Disguise herself as a nun

Machiko dressed quickly, and the two disguised women quickly made their way through the garden, coming to a quiet little pagoda beneath a statue of a smiling jade goddess, set against the courtyard wall.

Nanoko put her fingers against the jade idol's left nipple and Machiko marvelled to see it depress inwards. A secret passage opened up, and the two women quickly scampered in, the stone door falling closed behind them.

As they rushed through the secret ways beneath the Palace, Machiko found herself thrilled, terrified, and perhaps for the first time in her life, completely alive.

Several times they had to stop and hide as guards tromped by, but Nanoko always knew where to go.

By the first twinkle of midnight they had emerged from an old cistern half a mile from the palace, and were crossing the open meadows outside the city.

Nanoko led them to a hidden cave, where two horses were tied. "We'll rest here for tonight, then continue our journey in the morning."