Jenny was napping on Jeiel’s vast bed, unaware that Ketta Mayasan had returned to Adoniah. Believing the woman anywhere but there, Jenny slept on undisturbed, dreaming happily of her future as Jeiel’s wife. Jeiel had left some time ago to seek out Ketta on Vaalstra, so there was no reason for Jenny to feel anything but peaceful right now, until something woke her. Groggy, having finally been enjoying a deep, restful sleep, she lifted her head and peered about, her brown eyes half slit as she surveyed her surroundings.

She didn’t know what had awakened her, but she came alert rather quickly and drew herself up from the bed. She...