Milamber spoke “Shut the door, Laurie.”
Laurie shut it, then studied his former friend. He looked fit, but vastly changed. His bearing was nearly regal, as if the mantle of power he now wore reflected some inner strength he had lacked before.
“I . . . ,” Laurie began, then lapsed into silence, confused about what to say. Finally he said, “Are you well?”
Milamber nodded. “I am well, old friend.”
Laurie smiled and crossed the room and embraced his friend, then pushed himself away. “Let me look at you.”
Milamber smiled. “I am called Milamber, Laurie. The boy you knew as Pug is as dead as last year’s flowers. Come, sit and we will talk.”
They sat at the table and poured two cups of chocha Laurie sipped at the bitter brew and said, “We heard nothing about you. After the first year I gave you up for lost I’m sorry.”
Milamber nodded, “It is the way of the Assembly. As a magician I am expected to forgo all my former ties, except for those that can be maintained in a socially acceptable manner. Being without clan or family, I had nothing to forgo. And you were always a poor slave who never knew his place. What better friend for a renegade, barbarian magician?”
Laune nodded. “I am glad you have returned. Will you stay?”
Milamber shook his head no “I have no place here. Besides, there is work I must be about. I now have an estate of my own, near the city of Ontoset. I have come for you. And Katala, if . . .” His voice trailed off, as if he were fearful of asking about her.
Sensing his distress, Laurie said, “She is still here and has not taken a husband. She would not forget you.” He broke into a grin. “Gods of Midkemia! It completely slipped my mind. You would have no way of knowing.”
“What?”
“You have a son.”
Milamber sat dumbstruck. “A son?”
Laurie laughed “He was born eight months after you were taken. He is a fine boy, and Katala is a fine mother.”
Milamber felt overwhelmed at the news and said, “Please. Would you bring her here?”
Laurie jumped to his feet “At once.”
He rushed from the room Milamber sat fighting down the upsurge of emotion. He composed himself, using his magician’s skills to relax his mind.
The door slid open, and Katala was revealed, uncertainty on her face Laurie stood behind, a boy of about four in his arms.
Milamber rose and spread his arms to her Katala rushed to him, and he nearly cried in his joy. They clung quietly for a moment, then she murmured, “I thought you gone. I hoped . . . but I thought you gone.”
They stood for several minutes, each lost in the pure pleasure of the other’s presence, until she pushed herself away “You must meet your son, Pug.”
Laurie brought the boy forward. He regarded Milamber with large brown eyes. He was a well-formed boy, with a stronger likeness to his mother, but something in the way he tilted his head made him resemble the boy from Crydee keep. Katala took him from Laurie and passed him to Milamber. “William, this is your father.”
The boy seemed to take this in with some skepticism. He ventured a shy smile, but leaned back, keeping his distance. “I want down,” he said abruptly. Milamber laughed and put the boy down. He looked at his father, then immediately lost interest in the stranger in black. “Ooh!” he cried, and rushed over to play with the Lord of the Shinzawai’s shah pieces.
Milamber watched him for a moment, then said, “William?”
Katala stood next to him with her arm around his waist, hugging him as if afraid he would disappear again. Laurie said, “She wanted a Midkemian name for him, Milamber.”
Katala started. “Milamber?”
“It is my new name, love. You must get used to calling me that.” She frowned, not entirely pleased with the thought. “Milamber,” she repeated, testing the sound. She then shrugged. “It is a good name.”
“How did he become William?”
Laurie went over to the boy, who was trying to stand the pieces one atop the other, and gently took them away. The boy threw him a black look. “I want to play,” he said indignantly.
Laurie picked him up and said, “I gave her a bunch of names, and she picked that one.”
“I liked its sound,” she said; “William.”
At the sound of his name the boy looked at his mother. “I’m hungry.”
“I favored James or Owen, but she insisted,” Laurie said, while the boy tried to wriggle out of his arms.
Katala took him. “I must feed him. I’ll take him to the kitchen.” She kissed Milamber and left the room.
The magician stood quietly for a moment. “It is all more than I had hoped for. I was afraid she’d have found another.”
“Not that one, P—Milamber. She would have nothing to do with any of the men who paid court to her, and there were a few. She’s a good woman. You need never doubt her.”
“I never will, Laurie.”