Vera's POV

I woke up that morning with no idea the word had already gone out to begin.

"Where's Marta?"

The maid who usually brought my tea at ten sharp was nowhere in the kitchen, and neither was the second girl who normally trailed behind her. I stood in the doorway with my robe still tied loose at the waist, looking at an empty counter where a tray should have been sitting.

"She was let go, ma'am." One of the newer guards, a man I didn't recognize, answered without quite meeting my eyes. "Reassignment, I believe."

"Reassigned where?"

He didn't answer that one. He just gave a small nod and...