Rusk's answer came through the speaker without a trace of surprise.
"Your Highness, the palace is under attack. My duty is to restore order."
"Your men are holding the palace staff under armed guard."
"I'm protecting them from the same threat that took you from the gallery."
"You know I'm at the weather station."
A pause.
I looked at Julian. He met my eyes. He had chosen to give away our position, and now there was no taking it back.
The radio clicked.
"Remain inside," Rusk said. "A team is coming to escort you."
Julian set down the microphone. "He'll arrive with enough men to make refusal look like treason."
"And enough weapons to make refusal dangerous," Sloane said.
I checked the station's rear exit. The road was exposed. If Rusk approached from the palace, we would have no c
