I raised my right hand and gave him a formal salute.

He returned it with a nod of his head.

“Safe travels, Emily,” he said.

“Thank you, Alexander,” I said.

I turned and walked out of the room.

My boots sounded loud in the empty corridor as I made my way downstairs.

I walked through the grand foyer, where workers were already taking down the white silk banners.

The floral arrangements were being loaded into large wooden crates.

The scent of the roses was fading, replaced by the smell of damp earth and rain from the open doors.

I walked out into the courtyard, where a black Navy sedan was waiting for me.

The driver, a young petty officer, held the door open.

“Ready, Commander?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Take me to the airfield.”

I got into the back seat, and the door closed with a firm thud.

We drove out through the high iron gates of the palace.

The gray stone walls disappeared into the mist behind us.

The drive to the military airfield took forty minutes.