Nellie crossed the marketplace between the empty snow-covered stalls, up to the gates of the palace.
The palace guards stood in their guard boxes. She hoped that one of them would be Henrik because he would let her through without asking too many uncomfortable questions. Or so she hoped.
But neither of the guards was Henrik. It had been silly of her to hope.
Nellie debated waiting until she could see him, but that would only make the men suspicious.
So she pulled the shawl closer over her head and went up to the guard box.
“I have spices to deliver to the kitchen.”
She showed them the basket she had brought to carry the leftovers. No one would know the pots in the basket were empty.
These two men she only knew vaguely. Fortunately, they let her through, and Nellie crossed the snow-c
