4. Jasmine

By the time I was ready to leave for the palace on Friday evening, I was exhausted. But I'd delivered Flo her new blouse, which she adored. A generous amount of food and wood had arrived to tide Lana over for longer than I'd be away. And my new wardrobe was packed in a large satchel by the door.

"I'll be back Tuesday morning," I told Lana, hugging her. "I promise." And I'd bring the healer to her before that. Soon, my sister would be cured. I couldn't imagine how amazing that would be.

"Don't worry about me," she said with a shaky grin. "I feel fantastic, and I'm so happy you're going."

The new medication from Flo appeared to be helping, but sadly, herbs such as this only alleviated Lana's symptoms. They didn't cure her disease. It would take a skilled healer to do something like that.

I could only hope the palace healers could perform magic.

Anticipation swirled through me. Soon, I'd not only have the chance to speak with the healers, but I'd also be sneaking into the treasure room. Cordellia gave me a map. The treasure room was on the same floor as the ballroom, where the first event would take place tonight.

"Go," Lana said with a smile, nudging my side. "Meet a lord and fall in love."

"No lords. No love." Not unless they had money to help my sister. I was desperate and would gladly sacrifice myself to make her well.

She walked slowly over to the door and lifted my bag, grunting at the effort it took. She held it out to me, and while her smile wavered, it showed me how well the medicine was working. Days ago, she wouldn't have been able to lift it. "Have fun. I want to dream of you dancing, flirting, and enjoying yourself."

"I'll try." I took the bag from her and after another hug, left, walking across town to the entrance to the castle grounds. A high fence surrounded it to keep out riffraff like me.

When I showed one of the seven guards my invitation, they let me in. I walked quickly up the very long, winding driveway toward the entrance of the enormous stone structure crafted ages ago in this area by magic. For many generations, my family had struggled to survive in this village. If the rumors that there was a larger world beyond the forest were true, wouldn't everyone choose to leave the drudgery found here to seek something better?

I joined others streaming toward the tall entrance doors, each with servants carrying their numerous bags. I pinned mine to my big puffy skirt, hoping no one would notice that I not only carried it, but that I only had one. A few women gave me snide looks and one went so far as to step away to put distance between us as if I'd cause her harm just by existing.

Lifting my chin, I returned their looks with one of steel. I wasn't here to flirt or dance or make friends with them. I had a purpose. I'd find Geradine as soon as possible, beg her to help, then complete my bargain with Cordellia. I could be on my way home by morning.

Inside the three-story foyer, I gaped at the plush rugs underfoot, the portraits of stern-face royalty hanging on the walls, and the cream satin draped across the high ceiling.

A butler strode over to me and bowed. "I'm Viscar." He stared down his nose at me, though a hint of kindness shone in his eyes. "You're dressed for the ball already, I see."

"Yes. I'm Jasmine Bains."

He examined a list he held. "Ah, yes, you're one of the villagers."

"Yes, that's me. I'm here to attend the weekend festivities." And find the healer. And sneak into the treasure room.

Little things.

"Yes, so you are," he said. "We've been expecting you."

I wasn't sure why he stressed the last word. I was one of three women chosen from the village to attend, not the only one. "If you'll give me your bag, I'll take it to your room."

"Thank you."

He tugged it from my hands. "If you'll follow, I'll show you where you'll sleep during the weekend. We've put you on the third floor, one above the ballroom. It's in the west wing."

I gave him a shy smile. I might be here for my sister and to . . . All right, to steal a lamp, but I was still excited about this. How often did a village woman get invited to a series of balls?

Never.

"After you've freshened up," he said, walking toward the stairs with my bag, "I'll personally escort you to the ballroom."

I scooted after him. Since I might need to remain here for a few days before I tracked down the treasure room and the healer, I might as well check out the palace.

At the first landing, he approached a lift in the back wall, and we stepped inside. We were whisked upward, and the door chimed as it opened on another level.

