(I’m pleased that you ) have finally decided to join me,” Jasmine purred teasingly, “as I commanded you to over eight days ago.” Jasmine bit off the end of her sentence harshly and stared daggers into Ageryan’s pensive face The first beads of sweat began to drip from the black hat’s brow at the mere hint of Jasmine’s displeasure “I I was s-searching for the scepter, milady, as you also commanded,” Ageryan stammered “No You had the scepter I sent you to retrieve And then you lost it And then I commanded you to return That was eight days ago,” Jasmine corrected pointedly “I am sorry, my—” Ageryan began, before Jasmine cut him off “It is of no import You are here now Tell me, who took the scepter from you while you slept?” “I was drugged, milady! An elixir of dreaming was slipped into my cup, I ” “Who took my scepter?!” Jasmine howled, sending her retainers scurrying from the room “It was one of Mab’s star sprites, the one they call Coriana! Even now, she speeds o’er the Green toward Scáthbaile!” Ageryan spit out, attempting to use the name of Jasmine’s most hated foe as both a shield and a lure to draw Jasmine’s ire away from him “It is as I thought Fortunately, I placed several other starvelings in the wood ahead of you to lay in wait, in case something unforeseen arose They will overtake this Coriana in the Green and will bring her and the scepter here shortly,” Jasmine said nonchalantly “Oh, milady, that brings such joy to my heart! Then I have not failed you as I so feared! You will have the scepter! I must admit, I was somewhat fearful of coming here without the scepter in hand, but you have ” Ageryan noticed that Jasmine’s