Part 5 of as yet untitled YA fantasy fiction

Rose shifted her weight, her leather slippers barely brushing the loose stones beneath her foot, before delicately planting it with barely a sound. The clouds covered the moon above, casting a dim glow across the sky. She could see well enough to inch her way slowly and deliberately across the small courtyard, but she hoped any guards patrolling through the night watch would miss spotting her in the shadows. She'd donned her black linen cloak and the maid's sturdy blue dress she'd kept hidden between her mattresses for occasions such as this, though she'd never imagined it would be used for such a daring purpose. The dress was getting to be a bit snug since she'd smuggled it well over a year ago, but she was breathing shallow breaths anyway and there was nothing else to wear that would've been nearly as practical. She focused on her slow sliding steps, easing ever closer to the wall below Lord V'Sluz's balcony. When she'd finally made it, she focused on her steadying her breath and sending up a silent prayer of thanks to the Creator she'd made it thus far. She didn't consider herself a particularly devout Praiser, but there no time like the present when you were under the balcony of the dangerous and cunning man who had swept your mother's feet from under her while your father lay in his sudden and unexpected death bed.

A door closed in the room above and she could hear footsteps through the cracked open balcony door. Oh Bless me that it's a warm night and Lord V'Sluz's rooms aren't well ventilated! She could hear voices drifting down from above. Two voices, surprisingly! One she picked out right away as V'Sluz, the other a slightly higher pitch, male she guessed, sounding somewhat youthful, though she didn't recognize the voice. They were speaking softly, but she had keen ears and the winds seemed to carry their words down to her.

"Your swiftness in completing your task surprises even me, though I am slightly worried that the family might begin to suspect the King's sickness might be more than it appeared to be." 
Rose knew that voice as V'Sluz but was barely aware of it, almost choking on the words he said. 
"I aim to please my Lord. I trust you have found the Queen more... pliable due to our efforts as well." the younger voice said.
"Quite." murmured V'Sluz sounding thoughtful. "For your next task, you will place a cap full of this powder into our lovely, soft and spoiled Heiress's morning meal for the next week, followed by two caps full the following weeks, until it is no longer necessary."
The younger voice paused for a moment before responding.
"Yes my Lord, it will be so."

The implications of the conversation above slammed into Rose's head, the memory of her father, now dead, that worm V'Sluz charming her mother by some devious means, and now, an imminent attack on her self! A whimper escaped her traitorous throat and she immediately knew it for the mistake it was. Feet hit the floor above, running, and she realized she'd never make it to help in time. Even if she could alert the guards, who could she trust, the guards Lord V'Sluz surrounded his rooms with? Hardly! Even if she could make it back to the Royal Family's quarters safely, many of the guards throughout the castle now were veterans of his campaigns! The truth of the desperation of her plight anchored deep in her soul. She ran. She cursed herself for a coward and ran. If I can make it up to the parapets, perhaps I can swim the moat? And then what? The caves? Oh Creator help me! If ever there was a time to take an active roll in an heiress's life, make it be now! Her only consolation was that Lord V'Sluz couldn't have known it was the very same Heiress that had overheard him. If only she could get to safety before he realized she knew.