"Your room is on the left." He strode that way and thrust open the door at the end, stepping inside with me following. I tried not to act too provincial as I took in the bedroom at least three times the size of my small home. The four-poster bed was draped with burgundy satin that matched the plush comforter on the enormous surface, and a wall of windows spanned the other side of the room. Lush curtains that matched the bedding draped all the way to the floor.

A sitting area with two chairs and a low table holding a vase with a bouquet of flowers was placed where I could sit and look out at the view.

Viscar waved to a door on the right. "The convenience is through there." He strode around the bed and opened that panel as well, showing off a bathroom complete with a tub large enough for four people. "While you're attending the first event, I'll press and hang your clothing in the closet adjacent to the bed."

"Thank you. Everything's so pretty." If only Lana could share this with me. My eyes stung, but I refused to give in to tears.

Returning to the bedroom, he watched me, though I didn't do anything but stand in the room resisting my urge to fidget. "I'll wait out in the hall for you. Feel welcome to relax a bit. Perhaps you'd like to freshen yourself in the convenience. When you're ready, I'll be happy to escort you to the first event."

"Thank you." Maybe he'd point out the treasure room on our way to the ball.

It didn't take much time to "freshen" myself and join him in the hall. He looked me over, but thankfully didn't sneer at my rather simple gown. I'd made it myself, and I was quite proud of it, but while Cordella allowed me to use some of her nicer fabric, she was careful to tell me not to touch the expensive stuff, and there hadn't been time to add any adornments or make anything fancier than this.

"Follow me," he said, pivoting and striding toward the lift.

I walked swiftly behind him, and he took me to the second floor and the ballroom, not using the hallway where I'd noted the treasure room on the map.

I'd find it the moment I dared to slip away from the ball.

"Here you are," he said, nodding to the guards flanking the door. They swept open the very tall, carved wooden doors, revealing the enormous, gilded ballroom. Viscar held out a small golden ball. "Squeeze this when you're ready to be escorted back to your room, and I'll come immediately." His smile came out nervous, though I wasn't sure why. "Feel welcome to speak with and dance with anyone attending the event. Enjoy yourself. Walks in the gardens can be delightful under moonlight. A repast and drinks can be found in the room through the door on your left."

I tucked the ball into my pocket.

He dipped forward in a bow. "Have a pleasant evening, Miss Bains."

"Thank you," I croaked, drawing the attention of one of the guards.

Viscar pivoted and strode down the hall, disappearing around a corner.

After sucking in my breath and nodding to the guards, I strode through the opening and into the ballroom, where I stared wide-eyed at the lovely people swirling across the wooden dancefloor near the large windows spanning the back wall, plus the clusters of women near the right wall. A few tittered when they looked my way, and it was all I could do not to cringe.

I'd made my dress, and it was decent, though nowhere near as fancy. I had no reason to feel as if I didn't fit in.

The large windows at the end of the ballroom showcased the full moon and the gardens below adorned with tiny white lights. Perhaps I would take a walk there before the night was through. At least I'd get away from them.

I smiled and nodded at a few people passing by but eventually made my way to the room where they were serving food and drinks. I gasped as I took in the tables nearly bowing with platters full of seafood, tender meats, cheese, fruit, and others laden with tiny cakes and other assorted desserts. So much food in one place when many in the village had nothing. How could anyone bear to stuff themselves while others starved?

Closing my eyes, I sniffed away my tears. There was no way I could fill a plate and dump most after only a few bites, something I saw three people do before I'd been inside the room for even one minute.

I returned to the ballroom and stood near a wall, biding my time to give Viscar the chance to move on to the next guest. When I felt enough time had passed, I slipped out a side door and hurried down a hall. At the end, I turned a corner and pressed my back against the wall while tugging the tiny map out of my pocket and unfolding it. I studied the diagram and peered around, locating where I was on the map.

