Sire Dagon gave him a look meant to indicate that he knew very well where he was going. It is what he would have done in normal circumstances. Again, though, his eyes chose to disobey him. Tremulous, they slid to the side as he passed and, yes, the Numrek to his left was watching him! No mistaking it. The beast had been observing him with more than casual interest.

Once in the corridor, the leagueman quickened his step, trying to walk quietly and listen for any indication that the Numrek was following. He had to pass another two Numrek milling about the anteroom, but he managed it without mishap. Once in the front office proper, he swept in on Rhrenna, tripping on the edge of the carpet and banging his leg against a divan.

The secretary frowned at him. “Sire Dagon …”

He did not slacken his strides. Reaching out with one hand, he clamped his claw around the woman’s elbow, wrenching her into motion. She called out in protest, but he shushed her savagely. “Be silent! Your life depends on this!”

The piper sitting in the corner near the queen’s actual door did not pay enough attention to look perplexed. He just glanced at the two rushing forward and lifted his flute to announce their presence. He had sounded but a few notes before Sire Dagon opened the queen’s door. He swirled in and shoved it closed again a moment later, releasing Rhrenna as he did. It was all an unaccustomed amount of physical activity for the man, enough to leave him panting.

Corinn had been on her balcony. She stepped back into the dimmer light inside, studying the two with an unreadable but certainly not welcoming expression.

“Your Majesty!” Dagon bowed quickly, sucking a few breaths as he did so. “I am here to tell you everything. Everything, without the slightest deception. First, though, have you a secret room? A safe room?”

“What—”

Moving toward her, he said, “You do, of course! I know you do. A room that you can enter from these chambers, that only you have the key to and that you can lock. Where is it?”

“Sire Dagon, I—”

“No!” he said. “Not now. In a safe place. Get us there. Then we talk. Please, Corinn. Your very life is in danger. Please!”

The queen crossed her arms. “I’m in my chambers, with my guards but a shout away. From whom am I in danger? I see only one madman at the moment.”

“Oh, you stubborn thing! Fine.”