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Harkell gave them three hours to get well away before he sent his sergeant with a note addressed to Prince Jarand, requesting an audience. The prince sent a curt reply saying that he was not available until the following morning but would see him then. Harkell gritted his teeth as he dispatched his sergeant with another request, this time stressing the urgency. He knew that if he left the prince uninformed until tomorrow when clearly he possessed the information today, Jarand would be justifiably incensed. Better to weather his displeasure now.
Harkell had barely had time to convince himself that he was taking the right course of action when his sergeant returned, looking shaken, and snapped a salute, “Sir, Prince Jarand will see you in twenty minutes’ time.” He glanced at his captain
