‘That’s possible,’ admitted her father.
Miranda said, ‘Well, we can chat about this until the world ends. What do you suggest?’
‘We wait. I have a feeling that when Pug and Hanam finish on their side of the rift, things might get lively here.’
Miranda sighed. ‘Do we have the time?’
Macros shrugged. ‘Enough for a few more days.’
She stood. ‘Then I’m going to transport to Sorcerer’s Isle and get a bath. I’ll bring back some food.’
Macros shook his head. ‘Don’t bother. Tell Gathis I’ll be along shortly. I’ll visit with him while I eat there. It will be good to see him again. Then I intend to take a bath as well.’
She smiled. ‘Good. I wasn’t going to say anything . . .’
He returned her smile. ‘I know I haven’t been a father to you, but I must say I’m pleased with the woman I see here.’
‘Thank you,’ she said stiffly.
‘Before you go, I would like to know one thing.’
‘What?’
‘Pug?’
‘What about him?’
‘Are you going to wed?’
‘If he asks me,’ she said. ‘I love him and think we could have a good life together.’
Macros said, ‘I have demonstrated without question no expertise when it comes to falling in love.’ He sighed in memory. ‘Your mother was a woman of remarkable beauty and uncommon guile. I can’t claim I was young, but I was inexperienced, and at first our time together was pleasant.’
He frowned as he said, ‘Your birth was something neither one of us dealt with well, and for that I apologize.’
Miranda said, ‘What’s done is done.’
‘True, but at least I can say I regret some of it.’
‘Only some of it?’
‘Well, I do like how you turned out, and if I could I don’t know what I would change, for to change anything in your past would risk turning you into less than you are now.’
‘Or more?’
He smiled. ‘I don’t see how that’s possible.’
She smiled at her father. ‘Thank you for that.’
‘I mean it.’ He sat back and stared at the rift. ‘Pug is fortunate, and if he doesn’t ask you, you do the asking. I think you need each other.’
‘I thought you said you had no expertise.’
‘It’s a father’s prerogative to give unwelcome advice. Now run along and take your bath.’
She vanished, and he sighed. He let regrets about past failings fade into the background as he returned his attention to the rift and wondered what was happening on the other side.
Pug stood panting, his robe torn and his face bathed in perspiration. He and Hanam had fought a battle with six man-size fliers, and the conflict had come close to ending their quest.
One of the creatures alone would not be any match for either of them, but three on Pug and three on the Saaur Loremaster had proven a close thing. Hanam feasted on the three remaining dead demons. Pug had vaporized the other three.
He watched in fascination as Hanam ate flesh and drank energies. As he shifted his perceptions, he could see how the Saaur Loremaster had used his intelligence to subvert the creature. When it was finished eating, Hanam said, ‘This feast will make it easier for me to concentrate.’
‘How far have we to go?’
‘The demons are not that clever, but they are being driven to wider patrols looking for anything to eat.’ Pointing to the bits of flesh thrown around the rocks on which they stood, he said, ‘These would have been required to bring back anything they found to Cibul, to feed those captains attempting to open the rift to your world.’ He glanced around, as if apprehensive about further detection. ‘By traveling along this course, we avoid many of the demons.’
‘We have been flying over ice and mountains for a day and more,’ said Pug.
‘True.’ The demon form pointed to the south. There we will find Cibul. We may be able to come close before we have to hide ourselves from demon sense. And be warned, the spells you use to confound the simple demons may not suffice for the captains and lords.’
‘I will do what needs to be done.’
‘Then we must plan,’ Hanam said. ‘I have no wish to continue this life. My soul begs to be joined with my brothers in the Sky Horde, here on Shila. So here is what I propose. Let me attack whichever great lord we may discover, drawing off any guards and servants nearby. That will give you time to examine and close the rift to the demon realm.’
Pug said, ‘A brave plan, but I don’t know if it will gain me enough time. There are things here that worry me. I have the vanity to think I know as much about the nature of rift magic as anyone, including Macros, and until I saw the empty altar at Ahsart, I would have told you that an open rift could not be moved in the fashion you describe. That means there are forces at play beyond my knowledge. It may also mean that closing the rift may be beyond my ability.’
‘What will you do if that is the case?’