, but he kept coming. The other two watched, but they didn’t leave the doorway.
    Snow fled. She slowed only long enough to make sure Danielle was with her.
    A grand spiral staircase was built into the inner wall of the hall, descending to the lower level of the palace. Snow jumped through the railing, letting out a shrill cheep as she plummeted a short distance to the steps below. A short distance for a human being. As a mouse, the impact was enough to leave her stunned, even with the layer of sand cushioning her landing.
    The sight of the ghost at the railing was enough to clear her mind. She and Danielle jumped down the stairs and ran into the darkness below.
    The air was colder here. This would have been mostly storage and extra sleeping quarters for use during the hot summers. The