Kate’s bed bumped about as the grey-eyed man slid out from beneath it and stood to his feet. Atiya gave Kate an incredulous look before addressing the man. "And who are you?"

He dusted off his cloak. "My name is not important. In fact, it is better for both of you if you do not know my name."

"Yeah, sure,” Atiya scoffed. “The mysterious stranger with the best interests of the helpless women at heart." She stalked to the foot of the bed, her sword extended. "How do we know you're not part of the lunatic leader’s plan?"

He grinned at Atiya and gestured to the bed. "Ask Kate. We've met before."

Atiya turned to her with raised eyebrows. Kate studied the man’s face. She didn't really know who he was, but he had been trying to help her. On the other hand, so had Jorad, but for his own purposes. Regardless, it would be a lot better to try and escape with this guy instead of being forced into marriage with the rebel leader. She nodded to Atiya. "I trust him, even though I don't know his name," she stared at him, "not yet."

He smiled and nodded. "For now, that is best. You will be safer if people think I am just some soldier who wanted you for his counterpart." His smile widened and Kate found herself wondering if he was serious. With so few girls left was he actually interested in her? In a way, she wouldn’t mind if he was.

Atiya waved the point of the sword at him. "We've got to call you something."

"You are one of the sisters?" he asked.

"Yes, and my name is Atiya. I'm not afraid to let people know it."

"Then for now why don't the two of you call me 'brother'. It will be best if anyone overhears us talking." He sat on the edge of Kate's bed and gestured to Atiya and the door. "Can you tell me what you saw out there?"

Atiya slide the sword back into its sheath and cinched it up around her waist. "I went looking for something to eat and found and empty room with food laid out on the table. It was good stuff too; I tried some, but then I heard soldiers coming and I ducked under the tablecloth. Their leader was with them, I could hear that strange voice of his. They all sat down, and I had a hard time not being kicked by all those dirty boots."

The man nodded. "That was smart. What did they talk about?"

Atiya smiled at his compliment. "One told their leader that some of the hired mercenaries who used to be with the palace guard of Kadir have been talking about going back to serve the palace, now that the Chief Watcher is dead. The man noted that a mutiny could spread because most of the Rozan soldiers are hungry and tired." Atiya leaned against the bedpost. "And that was when the wise rebel leader decided he just can't wait any longer to move forward with his plans to be joined to his counterpart, even without his precious tiara."

Kate sat up and tugged the blanket higher. "He's going to marry me right away?"

Atiya nodded. "Sort of. He is planning to bring Jorad back for the ceremony but instead of giving you some pretty jewels for your special day, he plans on killing you."

“Are you sure you heard that right?” the man asked, sitting on the edge of Kate’s bed.

Atiya nodded. "I told you he was insane. The plan is to dress his elite guards in borrowed palace soldier tunics. At the counterpart ceremony, they'll attack the clearing, and during the fight, you will end up getting killed. He believes his men will be so angry they will follow him to counterattack the palace right away. And with the one they all think is Tyreth," she pointed at Kate, "dead, Kadir will be without a ruler so it will be easy to take over. In the end the palace guard will be blamed for Tyreth's death since the story has been planted that you decided to be the counterpart to the rebel leader because you didn't wish to be joined to the captain of the guard." Atiya shrugged at the man. "A bit convoluted but not bad for someone with only half a brain." She turned back to Kate. "And after you are dead, the rebel leader plans to find a counterpart he can more easily bend to his will. He says Tyreth is far too stubborn."

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"Did his men actually buy into this plan?" the man asked.

"We will find out shortly, my brother." Atiya pushed away from the bed and went to unlock the door. Stepping into the hall, she smiled sweetly as she waved the key in her hand and shut it again. "Our older guard is waiting for me to return his key, but after all the soldiers are fed, they are going to call him to a meeting with the leader and that will leave our door unguarded. It appears they don't trust him to go along with their scheme. He still has his honor and that makes him dangerous."

The man jumped to his feet and held his hand to Kate. "We've got to get you out of here and warn Tyreth about the attack."

Kate held up the medallion. "I've already met her in the chamber. She has the medallion Jorad took from me."

The man's eyes narrowed at Jorad's name, and he studied her medallion a moment. "Can you contact her again and let her know the rebels are planning to attack the city?"

"I think so. I’ve just discovered its possible for me to go to the chamber without sleeping as long as I'm covered up and in the dark. I was there when you came in." She cringed at the memory of Corvan lying on the floor. She needed to find him as soon as possible but she didn't want to tell this man after what he had said about the chamber judging people's hearts. Could Corvan be so bitter and angry that the chamber removed all his clothes?

“I can see it upsets you to go there,” the man said. "Can we bring you back quickly if we need to?"

"I think that if you pull the covers down. I'll come back here," Kate said.

Atiya laughed out loud. "I want to be here for that."

"What are you talking about?" the man asked.

Kate grabbed the bundle of clothes. "I need to get dressed first."

"Oh. Yes." His ears turned pink as he turned and he crossed the room to look intently out the window.

Atiya grinned as she shook out the clothes and handed a shirt, pants and a cloak with embroidered sleeves to Kate. She leaned in close and whispered, "Where did you find him? He's kinda cute."

Kate grabbed the clothes. "I didn't find him, he just appeared."

Atiya giggled so hard she snorted. "I'm gonna look under your bed and see if there's one for me too."

Kate glanced at the man staring out the window. He had to be hearing what Atiya was saying.

Kate pulled on the clothes under the blanket as Atiya crossed to the door and put her ear to the keyhole.

As soon as she was dressed, Kate coughed and the man turned around.

"Are you sure you can contact Tyreth?" he asked.

"As long as she shows up tonight," Kate replied. "But if she isn't in the chamber, should I speak with Jorad instead?"

He frowned. "You said Tyreth had Jorad's medallion."

"She does but now he has the other one I found up in the caves outside that doorway above Kadir."

The man nodded. "Then that must have been the one Tarran carried.” A deep frown creased his brow. “I wish I could have saved him.” His eyes narrowed. “So you are carrying two of the medallions? The glowing one and a plain silver one?"

She shook her head. "For a short while I had two medallions but then I dropped the silver one, the one that doesn’t glow, and now Tyreth has it."

"And that’s the one that was Jorad's medallion?"

Kate nodded. "Yes. It's a bit confusing but I think Jorad's medallion and the one I found in the caves were mixed up when Jorad held them both together."

His eyebrows raised and he crossed the floor to sit again on the edge of the bed. "Kate, did you mix up the medallions or did Jorad switch them on you?"

Kate averted her eyes. "I . . . I'm not sure if he did it on purpose."

"I need to know. It will tell us if we can ask him to help us or if he is fully against us."

"He seems to be on both sides at the same time," Kate said.

The young man nodded. "That sounds exactly like Jorad. To be safe I would not open his door unless there is no other way to get a warning to Tyreth. I do believe he would do anything to help her."

Kate went to pull the covers over her head, but he grabbed her hand.

"If you do talk to my brother, remind him the path of honor is measured by one's deeds." He released her hand and drew the blanket up over her face.

Kate pulled the medallion close as its glow bathed her face. It sounded like the grey-eyed man was Jorad's real brother but all the double-talk about herself and Tyreth, brothers and sisters, palace soldiers and rebel soldiers was confusing.

Right now, all she knew for certain was that Corvan was in great danger, and she needed to find him as soon as possible.