Pug said, ‘Anything interesting in the books we brought back?’
‘Not really,’ said Magnus. ‘There are a couple of things that are probably worth a little study, but I think this was Grandfather’s work from a long time ago. I remember you told me about the time you came here after the Riftwar ended and found a letter from him, giving you his library. What he took to Telesan were copies. Exact copies, so I think they were magical duplicates, not made by scribes.’ Magnus sat, ‘Perhaps if we had saved everything, knew all of their titles, we might get some idea of why he went there after leaving Midkemia and what he was hoping to accomplish.’
‘You have a better memory than most, Magnus,’ said Pug, ‘and I can remember a dozen titles I tossed aside. Let’s draw up a quick list and compare them with those we brought back with us, perhaps we’ll get some understanding of this new jaunt of your grandfather’s.’
Magnus exhaled slowly and said, ‘Another reason to miss Mother.’
Pug reached out and took his son’s hand; he squeezed it slightly and then released it. ‘I know.’ Both father and son mourned Miranda and her insight into what her father might have been doing on that other world. ‘There is one thing,’ said Pug. ‘Macros lived on Telesan for a time, and in some station of importance; this clearly indicates a connection between our world and that one. It seems a little too coincidental that the brothers would flee from their Hub world and end up at the former residence of Macros the Black.’
‘Kalkin?’
‘Who knows what the gods are doing?’ replied Pug. ‘I have long accepted that I will never fully understand this struggle, our part in it, or just how much good we are accomplishing.’
Amirantha said, ‘I’d say you’re accomplishing quite a bit, even if not intentionally.’
Pug asked, ‘How do you judge that?’
‘Your friend, Kaspar, is doing remarkable things in Muboya. The region has never been this peaceful in my lifetime, and that’s over a hundred years.
‘You’ve got people from various nations around the world putting the safety of this planet ahead of their personal interests and national interests. I am hardly anyone’s idea of an honourable man, Pug, yet here I am doing my bit for the greater good.’ He smiled slightly and said, ‘That’s no mean achievement.’
‘Perhaps,’ Pug said. ‘I wish I felt it was worth the price.’
No one at the table said anything. Amirantha and Brandos had both witnessed Miranda’s death at the hands of a demon who had been playing dead.
Finally Brandos said, ‘So, if I might presume to ask, what’s next?’
Pug said, ‘We head down to Kesh and inspect that thing being built in the Valley of Lost Men. From Sandreena’s description, I don’t have any idea what they are doing.’
Amirantha said, ‘Neither do I. Gulamendis and I have talked into the night about demon lore and what we are now discovering.’ He shook his head in wonder. ‘I am not ashamed to admit that I have been humbled to discover how little I truly understood.’
Brandos grinned and clapped his old friend on the shoulder. ‘That’s a good start.’ He stood and said, ‘Well, if we’re off again, I think I should go spend a little time with my wife. She’s starting to feel neglected and that’s never a good thing.’
Pug nodded, a slightly sad expression on his face.
A young magician came into the kitchen and said, ‘Pug, we’ve just had word that Lord Kaspar will be here in an hour.’
Pug stood up and said, ‘Good. That means we can leave after sundown. I wanted his military expertise.’
Amirantha said, ‘Well, I think I’ll leave Brandos and Samantha alone and find Gulamendis to see if he’s come up with any new insights from his reading. And a little rest before we go would be nice.’
Magnus and his father were left alone at the table. Those in the kitchen tried to ignore them as much as possible. Finally, Magnus said, ‘I wonder how Laromendis is doing up in Elvandar?’
Pug absently nodded. ‘I wonder, too.’
Laromendis stood before Tomas. Despite understanding what he’d been told about the human transformed by ancient magic into the shape of a Valheru, or Dragon Lord, he still had to fight his urge to kneel, or to run in terror. He wondered if he would ever get over that feeling, no matter how many times they met.
‘Laromendis,’ said Tomas, motioning for the taredhel conjurer to take a seat at the small table in the Queen’s chamber. ‘You wished to speak to me in private?’
‘Yes, My Lord—’ Tomas held up his hand. ‘Err, yes Tomas.’ Laromendis laughed slightly. ‘I will never get used to that.’