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said slyly, the pitch of his voice unexpectedly high.
    I backed away, but before I could turn to run, London seemed to fall from the sky and land between the intruder and me, twin double-edged blades drawn and ready. He and the young man engaged in combat while I stood rooted to the spot, mesmerized by the clashing of the blades and the concomitant explosion of sparks. When the trespasser’s weapon soared through the air to land a few feet away, my trance broke, but it was no longer necessary for me to flee. Dropping his left blade, London twisted one of the intruder’s arms behind his back, pressing his other knife against the man’s throat. “Tell me, Cokyrian, ” London spat, as if the name were a bad taste in his mouth. “How many of you are there?”
    The Cokyrian made no reply, and I took a small step closer, wanting to get a better look at the assailant, even though my body still tingled with fright. I squinted through the darkness and my mouth fell open in surprise. “You’re…a woman?”
    The intruder made no response except to snort at my stupidity for thinking she could be anything but a woman.
    â€œStay back, Alera!” London barked, and I halted, unaware that I had been about to put myself in danger. “Call for the guard!”
    I hesitated, for the only guard I’d ever had to call was the one in front of me, but London sharply reminded me of the urgency of the situation. “Now!”
    â€œGuard!” I shouted, hurrying toward the palace, repeating the call several times.
    By the time I reached the pathway that formed the perimeter of the garden, three of the men on patrol duty were rushing my way.
    â€œLondon needs assistance,” I sputtered, pointing down the path from which I had come. “There is an intruder!”
    I followed the men as they hastened to my bodyguard’s aid.
    â€œTake her to the dungeon,” London commanded when the guards reached him, releasing the Cokyrian into their custody. “I will alert the captain and the King.”
    London grabbed my wrist and hurried me back inside, and I stumbled along behind him up the spiral stairway to the second floor.
    â€œWhere are you taking me?” I demanded when we emerged into the corridor, trying to plant my feet to prevent him from dragging me farther.
    â€œTo the King. I must tell him what has happened.”
    â€œAnd what exactly did happen?” I asked, hoping I did not sound idiotic.
    London swiveled around to face me so suddenly that I almost crashed into him.
    â€œDo you not know who intruded upon your precious garden?”
    â€œN-n-no, I—”
    â€œWell, perhaps you have heard of her people—the Cokyrians.”
    â€œI have, but what does this mean?”
    London did not answer but merely tightened his hold on my wrist and continued down the corridor. I did not fight him but insisted once more that he explain.
    â€œTell me, London!”
    â€œThis may be a shock, but it is imperative that you refrain from asking inane questions. I need to think!”
    I hated the tears that welled due to London’s abruptness. He had never before snubbed me in such a manner, and I felt as if I had been slapped. Wiping the excess moisture from my eyes, I sped up so as not to hinder him any more than I could help. He stopped outside the door to the ballroom and faced me.
    â€œI’m not going to haul you in there. It’s better if we don’t make a scene. Just follow me and go straight to the King.”
    His manner invited no response, so I simply nodded, trailing him through the crowd of revelers. He advanced on my father, who stood beside my mother in a group that included Baron Koranis and Baroness Alantonya, along with Cannan and his wife, Baroness Faramay. Without waiting for anyone to acknowledge him, he addressed the King directly, ignoring Cannan, his commanding officer, to whom he should have been reporting.
    â€œYour