THE WORDS FELL LIKE STONES, plunking through Elena's consciousness.

Lord Yakov, she thought numbly, something he'd always shunned the concept of. Nikias had offered him the title many times yet he'd laughed in response, batting away the compliments, insisting he didn't deserve it.

Elena forced her attention back to the scene before her.

The two conspirators bowed again, keeping their upper bodies low as they backed out of the room. Yakov watched in amusement. ...