“No one,” said Master Elwyn.
“Not even an alien life form?” Count Godfrey was insistent in his probing.
“Not the ones that trouble you on Arkady,” the adept said, and glanced at him with understanding. “That much I can assure you.”
“Then,” said the old Count Godfrey, looking at Duke Harald with an eye of shining triumph, “this is success, not failure, after all! If you can make a battle plan and keep it secret from the aliens—
“Sire,” he said, and stressed the ancient title, “you have found your royal road!”