Jim grinned, and took a drink of coffee. ‘You have the makings of a good spy, Amirantha.’
‘I gamble,’ said Amirantha. ‘I assume that anyone asking that many questions could read a lie, so I find small truths work well in those situations.’
‘Ah,’ said Jim. ‘We must play cards sometime.’
‘What are we doing today?’ asked Magnus, knowing the rough plan, but not the details.
Jim chewed a mouthful of juicy melon, then swallowed. ‘I meet with functionaries until midday, at which time I dine with a few minor nobles—the Emperor and anyone of rank are done with me now—and then I’ll come find you in the archives.
‘You three will go about your business and someone will see to your midday meal. After we dine tonight, we’ll discuss the next day’s work.’
They all understood that he meant stealing the Great Book of Demons should they locate it, but no one spoke of it.
When they had finished eating, servants came to escort them to their different destinations.
Pug, Magnus, and Amirantha were led through a series of long hallways and across several large galleries and gardens until they started down a long tunnel which headed into a portion of the palace excavated from the very soil under the foundations.
They emerged into sunlight, and could see they were now on the far side of the rolling hills that supported the palace, looking down at a far less populated portion of the city. The ample houses and estates were still nearby, but below them the jumble of merchant and poor houses had thinned out. Instead, they could see an ancient wall beyond which the rolling hills, on top of the tablelands, were dotted with farms.
They trudged down the long road to another building with a long and low fa?ade and a dozen large windows, most of its bulk had been constructed out of the hillside. ‘Gentlemen,’ said the servant. ‘We are here.’
He turned and left, and the three magic users exchanged glances.
‘We are here,’ echoed Amirantha mirthfully.
Pug smiled, nodded and indicated they should enter.
Once inside, Pug saw a long hall and off to the left a gallery illuminated by the sunlight streaming in from the tall windows. Two long tables trisected the room, and around them were arranged chairs. Opposite the windows were the end-caps of half a dozen shelves, each with books arrayed spines out.
A woman sat waiting; seeing the three men enter, she rose and crossed over to them wearing a smile on her face. ‘Richard, how nice.’
‘Livia,’ she said Pug, bowing slightly. ‘I believe you met my companions.’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘albeit briefly. Martin, Amirantha. It’s a pleasure to see you once more.’
Amirantha’s expression broadened. ‘As it is mine,’ he replied. ‘I was sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to speak with you last night. Perhaps…?’ He let the question hang.
She glanced at Pug as if gauging his reaction, then said, ‘Perhaps. Now, what may I do to help you?’
Pug said, ‘Martin and I have been commissioned by the King of Isles and the Prince of Krondor to investigate certain discrepancies in our relative histories, especially between accounts of the period after Kesh’s withdrawal from the region, but prior to the Kingdom’s expansion westward through Yabon.’
‘I think I know where to start you off,’ said Livia. Looking at Amirantha, she said, ‘And you?’
‘I have a different charge, from my master, the Maharaja. At this point, I would be interested in any subjects of a mystical nature.’
‘Mystical?’ she said, as if not quite understanding.
‘Our faiths are much the same as yours, but there are some differences. Our gods have different names, and slightly different aspects.’
‘How odd,’ she commented. Then realizing she sounded judgmental she quickly amended that by saying, ‘I mean, it’s odd that there are differences, not that your view is odd.’
‘I took your meaning,’ said Amirantha with a broad smile. ‘It might help my understanding if you could show me anything on non-faith tales of magic, of spirits, ghosts, and demons, let us say. Sometimes the tales of the villages and towns give us more insight into the beliefs of a people than the official records of the government or temples.’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she replied. Turning to Magnus and Pug she said, ‘Let me get you two situated, then we,’ she smiled at Amirantha, ‘will start looking for folk stories and legends.’
Amirantha conveyed he was amenable to this with a nod, and for a reason he couldn’t quite put his finger on, found himself annoyed.
They moved off down the hall, towards the rear of the archives.