After folding it back up to be destroyed the moment I returned to my room with the lamp, I hurried to my right and at the intersection, turned left. Shortly after that, I stood outside the treasure room, though it wasn't marked as such. Only the red jewel the size of my fist mounted in the wall above the simple panel told me I was in the right place.

"They put a spell on the door," Cordellia had said cryptically before I left work this afternoon. "Only someone with a pure heart can open the panel."

"The royals have pure hearts?" I asked in amazement.

"Not them. They, of course, can use a key."

"Where's my key? Because I'm not feeling so pure of heart." Not when I was contemplating theft.

"You won't need it." She gripped my forearm, and I winced. "The door will open for you. But remember, once you're inside, don't touch anything except the lamp, and leave as soon as you have it in your possession. Bring it to me first thing tomorrow morning, and the rest of the weekend is yours. You can find the healer after that."

No one stood in this hallway or outside the door. You'd think the place would be bristling with guards, that they'd shoot me on sight.

I crept closer, looking for a trap. Where was the moat to fall into, the fire-breathing dragons to incinerate me, or the weapons that would shoot poison-tipped arrows my way?

Nothing.

At the door, I grimaced and reached for the knob, expecting a shock that would drop me to my knees.

My fingers gripped it easily, and I swore the metal warmed before going cool once more. The knob turned easily. There was something wrong with all this, but I couldn't figure it out. Maybe I'd come across traps inside.

I eased the panel open and poked my head inside, sensing no one within the dark room. I slipped in and carefully shut the door, pressing my back against it while my heart pounded so loudly, they must've heard it in the ballroom.

"Hello?" I slapped my hand over my mouth the second I spoke. The last thing I needed to do was announce myself.

Hello, hello, hello . . .My voice echoed back at me, and goosebumps rippled across my skin.

A chime rang out, and muted lights erupted overhead, outlining me where I clung to the door.

I nearly dropped to my knees as I took in the enormous room full of piles and piles of treasure. So much, that it would take a legion eons to count it all. Golden coins sparkled, and chalices sat on tables and even on the floor, brimming with jewels. With wide eyes, I stared at the gilded chests overflowing with the finest silk, the golden furniture fit for a king, and the plush carpets underfoot woven from what looked like pure silver and bronze.

What would happen if I touched anything else? There was enough wealth here that I could stuff a handful of coins inside my pocket, and no one would miss it. Two handfuls would set me and Lana up for life. Three, and I could help my friends and neighbors, something I'd always wanted to do but couldn't imagine how when I could barely provide for myself.

I wanted to sob at the wonder here in this room. This was more wealth than any family could spend in a thousand lifetimes, and it sat here when it could instead feed the poor in the village. Pay for everyone to get an education. Build a mansion where orphans like me and Lana could grow up in safety and have a better life than the one we'd lived on the streets.

With all this, they could make sure no one ever had to die from a simple disease.

Nothing here was mine, however, not even the lamp, so it wasn't hard to make my way carefully through the room without touching anything. Did I long to take a jewel here and there or a golden necklace? Of course.

But touching anything felt wrong.

I had no choice but to step on the carpets, but as I threaded my way between one glittering pile of splendor after another, I kept my skirt tucked close to my legs and my fingers to myself.

"Lamp, lamp," I whispered, peering around. "Where are you?"

A light flashed on the opposite side of the room, winking out as quickly as it had appeared.

"That would be too simple, now wouldn't it?" I made my way carefully in that direction, marveling again about the treasure surrounding me.

Maybe it wasn't real. The gold could be paint, the jewels made of glass. And the gold on the gilded furniture might flake off if I touched it. So I told myself. It was much easier to pretend all that glittered wasn't gold than to allow the sight of this wealth to sink into my skin.

At the end of the room, I approached a high dais where I'd seen the light. I had no reason to believe the lamp would actually respond to my question, but there was no harm in looking there. If I didn't find it, I'd continue to explore. I'd come across it eventually, though why anyone would place a beat-up lamp among this treasure confused me. What value did such a thing contain that it needed to be hidden away?

