As he outlined the plan Han had a harder and harder time believing it was true. First they needed to find a secret entrance inside the palace. Then after finding the entrance they would have to hope Crow still had the power to open the vault. As Crow described it once they were inside it they would have to evade numerous traps he himself had set. Yet the treasure they were looking for wasn't close at hand. They then had to travel down to the middle of the mountain Hanalea. Then if Crows memory and the map he had gotten proved correct which Han was skeptical of since he had been in an amulet for a thousand years, they would be at the treasure trove. Crow wouldn't say what was inside, just that getting there would be a good start.
Having taken most of the morning talking and planning they were riding through Ragmarket when business was just starting to pick up and there were more travelers on the road. Han thanked the Maker for it because He looked odd enough with his bleached white hair, but Crow and him together wouldn't go unnoticed for long. Self consciously Han twitched his cowl up higher as if a breeze had made him shiver. Dancer seemed more at ease than Han. It wasn't like he had any worries about being noticed. No body wanted anything to do with him so he passed through the crowds without problem even on a horse. Not like the glamours that they wrapped about themselves weren't working. It was just easier to be inconspicuous when you looked the part too.
Smells and sounds drifted to Han as they passed through his old neighborhood. He called out to a vendor and tossed him a two coppers for some morning breakfast. The vendor threw back three stuffed rolls. They set Hans mouth to watering and his stomach grumbling since he hadn't had much at the feast last night. He'd been too busy watching Rasia. He then tossed the other two rolls to Crow and Dancer.
Crow dropped besides him as Dancer broke their way through the gathering multitudes that were beginning to clog the streets.
"Real food!", he gasped. In between bites he asked,
"So, you're in love with the princess turned Queen? Our family always did have an eye for greatness."
Startled Han spluttered spewing some of his roll onto Ragger, "In love? I should say not! I am Her highness's personal magical body guard.", he said as he hastily brushed the crumbs off Ragger.
"Right because she didn't get that ring that made of moonstones and sapphires from you. What's your plan? You know the clans wont accept a match between the two of you. I know that and I've been locked away in an amulet for a thousand years."
"Then I'll just have to make them an offer they cannot refuse."
"I know I am the worst person to be cautioning you, but before go up against them make sure you have more than one ace up your sleeve."
Han smiled, old grandpa Alger still wanted a Waterlow on the throne is seemed.
"Don't worry, I'm playing for keeps and this is a game for all the marbles not just one sweet mark."
"Then make sure your the only person your plan depends on because that's all you have when everything else doesn't work."
Dancer called them forward and they surged through the crowd making good headway until they got the draw bridge. Since Han was a regular going in and out of the castle he wouldn't be noticed by the guards, but bringing Crow and Dancer in would draw questions for sure. Grasping his amulet thanking the maker he'd readied it for so much use, he spoke a charm over Crow that caused people to glance over him and not take notice of him. Dancer did the same to himself. As they crossed a guard yelled
"You there! Where's the Queen? You didn't leave her with the clans did you?"
"Of course not she sent me ahead with a message for someone in the castle close before she got back."
"Well then hurry on...wait what's that..." The guard tried to fix his eyes on the spot where Crow was, but kept rubbing his eyes.
"Never mind, go on ahead."
Releasing his breath Han hurried forward with his two companions right behind him.
As they dismounted Crow twirled in a circle smiling.
"Not much has changed in a thousand year has it. Follow me."
Crow seemed to know the servants corridors as well as Han did. Han guessed he too had found that moving from one place to another without being seen had been just as important when his great grandfather had lived here. Playing his own political games no doubt Han thought. Moving through the corridors they made their way down into the bowls of the castle. Thankfully all the servants were busy or hustling this way or that trying to clean up the castle from the inaugural party of the Queen a few days before. When they were deep in the tunnels underneath the castle Crow stopped,
"Alister, you and your friend should sweep this tunnel for enchantments and disable them, please."
