The Stepsister Scheme

on.
    “You’ll need to change your clothes,” Talia said, eyeing Danielle’s dress.
    Cobwebs had turned the blue velvet gown a dingy gray. The heavy skirt had probably dusted the entire height of the pit. Dirt and grass streaked the shoulder, where Talia had pushed her to the ground earlier. Dots of ink and blood stained the side. Danielle’s hand traced the design on the bodice, a soaring gull outlined in tiny pearls. Armand had commissioned the design for her.
    “Why do I always have to carry everything?” Snow asked as she stepped out of the privy. Two large sacks hung from her back, the straps crossing over her chest.
    “Because you’re the one who insists on bringing your entire wardrobe every time we leave the palace.” Talia took one of the sacks and brought it to the foot of the bed. A rainbow of silk, satin, velvet, and linen began to pile onto the mattress as Talia dug through the clothes, until the pile threatened to topple onto the poor pigeon. Danielle squeezed past Talia and moved him to safety.
    Eventually, Talia produced a faded pair of trousers and a loose-fitting yellow shirt. A matching cap followed. “Wear those, Princess.”
    Snow dumped the other sack at the foot of the bed. She watched the pigeon hop back, and smiled. “He’s moving well. I doubt he’ll be flying for at least a month, but he should recover.”
    “Let me know when the two of you are finished worrying about birds,” Talia said. “Some of us would like to try to save the prince, too.”
    “Oh, hush,” said Snow. To Danielle, she added, “The body can recover from almost anything, given time and strength. You just have to help it along.” She reached out and patted the pigeon’s head.
    “Thank you,” said Danielle. She pulled up the trousers, then took the calf-high boots Talia had produced from the second sack. They smelled like rotting grass.
    “Carry this as well,” Talia said, handing her a slender, sheathed dagger. The hilt was gold and ivory. Leaping dolphins adorned the black leather hilt. “Dolphins are dangerous creatures. They look beautiful enough, but they can kill a shark.” She arched an eyebrow. “Get the point?”
    Danielle strapped the knife to her hip. A brown vest with a poorly mended seam hung low enough to hide the weapon from casual view.
    “Good enough.” Talia turned to Snow. “If you’re finished with the bird?”
    Snow clapped her hands and hurried to the bed. Danielle turned away as Snow began to strip, tossing her clothes to the floor. Talia did the same, though she at least moved around behind the curtained bed for modesty.
    “How do I look?” asked Snow. She wore a low-cut gown the color of blood. She tossed a light riding cloak over her shoulders, pulling the rabbit fur trim to her cheeks. She smiled and curtsied. “The Lady Anneliese Elina O’Dette of Emrildale.”
    Talia shook her head. “That is... atrocious.” To Danielle, she said, “Call her m’lady. Anne of Emrildale, if anyone asks. I trust you’ll have no trouble pretending to be a servant?”
    “I think I can manage,” Danielle said, matching the dryness in Talia’s voice.
    Talia finished pulling on her own boots, then began to dig through the second sack. She donned a shoulder bag, inserting the spindle whip she had taken from below. She also produced a pair of slender, metal-topped sticks which she used to twist her hair into a tightly braided knot at the base of her neck.
    “Let’s get moving.” Talia paused at the door. “I doubt we’ll find anyone at the house, but if we do, you stay behind me, Princess. If I say run, you run. Understand?”
    Snow clapped her hands. “Come along now. I’ll have no bickering among my servants.” She slipped past Talia and stepped into the hall.
    As she followed, Danielle heard Talia muttering, “Next time, I get to be the spoiled wench.”

    Not a single guard appeared to notice as they walked through the palace. Several times as they passed servants or guards, Danielle thought she saw a flash of light from the mirrors on Snow’s choker. Each time, whoever they were passing would stumble and blink before moving on.
    The soldiers at the southern gate barely glanced at them. Apparently, the queen had warned them that Lady O’Dette would be going for a stroll this morning. As for Danielle and Talia, they were simply two more servants. They might as well have been invisible.
    Danielle found herself slipping into old habits with disturbing ease. She kept