‘And the Black One?’
Pug shrugged. ‘You know your former master far better than I, so you tell me.’
Gathis returned the shrug; there was nothing more to say. Pug finished his meal and his bath and dressed in clean robes. He then transported himself to his study, and walked down the stairs to where a large number of students were waiting. When Pug saw them, he said, ‘Everyone, outside!’
The students started to hurry toward the main door, but Pug grabbed one by the sleeve, turning him completely around, and said, ‘What’s your name?’
‘John, Master,’ said the youth, almost beside himself to have been singled out by the legendary Master of Stardock.
‘Go into the council hall and tell everyone there to join us outside.’
The student hurried off to the council chamber, and Pug pushed his way through the crowd, which quickly fell back when the students saw who was attempting to get through. Pug reached a point where a large rock rose, a short distance from where the road to the docks wound down the slope, and he mounted the rock.
After a few minutes had passed, Pug turned and looked across the lake. He adjusted his mystic sight to study the distant docks, and was pleased to see Nakor, Sho Pi, and two soldiers. They were boarding the barge that served as a ferry between the shore and the island.
Chalmes and the other members of the council pushed their way through the press of students, and Chalmes said, ‘Pug, what is this about?’
Pug sat upon the rock, affecting the best Nakor-like pose he could muster, and said, ‘We are waiting.’
‘Waiting for what?’
Pug smiled and felt a perverse sense of pleasure in their frustration as he replied, ‘I don’t want to spoil the surprise.’
That caused them to fall silent, and for a very uncomfortable half-hour they waited as the barge was poled across the lake. At last Nakor and the others came walking up the road, and Pug said, ‘I’m glad to see you.’
Nakor said, ‘This is Captain Sturgess of the Shamata Garrison.’ The students began to mutter at the sight of the second soldier, who wore the uniform of the Keshian border legion. ‘And this is General Rufi ibn Salamon.’
The General nodded. ‘My lord.’
Pug turned to the assembled magicians. To Chalmes he said, ‘I suppose in the two hours I gave you, you have managed to dither the time away and do nothing that I ordered.’
‘We were discussing the best way to disseminate the information you gave us -’ began the old magician.
Pug put up his hand, cutting them off. ‘Is Robert d’Lyes here?’
From the rear of the crowd, the young magician raised his hand. Pug pointed to him and said, ‘I believe he is the junior-most member of the council, is that right?’
The magicians nodded.
‘Good. That means you’re not totally without hope,’ said Pug.
D’Lyes looked confused at that remark. ‘Not totally,’ he said.
Pug laughed and stood up so all could see him. To the assembled magic users he said, ‘Even here I suspect you’ve heard rumors of war.’
Some magicians said yes, and others nodded.
‘The war is real, but it is not with our neighbors to the south.
‘A great fleet comes from across the sea and brings with it an army of terrible size, perhaps a quarter-million men under arms.’ At that, several of the magicians began talking among themselves. Pug held up his hands and the group fell silent. ‘The Kingdom makes ready to defend itself, and as you can imagine, we need a secure border with Kesh. Toward that end, some changes have been made.’
A hush fell over the crowd as they waited to hear what Pug said next.
‘Great Kesh and the Kingdom have contested for years over the rich farmlands surrounding the Sea of Dreams. To end this eternal dispute, the Kingdom has ceded certain lands to the Empire of Great Kesh.
‘To the southwest of Land’s End is a great rocky prominence, clearly visible from sea and land, called Morgan’s Ruin. Sailors know it well. From the tip of that great rock, straight east to the river Shamata, a new border has been drawn. The Empire of Great Kesh has been ceded all lands south of that line, along the southern banks of the river Shamata, the Sea of Dreams, and the Great Star Lake.’
The assembled group gasped and a few shouted in anger. One man, obviously from the Kingdom, shouted, ‘You betray us!’