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They both moved to the door to the throne room and Ava noticed for the first time there was a place to watch what was going on set into the door itself, a thick mesh that allowed just enough visibility to make out the throne and those nearest it, as well as made it easy to hear what was going on.

“Must have been so the servants knew when things were about to wrap up,” she said to Dak, but he simply grunted in response, eyes riveted to the scene in front of them.

Raun-Tu had entered at a fast clip, walking up the middle of the throne room, ignoring a noblewoman who was speaking, and bending to whisper in the ear of the woman on the throne.

Her.

Ava was astonished at how like her the woman looked, but then, she’d know the necklace had that ability. It was amazing seeing her own face on someone else, though.

The woman gasped, rising to her feet.

At that moment, the door to the throne room open and Luc stepped through, Rev and Rafe one step behind on either side of him.

With a cry of joy—or was it heartfelt relief?—the fake Ava ran down the few steps on the dais and hurled herself into Luc’s arms.

Luc swept her up, holding her close to his chest, and Dak shooed Ava back, behind the door, and opened it, sweeping his arm to invite them inside.

A cry of protest rose up from the audience.

As soon as the door closed, with Rafe and Revek standing guard in front of it, blocking her view of what was happening in the room, Ava spun around and started pulling her shirt over her head.

“Quickly,” she said to her double, and with a chuckle, the woman unclipped the necklace at her throat and Talika appeared.

“Talika.” Luc’s surprise was palpable. “Well done.”

Ava was already out of her clothes, and Talika turned so Ava could help her unbutton the back of her dress.

“They’re about to revolt,” her former guard said. “It’s been touch and go for days, but they have reached the end of their patience now.”

“Were you in public view for the last five days or so?” Luc asked her.

Talika shook her head. “We said I was indisposed, because just the sight of me made them angry that I wouldn’t meet and talk about the way forward for Kassia.”

“That’s good.” Ava picked up the dress the moment it landed on the floor, and stepped into it, her gaze going to Luc. “If no one saw me at the palace for a while, we can definitely say I was at the border signing the treaty.” Then she thought about Luc’s dramatic entrance. “Then again, if I was with you dealing with the Jatan, how do we explain the touching reunion they just saw?”

“We don’t explain it. Let them think what they like.” Luc looked like he would relish being asked about it.

Talika buttoned the dress for her quickly, but Ava could feel her fingers trembling as the shouting on the other side of the door got louder.

“It’s going to turn violent.” Dak stood, eyes on the throne room beyond. “You look visibly thinner than Talika, but you need to go now.”

There was a lot going on here, Ava realized. The strain on everyone’s faces told a story of a group holding the line beyond all hope.

“Done.” Talika gave her a little push, and Ava strode to the door.

Dak opened it, and Luc was suddenly behind her, a hand on her lower back.

She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “When did you step into the throne room today? How long ago?”

“About half an hour ago.” Talika frowned. “Why?”

Ava looked up at Luc and he nodded. “Who will check when exactly we rode through the gates?”

Also, if the agitated audience had only just arrived themselves, maybe they wouldn’t notice how much thinner she was now than five minutes ago.

They walked into the throne room, and the noise rose.

Ava ignored it, walking to the throne and sitting.