‘Yes,’ said Manfred. ‘But it still doesn’t solve one problem.’
The brothers looked at each other and at the same moment they both said, ‘The eastern gate.’
Pug said, ‘Rejuvenation is all fine and wonderful, but I’m tired.’
Tomas said, ‘I feel I need to sleep.’
Calis said, ‘Men are dying.’
Tomas looked at his son and said, ‘I know. Even though the Lifestone is no more, there’s a very large army attempting to sack Darkmoor.’
Calis said, ‘Even if he’s free now of the demon’s control, by reputation Fadawah is not one to just quit and quietly withdraw.’ He sighed. ‘Only we in this room and a few others know of the real stakes, but now we have a cunning, dangerous leader who still has most of his army intact, and he controls most of the Western Realm.’
Pug said, ‘This won’t end quickly.’
Miranda said, ‘At least we can get the Saaur out of the war.’
Pug said, ‘If I can convince them what Hanam told me was true.’
Tomas said, ‘We can only try.’
‘How do we get there?’ asked Nakor.
‘We don’t,’ said Pug. ‘Tomas and I will go to Darkmoor. Unless we end this battle, there’s no reason to take the rest of you into harm’s way.’
Calis said, ‘Remember, I’m the Prince’s man.’ Miranda said, ‘And you’re not leaving me here.’
Nakor motioned to Sho Pi, and Dominic, then grinned and shrugged. ‘Us too.’
Pug’s eyes widened, and he let out a slightly exasperated breath. ‘Very well. Gather around.’
Miranda turned to the leader of the Oracle’s servants and said, ‘Thank you for your help.’
The old man bowed and said, ‘No, we thank you for saving us.’
Miranda hurried to Pug’s side, and the magician said, ‘Hold on.’
They all held hands and suddenly they were standing in the courtyard of Villa Beata at Sorcerer’s Island. ‘This isn’t Darkmoor,’ said Miranda.
‘No,’ said Pug. I’ve never been to Darkmoor. So unless you want to materialize in the middle of the battle or inside a stone wall, you’ll give me an hour.’
Gathis hurried out of the house and welcomed them. ‘Hot food will be ready shortly,’ he said, ushering them inside.
Tomas took aside Pug and said, ‘Is this where you live?’
‘Most of the time,’ said Pug.
Looking around the lovely estate, with the soft summer breeze from the ocean blowing across the meadows, he said, ‘I should have visited you a long time ago.’
Pug said, ‘We’ve changed. Until this morning, you could not bring yourself to leave Blvandar.’
Tomas said, ‘We’ve both lost a great deal. Even though my parents were fortunate and lived long lives, everyone else we knew as boys in Crydee has long since passed. But you, to have lost your children . . .’
Pug nodded. ‘I sensed over the last dozen years or so that I would outlive both of them, as Gamina and William aged and I didn’t.’ Pug looked down at the ground, and was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then he said, ‘Even though I expected it, the pain is still very real. I’ll never see my children again.’
Tomas said, ‘I think I understand.’
The two old friends stood quietly for a time, and Pug remained motionless. Then Pug looked up at the stars. ‘It’s such a vast universe. Sometimes I feel so insignificant.’
‘If what Nakor suspects about the nature of that universe is correct, we are, all of us, at once insignificant and important.’
Pug laughed. ‘Only Nakor could come up with that.’
Tomas said, ‘You’ve known him awhile. What do you make of him?’
Pug put his hand on his friend’s arm and led him to the house. ‘I’ll tell you while I work on getting us to Darkmoor. He’s either the biggest confidence man in history, or the most brilliant and original mind I’ve ever encountered.’
Tomas said, ‘Or both?’
Pug laughed. ‘Or both,’ he agreed as they entered the house.
Pug moved his hands in a circle and a huge sphere of bluish light, shimmering with golden highlights, appeared. Taller than a man, it was as wide as a six-passenger coach. ‘What is it?’ asked Miranda.
‘It’s what is going to take us to Darkmoor.’ Pug said, ‘I don’t know enough about Darkmoor to get us anywhere safely within sight of the city. If I don’t have a pattern to fix on, a location I know well enough, well, let’s just say it’s too dangerous.’
‘I know the procedure,’ said Miranda. ‘I thought we were coming here to get one of those Tsurani devices.’
‘No good,’ said Nakor, taking his out of his bag, ‘unless you’ve got it set for a place known to you.’ He shook it. ‘If it still works.’
He laid the device aside.
Nakor grinned. ‘I’ll fly with you in your bubble.’
‘How do we get in?’ asked Miranda.
‘Just step inside,’ said Pug, and did so.