Although, it wasn't exactly hidden. The door was unlocked. Anyone could stroll in and steal whatever they pleased.

A bang rang out on the opposite side of the room, and with my heart on fire, I scooted over to the far wall and ducked down behind an enormous golden throne.

"Fill your bags and be quick about it," someone hissed.

I peered through the gap between the throne's legs, watching as two men crept into the room, their eyes as wide as mine.

"What first?" the second one asked. "All this treasure and no guards in sight. Let's fill our pockets while we're here too. We'll carry whatever we can. Someone messed up, and they won't leave a place like this unlocked again."

"Be quick about it. As you said, they made a mistake. If this was my treasure room, I'd make sure whoever left the door unlocked lost his head."

They grabbed handfuls of coins and jewels, stuffing them into large cloth bags. Tinkles echoing in the room as some fell on top of the rest.

A low swishing sound echoed around me, and I plastered myself to the carpet under my knees.

Gray mist swirled around me before continuing through the room, sweeping up over the piles of treasure and back down to coast through the aisles.

The men kept stuffing coins, jewels, and small gold figurines into their bags, oblivious to the mist.

I held my breath, the thud of my heart heavy in my chest.

The bits of mist merged in the center aisle and flowed en masse toward the men. I wasn't sure what caught their attention, but they both looked up, their eyes widening like two bugs pinned in a light.

The sack fell from one guy's hand, clattering on the floor by his feet. He whirled around and raced toward the door, the other man right behind with his sack flung over his shoulder.

When the mist reached them, it merged with them, pressing them against the door and fusing itself to their frames.

A pop, and they exploded. Gold dust drifted to the floor.

My mouth went drier than the desert I'd heard spread from a few miles away to our west to the sea many miles beyond. I guppy breathed and tried not to pass out.

"Don't touch anything," I hissed to myself. "Nothing but the lamp. And pray that when you do touch the lamp, the mist doesn't find you."

I rose to my shaky feet and rushed up and down the aisles, ignoring the poison treasure and looking only for the lamp. I found it sitting on the dais that had lit up, lying on its side as if someone had tossed it there and forgotten all about it.

Reaching out, I snapped my hand back. I didn't dare touch anything in this room.

Only the memory of my sister's harsh cough, of her pale face and wasted body, gave me the strength I needed to turn myself into a thief. I snatched up the lamp and raced down the center aisle for the door, not looking back. Not listening. Because I was worried the mist was swirling around, coming for me.

When I hit the door, I wrenched it open and stumbled out into the hall.

The door banged close behind me, and when I tried to turn the knob, though I wasn't sure why I wanted to do such a thing, I found the door locked.

I collapsed against the wall and caught my breath, clutching the lamp to my chest. When I could suck in a breath without pain, I hurried to the back stairwell I'd seen on the map.

Reaching my room, I locked the door and slumped on the bed, dropping the lamp onto the blanket beside me. I closed my eyes and remained there until I'd stopped shaking.

Sitting up, I sucked in a breath and shot it back out. Again. Slowly making my heart stop racing.

I picked up the lamp and turned it one way, then the other, trying to figure out why this dented copper thing held so much value. Dust coated its surface, and a twinge of sadness shot through me. No one had cared for it, that was for sure. It shouldn't matter. It was probably a toy a child tossed aside, nothing worth dying for.

Lifting my skirt, I started cleaning off the dust. Might as well deliver it to Cordellia in as pristine a condition as possible.

Smoke started pouring out of the spout.

With a gasp, I tossed it on the floor, trembling as more smoke erupted from inside the lamp. It was too much for such a small vessel to contain, yet it continued coming.

Then it started to solidify, and I was reminded of the mist.

Holding my breath, I waited for the mist to kill me like it had the men.