He paused, then said, ‘But what is most imperative, what demands our first consideration is the information that has come to us from Lord James and Sandreena.’ He nodded towards Jim Dasher, who had chosen to stand in a far corner, and then towards the Knight-Sergeant, who sat on the other side of Magnus at the table, just to his father’s right.
‘This construction in Kesh, in the Valley of Lost Men, is something I plan to investigate personally. It’s nature and purpose must be determined within a few days.
‘Kendra, the dwarf who came here with Sandreena, was only able to help us understand some of what is taking place down there. He was a hunter, herdsman and warrior, and was made a sentry and given a patrol. The smiths, engineers, miners, among his people were taken away to aid the invaders in building the device.’
From deep in the shadowed corner a voice said, ‘It’s a trap.’
Those at the table turned to see Lord James step into the light as he said, ‘It was far too easy for us to find that trail of slaughter. The more I think on that, the more I believe that they did not care that they were seen, or that they wanted to be seen.’
Sandreena studied the way he moved he could well have been the Kingdom agent dressed as a Jal-Pur desertman, who had handed her the message for Creegan. There was something about him that put her on edge, but she couldn’t quite decide what it was. It was unlikely that she’d seen him before, she had so little contact with the nobility, that had she met him she would certainly remember where and when.
Pug said, ‘From what Sandreena reported, it’s guarded.’
Sandreena’s attention was pulled back to the situation before them and she said, ‘Lord James may be right. I had little trouble getting close and it was only fatigue and carelessness that allowed Kendra to discover me. Had I not removed the magic token that kept him under control, I would have killed him; he’s sturdy enough and a skilled fighter, but they’re not feeding their prisoners well or resting them, and so he was weak.
‘They are undertaking something on a tremendous scale, Pug, for a lure to a trap.’ She reiterated what she had seen for those who weren’t aware of what she had reported to Pug earlier in the week.
It was Gulamendis who spoke next. ‘I don’t know if it’s a trap, but it’s certainly something neither Amirantha nor myself can reconcile with what we know of demon behaviour. It’s far too patient. This device Sandreena describes has been under construction for at least a year, probably two, given the amount of stone in those walls and the number of workers involved.
‘Our own geomancers could do it in a fifth of the time; Sandreena, did you see any sign of magicians constructing anything?’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘Three of the four arching towers are finished, and the forth was half-built. They were hauling stones up with a gigantic hoist on top of a series of huge wooden platforms. The workers looked as if they were ready to drop from exhaustion.’
Pug said, ‘Jim, I appreciate your impulse towards caution, and I promise that my own experience with demons tends to put my instincts in harmony with your own, but this occurrence is clearly demon controlled, and so we must go down there and put an end to it.’
‘May I suggest one more reconnaissance before you launch an assault? I can provide sufficient distraction for the Keshian court to not pay attention to an army of ten thousand mercenaries, but it would benefit our cause if we didn’t get them all obliterated and have to inform Kesh that an infernal invasion is underway on their sovereign territory and, that the Demon Legion is heading straight for them.’
‘Then we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,’ said Pug. ‘I will go with Magnus to look over this site.’ He looked at Amirantha and Gulamendis. ‘I would really find it useful if you two would accompany us.’
‘Of course,’ said Amirantha, and after considering the request, Gulamendis nodded as well.
Laromendis said, ‘We need to send word to the Regent Lord, as well.’ He did not look happy at that prospect, and Pug thought it best to ask him about this later, in private.
Pug said, ‘Given the time, we shall leave after the evening’s supper. Sandreena,’ he said, turning to the Sergeant-Adamant, ‘would you care to accompany us?’
Amirantha barely managed to hide his surprise at the request, but said nothing.
‘Certainly. If there’s any way I can find out what happened to Knight-Adamant Jaliel, I will take it.’
‘Our first responsibility will be to further evaluate the situation.’ To the others in the room he said, ‘Continue your duties, but stay alert.’ He motioned for a young magician to come to him, and when he was close, Pug said, ‘Send word to Lord Kaspar and ask him to join us, too. Tell him we’ll have him back inside his palace before anyone notices he’s gone. Thank you.’ The magician nodded that he understood and departed.
‘Let us adjourn; we shall send word when we have completed our reconnaissance.’