My first impulse, once I strode triumphant from the throne room, was to dash for the nearest exit, run for home, lock myself in my room and scrub the last several days from my memory forever.

Elliot didn't give me the chance, waiting for me right at the exit. He was lucky he was an Enforcer or I would have done him some damage.

"A moment yet," he said. "My leader would like a word?"

Oh, so now she wanted to talk to me, did she? I stomped my way to my old ...