The Kingdom of Gargalot

You can shoot down a dragon flying over a castle with a sniper rifle, meet plotters by firing two pistols “à la Macedonian,” persuade the duchess without using magic—yet what can you use against the web of palace intrigues? Here Eugene will need something he doesn’t have. For example, the ability to negotiate with the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, who know the court’s secrets better than anyone. But convincing a woman can be harder than convincing a dragon. Still, he’ll have to try…