Стража! Стража!

           "Yes,butallforonewhat?"

           ThePatriciansighedand,carefullymarkinghisplace,laidasidehisbook.Tojudgefromthenoisethereseemedtobeanawfullotofexcitementgoingonoutthere.Itwashighlyunlikelyanypalaceguardswouldbearound,whichwasjustaswell.Theguardswerehighly-trainedmenanditwouldbeashametowastethem.

           Hewouldneedthemlateron.

           Hepaddedovertothewallandpushedasmallblockthatlookedexactlylikealltheothersmallblocks.Noothersmallblock,however,wouldhavecausedasectionofflagstonetogrindponderouslyaside.

           Therewasacarefullychosenassortmentofstuffinthere-ironrations,spareclothes,severalsmallchestsofpreciousmetalsandjewels,tools.Andtherewasakey.Neverbuildadungeonyoucouldn’tgetoutof.

           ThePatriciantookthekeyandstrolledovertothedoor.Asthewardsofthelockslidbackintheirwell-oiledgrooveshewondered,again,whetherheshouldhavetoldVimesaboutthekey.Butthemanseemedtohavegotsomuchsatisfactionoutofbreakingout.Itwouldprobablyhavebeenpositivelybadforhimtohavetoldhimaboutthekey.Anyway,itwouldhavespoiledhisviewoftheworld.HeneededVimesandhisviewoftheworld.

           LordVetinariswungthedooropenand,silently,strodeoutintotheruinsofhispalace.

           Theytrembledas,forthesecondtimeinacoupleofminutes,thecityrocked.

           Thedragonkennelsexploded.Thewindowsblewout.