Like a shadow with a tail. There are places she could duck if she were alone, she can't right now. But it's fine. She keeps telling herself that as though every nerve isn't heightened by the danger to Caspian. The fact she needs to make this right.

Before it can get any worse than what she's already gotten him into in less than a day.


She waited. Ten second. Thirty second. For something, that in the end, she doesn't end up hearing, so she edges out with a look back to him and nod to which way she's going. Which will be straight across the hallway, toward another corridor. She hates open spaces alone.

Marian actually feels a spike of fear hedging them with another.

But it panned out. No sound, no sudden footsteps. Of all the nights to actually end up getting lucky for there not to be people posted. Or who might have fallen asleep or wandered off. Lucky, regardless.

Then it's another corridor, and out on to walkways that are opened on the sides, headed toward the stables. The scent of warm summer air, mixed with hay reaching them before the last turn even. It's not a front entrance. It's for stableboys, coming to and fro, but she can guess it won't be watched given the hour.