Artemis bowed his head silently, accepting the rebuke. He recalled a similar conversation taking place when he had first offered his services to the previous king. [I]Pperhaps if I live to see the next monarch crowned,[/I] he thought, [I]I will have learned to choose my moment more wisely.[/I]

With the prince gone, he had no reason to remain. He turned on his heel and swept out of the room, making his way back to the main streets of the city. As he turned the last corner onto his street, he immediately knew that something was wrong. The door to his house was ajar, and he could see a faint glow through the second floor window that wasn't cast by a lantern.