A shadow fell across the door as if somebody had collapsed.

"Arwen!"

Elias seized the intruder's wrist-the assassin fired two shots- twisted the gun barrel up. He let the gun go, slashed Elias with a knife, and lunged at the Prime Minister, who parried the blade and whacked the assassin unconscious. Elias Baltasar's instinct screamed to check if Arwen was unhurt, but the man signaled him to stand back. Elias stumbled as he forced his body to yield. The attempted assassination perverted the mood into a somber affair where hushed murmurs of the audience broke the silence into a funeral home.

The Prime Minister looked out at the crowd and lifted a hand, smiling as if he were the merciful god that saved the people from mourning the death of a hero.

"Continue."