31
In the drawing room of the Manissan palace, Toriana glanced up from her desk where she was working her way through a pile of documents. She watched the heavy carved wooden doors open to reveal Colonel Waldarion, who entered, and bowed. Once she had allowed him to straighten, she returned her attention to the reports from her generals for a full ten minutes before deigning to acknowledge him. “So Waldarion. Your demeanour tells me that you are not the bearer of the news I am waiting to hear. How can a whole nation fail to kill two people?”
Colonel Waldarion repressed his irritation and managed a faint smile of unfelt apology. “Good morning, Your Majesty. How indeed? Unfortunately, you are correct. No success so far. I believe one specialist came close to this man whom King Gavin thinks
