Стража! Стража!

           Thetemperatureloweredbyseveraldegrees.

           "Soifyouwouldkindlystepthisway?"

           Thegreathallhadchanged.Foronething,itwasagreatdealgreater.Severalwallshadbeenknockedintoadjoiningrooms,andtheceilingandseveralstoreysofupperroomshadbeenentirelyremoved.Thefloorwasamassofrubbleexceptinthemiddleoftheroom,whichwasaheapofgold-Well,goldish.Itlookedasthoughsomeonehadscouredthepalaceforanythingthatshoneorglittered.Therewerethepictureframes,andthegoldthreadoutoftapestries,andsilver,andtheoccasionalgem.Therewerealsotureensfromthekitchens,candlesticks,warmingpans,fragmentsofmirror.Sparklystuff.

           Thecouncillorswerenotinapositiontopaymuchattentiontothis,however,becauseofwhatwashangingabovetheirheads.

           Itlookedlikethebiggestbadly-rolledcigarintheuniverse,ifthebiggestbadly-rolledcigarintheuniversewasinthehabitofhangingupsidedown.Twotalonscouldbedimlyseengrippingthedarkrafters.

           Halfwaybetweentheglitteringheapandthedoorwayasmalltablehadbeenlaid.Thecouncillorsnotedwithoutmuchsurprisethatthefamiliarancientsilverwarewasmissing.Therewerechinaplates,andcutlerythatlookedasthoughithadveryrecentlybeenwhittledfrombitsofwood.Wonsetookaseatattheheadofthetableandnoddedtotheservants.

           "Pleasebeseated,gentlemen,"hesaid."Iamsorrythingsarealittle...different,butthekinghopesyouwillbearwithituntilmatterscanbemoresuitablyorganised.