MY FINGERS TREMBLED WHILE I dressed this morning, the ship still noisy but most of the sound came from above now; the soldiers and allies gathered on the main deck, impatient to get going.

'Crap!'

The smooth links slipped through my fingertips again as I attempted to seal the back seam. A loud knock on the door made me jump.

'Highness?'

I hesitated for a second then shrugged; he'd seen me in less than this before.

'Ignatius,' I called and he ...