Стража! Стража!

           "That’stheway,isit?Sixofyoutofetchonefeeblewoman.Verywell.Youwill,ofcourse,allowmetofetchacoat.Itissomewhatchilly."

           Sheslammedthedoor.

           Thepalaceguardsstampedtheirfeetinthecoldandtriednottolookatoneanother.Thisobviouslywasn’tthewayyouwentaroundarrestingpeople.Theyweren’tallowedtokeepyouwaitingonthedoorstep,thiswasn’tthewaytheworldwassupposedtowork.Ontheotherhand,theonlyalternativewastogointhereanddragherout,anditwasn’toneanyonecouldsummonanyenthusiasmfor.Besides,theguardcaptainwasn’tsurehehadenoughmentodragLadyRamkinanywhere.You’dneedteamsofthousands,withlogrollers.

           Thedoorcreakedopenagain,revealingonlythemustydarknessofthehallwithin.

           "Right,men-"saidthecaptain,uneasily.

           LadyRamkinappeared.Hegotabrief,blurredvisionofherboundingthroughthedoorway,screaming,anditmightwellhavebeenthelastthingherememberedifaguardhadn’thadthepresenceofmindtotripherupasshehurtleddownthesteps.Sheplungedforward,cursing,ploughedintotheovergrownlawn,hitherheadonacrumblingstatueofanantiqueRamkin,andslidtoahalt.

           Thedouble-handedbroadswordshehadbeenholdinglandedbesideher,boltupright,andvibratedtoastandstill.

           Afterawhileoneoftheguardscreptforwardcautiouslyandtestedthebladewithhisfinger.

           "Bloodyhell,"hesaid,inavoiceofmixedhorrorandrespect."Andthedragonwantstoeather?"

           "Fitsthebill,"saidthecaptain.