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different. Zatarra’s group has the Sorcerer’s Retreat off to the west of the High Palace. That’s the place my mother wants to send me. I think these Ultimate Wizards, way off in the east, are the other group.”
    â€œThey don’t cooperate with one another?”
    â€œNot from the stories I heard. Forsythia mentioned some sort of rivalry, but she didn’t give any details. Based on what little I know, I think Zatarra and Drailsen are taking some pretty big risks by using that Quince castle so close to the Ultimate Wizards. However, that’s their problem, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes, it is. Here’s hoping they trip over their own feet on it.”
    Berlina rolled up the map and put it away in a corner of the room. Then, just to be safe, she cast a concealment spell on it.

Chapter Five
The Faire
    Berlina put down her quill and sprinkled a little sand on the parchment. Shaking it off, she handed the letter to Felistia and asked, “What do you think?”
    To Her Royal Majesty, Queen Regent Lystia
    My dearest Mother, we
—
Felistia and I
—
are bored to death, remaining here in our quarters. You have sent home the women from the Order of the Flowers, so I no longer have classes to attend. The merchant who deals in books said he has supplied us with every book available in the kingdom, and it will be months before he can import more. We are bored, bored, bored.
    However, tomorrow is the monthly Faire. It is, as you know, held in the palace courtyard, so
if we were to attend it, we would still technically be remaining in the palace and properly protected. We ask your gracious permission to attend the Faire.
    Your loving daughter,
    Berlina
    Felistia nodded. “It looks good to me, but other than relieving the boredom of the last few weeks in this room, what are you up to?”
    â€œThis might be the best chance we will get to escape, get out of the palace, and go looking for my brother. During the Faire, the doors into the palace itself are well locked and guarded, but th
e
outside gates have so many people streaming in and out that getting through them will be easy.”
    Berlina took the letter back, rolled it, tied it, and put her seal on it. She went to the door and banged on it until one of the guards opened the little window. She pushed the letter through the window and said, “This must be delivered to my mother, the queen, as soon as may be. The messenger must also wait for a reply.”
    The guard took the letter, bowed respectfully, and closed the window. Berlina sat down to wait. It was almost an hour later that the little window reopened, and the guard said, “Here is your reply, Your Highness.”
    Berlina took the parchment from him. As he shut the window, she unrolled the letter.
    To Her Royal Highness, Princess Berlina
    My darling daughter, I understand your feelings, but I must keep you safe. My faithful advisor Zatarra, who has just returned from a trip, agrees with you that you will be safe at the Faire. You and your companion may attend, but guards must accompany you at all times. Also, you must not dress as a princess but must wear garb that makes you look like the daughter of one of the merchants. I have given orders that your guards will come to your room tomorrow and escort you. You will return to your quarters an hour before the Faire closes. Enjoy yourself.
    Your loving mother,
    Queen Regent Lystia
    â€œGreat. We’ll have almost the entire day to escape,” said Berlina. “Probably the best time is just after lunchtime. Everyone gets a little drowsy then.”
    â€œHow are we going to do it?”
    â€œSimple. We provide some sort of distraction for our guards. While their attention is off us, a glamour changes the merchant’s daughters into two frowzy barmaids they never saw before. They will be looking for us as we were and hunting all over to see where we’ve gone. They will never even think of watching