Sajak was just coming around the west side of Adoniah, having begun harvesting the many summer vegetables growing so abundantly in the master’s garden. His arms contained three overflowing baskets of ripened vegetables. Another held bright summer fruits that Cambra Vernier insisted must be on his table each day. Grinning at the array he had brought with him for he knew his master would be very pleased, Sajak was just heading to the front of the building, to bring in a few colorful blooms from the gardens there as well, when he heard voices.

Looking about, he was shocked to see Ketta Mayasan and Jenny Tompkins stepping into a shielded...