Стража! Стража!

           LupineWonsescurriedalongtheruinedcorridorsofthepalace,TheSummoningofDragonsunderonearm,

           theglitteringroyalswordgraspeduncertainlyinonehand.

           Hehalted,panting,inadoorway.

           Notalotofhismindwascurrentlyinastatesaneenoughtohaveproperthoughts,butthesmallpartthatwasstillinbusinesskeptinsistingthatitcouldn’thaveseenwhatithadseenorheardwhatithadheard.

           Someonewasfollowinghim.

           Andhe’dseenVetinariwalkingthroughthepalace.Heknewthemanwassecurelyputaway.Thelockwascompletelyunpickable.HerememberedthePatricianbeingabsolutelyinsistentthatitbeanunpickablelockwhenitwasinstalled.

           Therewasmovementintheshadowsattheendofthepassage.Wonsegibberedabit,fumbledwiththedoorhandlebesidehim,dartedin,slammedthedoorandleanedagainstit,fightingforbreath.

           Heopenedhiseyes.

           Hewasintheoldprivateaudienceroom.ThePatricianwassittinginhisoldseat,onelegcrossedontheother,watchinghimwithmildinterest.

           "Ah,Wonse,"hesaid.

           Wonsejumped,scrabbledatthedoorhandle,leaptintothecorridorandranforituntilhereachedthemainstaircase,risingnowthroughtheruinsofthecentralpalacelikeaforlorncorkscrew.Stairs-height-highground-defence.Heranupthemthreeatatime.

           Allheneededwasafewminutesofpeace.Thenhe’dshowthem.

           Theupperfloorsweremorefullofshadows.Whattheywereshortonwasstructuralstrength.Pillarsandwallshadbeentornoutbythedragonasitbuiltitscave.