Rowan’s heart sank even as her feet sped up. Clem bullied and pushed until the crowd parted for them. Keepers were already forming a line at the gap. When Rowan tried to get through they stopped her. 

“Stand back, ma’am. It isn’t safe.”

“I need to get to Talos!” 

“No one’s going out there.”

Rowan sputtered. With the adrenaline rush and shortness of breath from the run, words failed her. 

Clem stepped up. She glanced at the one bar on the keeper’s shoulder and turned so her own two bars were visible. 

“Do you know who this is, keeper?” She pointed to Rowan.

“No, sir.” 

“This is Princess Rowan Elizabeth Cecilia Andula, heir to House Andula and way above your pay grade! Other than the fact that she can have your ass thrown in jail, she’s also the only mech mage in the city qualified to work on the Talos. So either you let her through or you spend the rest of your service hours mopping toilets.” She leaned right into his space. “In the palace dungeons.”

The keeper gaped at Clem, then at Rowan, but he let them through. 

“Not a mech mage,” Rowan muttered as they started to climb over the rocks. 

“Close enough. And titles are important. You never appreciated that.”