"My lord," my guide broke my gaping silence for me, "Her Highness must be ravenous."

Leader-my grandfather-nodded quickly and took my arm, linking it through his as he led me, unresisting, under a wide archway similar to the front door and into a long, narrow room, seating me himself in a massive chair before sitting beside me at the head of the table. My quiet guide gestured and the others in the room joined us, though I noticed he remained, silent and watchful, at my ...