A/N: Hey all, sorry this update took so long. I know you have all been waiting for this suspensful chapter. I hope you like it. Special thanks to all who reviewed! Please do so again!!!

Chapter Six- In Which a Featherduster Reveals a Secret

Sarah flitted over the woodwork with her duster- she simply had to get all her dusting done before the ball was over or old Rose would have a fit. Seriously, all these unused rooms- why did they have to be dusted anyways? No one used them

Sarah snorted. "Some coves are prolly going ta meet an' plan the king's assassination for all I ken" she said sarcastically. "An' the thing is, with the rooms being so out of the way, the coves can ha' been plannin' ta murder the whole of Corus and a body wouldna ken until it happen'd!" Sarah shook her head. Tghose nobles- they were basically all the same. Stupid idiots. Now the court of the Rogue- that was a different matter. Sarah had friend among the women folk there, and they seemed to be decent folk. In fact, she had promised Rispah to go down there in the morning to celebrate the Lady Alanna's victory. The Trebond twins were the only nobles Sarah didn't despise.

Sarah jabbed angrily with the duster at a carving on the wall, and suddenly the wall rolled back to reveal a small and dusty passage. "Nobles!" she remarked scathingly as she advanced down the passage, "cannae even keep their secret passages clean!"

Sarah soon quieted and began to look around her in wonder- you could see everything through the walls- the beautiful ball which was still going on, the prince and a blonde lady, rolling in the sheets; the king caring for his sick queen, and…two nobles not at the ball, fighting? What was going on?

Sarah was about to keep moving down the corridor past a room where two lords were bickering when the lady who had been with the prince earlier came in, her dress rumpled and torn in several places, and her lips swollen. There were several hickeys on her neck, and she seemed extremely tired. But despite all that, she carried herself with pride, turning her flirting eyes on the tow lords before kneeling before the taller one.

"The plan is in action, master," she said, eyes gazing straight into the man's hooded eyes. "All that awaits is your word."

"Not yet, my eager Delia," said the taller and older man with an authority that reminded Sarah somehow of King Roald, "My young friend here still needs to act on his end of the bargain."

The younger man looked chastised and embarrassed. "I'm sorry- he keeps escaping me. He was rescued too early from the skating accident, and--"

"You should have gotten him out of the way sooner, my friend." The older man smiled menacingly at his companion before continuing, "It may now be too late- his blasted sister it now at court. See if you can contrive to get either of them alone and then dispose of them. They are both a threat to us now."

"But master- surely the girl is harmless! She is only a debutante after all?" The younger man shook with nervous energy and doubt. It was clear to Sarah that he did not relish the job, whatever it was.

"That debutante, as you call her, nearly killed me in Carthak, and several nights ago, disposed of six of my best assassins. She manages to get in the thick of thins wherever she goes and no one is safe from her." The man gripped the edge of the table so hard that his knuckles turned white. "Do not underestimate her!"

"Yes, my lord"

"Do not disappoint me- the Trebonds are a threat, no matter how innocent they may seem. They are in the way of my path to the throne and must be gotten rid of as soon as possible"

Sarah stifled a gasp. The Trebond twins were the only nobles she thought worth their jewels. But Sarah's gasp had been heard by the man the other two had deferred to.

He waved his hand, and the wall just disappeared. Sarah was left clutching a non-existent wall, and fell at the lord's feet in a heap.

"O Look" the lord said, smiling pleasantly, "A maid come to clean to the room. I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you, but I am afraid this is necessary…" The lord turned away arrogantly, but not before Sarah had stilled completely in the eternal stillness of death.

A/N: DUN DUN DUN DUN! What will happen next...? LOL. I finally know what direction this is going to take. Chapters should be coming more frequently now. PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Love,

Lady Mage