Desmond returned to the palace servants' quarters before dawn. He needed eyes and ears.As he entered his room, a shadow was already waiting for him. A woman in the attire of a head maid was cleaning a small dagger with a silk cloth."Entering without knocking is impolite," Desmond said, closing the door."Returning smelling of the Queen's perfume and a General's blood is also impolite," the woman retorted. Laila.Desmond sat on the wooden chair. "Who are you really, Laila? Ordinary slaves don't carry *Nubian Assassin*-style daggers."Laila smirked, spinning the dagger on her finger. "I am the head of household affairs. I know when the Pharaoh relieves himself, and when the Queen cheats. I know everything in this palace.""And what do you want from me?""Freedom," Laila answered quickly. Her gaze was sharp. "I am not Egyptian. I was kidnapped from my homeland ten years ago. I see the way you look at these people. You are