Alice and Prim had ventured out of the General Laborer barracks three nights in a row.

Astonishingly, they’d managed without encountering a single guard on duty. Alice could not fathom why.

At first, she wondered if her class had gifted her a run of extraordinary luck.

Gradually, the answer dawned on her, and it was stark and simple: there were no patrols on the estate's grounds.

Despite being told that the guards were there for her and everybody else's safety, and that their sole duty was to keep watch at night, the reality was no one kept them safe.

Also, she was not the only one out and about.

Alice kept to herself and ensured that Prim remained hidden. But she passed others on the narrow servant’s paths—Maids and Laborers of all stripes, moving stealthily in the night. None stopped, spoke, or acknowledged one another. They seemed to pretend the other didn’t exist.

It was an old trick among the lowest classes: That way, if questioned, no one could tell the truth of what they saw.

However, Alice was the only one to venture to the kitchens.

She treasured these hours. Though they left her exhausted from lack of sleep during the day, it was the only time that Prim could soar freely through the night air.

For the first time in her memory, Alice had a full stomach every night. It made an amazing difference to her strength during the day. Even though she was tired, and she no longer had the skill of strength and endurance that the General Laborer class gave to her, simply eating well made up for much of that lack. Though she certainly didn't clean as well as she used to, she was generally more alert, quick on her feet, and able to cover for her mistakes.

People hadn't noticed. So far. It helped that Alice had never been much of a trouble-maker, and so no one expected her to slack off or steal.

Prim slept amid Alice's belongings by day. She kept out of sight even from Dolly—not that Dolly was around much. The girl only stopped by their shared cubicle to quickly change for the day ahead.

She didn't sleep in her own bed, and Alice had a bad feeling she knew where Dolly was sleeping. There wasn’t much she could do there. She had warned her.

Alice's lucky streak ended on the fourth night.

Once she crept out of the General Laborer barracks, as usual, she let Prim fly into the air. There was no moon that night, and the dragon was practically invisible.

Though she couldn't see her, Alice sensed Prim's presence nearby as she flitted among the trees and followed Alice through the servant's path that led to the kitchen.

Alice smiled to herself as she gazed upward, making a small game of trying to spot Prim in the dark branches above.

She suddenly stopped short. A man had materialized out of nowhere, standing in front of her.

He had blonde hair and blue eyes, his skin clean without a hint of either pockmarks or simple dust, and muscles more defined than those of a General Laborer. The fine cut of his clothes accented his broad shoulders and trim waist. But it was the Gentleman tag above him that sent a chill of fear through Alice's heart.

Catching her breath, she quickly stepped to the side of the path, lowering her gaze and fully expecting the man to brush past her.

To her surprise, he made no move.

"What are you doing out of the barracks, girl?" he demanded.

Alice's heart hammered, but for an insane moment, she wanted to bark back, "What are you doing walking the servant's paths, sir?" For they were both where they should not be. There were specific, well-guarded, beautifully decorated, and supposedly secure pathways that nobles and people of importance were supposed to take.

But of course, since Alice wasn't stupid, she didn't say that. Instead, she shook her head.

"Sorry, sir," she stammered, as if walking the servant's paths were her fault.

"I asked you a question," he said.

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Alice shook her head again, then quickly made up a story. "I… I couldn't sleep, sir. So, I thought a walk might clear my head."

"What does a General Laborer need to clear their head for?" he muttered.

Alice risked a glance up, and her fear only intensified as she recognized him—not just any young noble, but one of the Earl's own sons. Though she wasn't sure of his name, she had seen enough glimpses of Breydon, Dolly's lover, before to spot the resemblance.

This was bad.

"I'm sorry, sir," she hastily offered, resisting the urge to look up to the trees and check on Prim. Thankfully, she didn't hear the flutter of wings overhead. Prim must have perched on a branch. "I'll return to the barracks right away."

Poor Prim. She would want to eat, but Alice could save her breakfast in the morning for her dragon. She had endured longer without food before.

His blue eyes narrowed. "You live in the General Laborer barracks, don't you?"

Instead of pointing out the obvious—that all General Laborers resided in the barracks, and if he knew anything about his father's estate, he would be aware of this—Alice simply nodded.

"Yes, sir," she answered meekly.

"I'm looking for a girl about your age, calls herself Dolly. Do you know her?"

Alice hesitated before answering. "Yes, sir. I know her."

"Then go get her," he instructed. "Bring her here."

Alice winced at the request. "I'm afraid, sir, that Dolly's not in the barracks.”

"Not in?" he demanded, his tone turning chill. "Where is she then?"

"I don't know, sir," Alice replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But you suspect, right?” His voice turned exasperated. “All of you servants gossip with one another.”

There was rustling from overhead. The man was growing angry, and Alice got the impression that Prim was readying herself to leap down with claws bared. No… No, that would be a disaster.

The nobleman misread her silence. "Where is she?" he demanded.

She needed to make up some sort of a lie, but fear clouded her thoughts.

"Look at me," he commanded. "Answer me."

She glanced up, and despite her fear, she couldn't help but notice his handsome features, even if he was an overbearing jerk.

"I think… I think she went out to town," Alice ventured cautiously.

"By herself? The town is no place for her. There are dark classers around!" He cursed under his breath. "We provide you with food, housing, and shelter, but you people always make it so hard for us to protect you. Why don't you just behave?"

His voice rose sharply, and Alice trembled, acutely aware that this man could decide to punish her to send a message to the other General Laborers.

And she knew with certainty that Prim would not allow him to touch her.

In a desperate attempt to save herself, she blurted out the truth. "Dolly's with Sir Breydon," she said abruptly. "She goes out with him every night."

There was a moment of stark silence.

"Breydon. I see," his voice was cold.

Alice winced and braced herself for what may come next. That had been a dumb move. He could easily think she was lying or dirtying Breydon’s good name.

His next words surprised her. "Very well, then. Continue your... walk. But I expect you to stay within the estate grounds. It's not safe for your kind tonight, or any night. You have no skills to defend yourself. Do you understand me?" he said sternly, as if she were an ill-behaving horse and not a person.

"Yes, sir," Alice replied.

Turning on his heel, he strode off.

Alice's legs felt like jelly, and she turned to lean against the nearest tree for support.

Prim fluttered down to her shoulder and gently stroked her cheek against Alice's. "You feared that man would hurt you."

"He could have, but he didn't," Alice's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. "Oh, Prim, I'm afraid I've just done a terrible thing."

Prim cocked her head. "What was that?"

"I should've made something up. Now he knows Dolly is with Breydon and he’ll be looking for her.."

"But you told the truth," Prim pointed out, puzzled.

A terrible sense of betrayal weighed on her shoulders. "She's my friend. I should have protected her, but…" But the truth had sent the man away from Prim. She couldn’t quite bring herself to regret that.

Prim huffed in confusion. She clearly didn't understand. And why would she? Dolly had been absent from her room except for brief visits over the last few days. And during all of those, Prim was asleep.

"Alice, I'm hungry," Prim said.

Alice closed her eyes, then collected herself. The smart thing to do—the safe and cautious thing—would be to return to the barracks. She should wait for Dolly, perhaps find a way to send a message to warn her, though Alice had no idea how she could.

But her dragon was hungry, and despite her worry for Dolly, she had made her own bed.

"Okay, the kitchens, then," she said, "but we must be careful now a Nobleman’s out and about."

"I'll keep watch," Prim said, fluttering back up to the branches. "You are safe with me."

Alice let out a light laugh, despite herself. "Who’s supposed to protect who?"

"You are She of Many Dragons," the dragon said. "And I am your aspect. I protect you, of course."