‘Who are you?’ asked Dominic.
A grin spread across Nakor’s face. ‘Just a gambler who knows some tricks.’
Dominic said, ‘If you weren’t clearly working for our cause, I would fear you, I think.’
Nakor shrugged. ‘Those who aren’t my friends do well to fear me, for as I said, I know a few tricks.’
With that enigmatic pronouncement, Nakor walked after the elves, leaving a very shaken old Abbot with much to ponder.
‘What next?’ said Miranda.
Macros pointed downward. ‘There!’
The three magicians hovered high above the clouds as hundreds of miles of shimmering water spread out below. Pug turned his eyes to the point Macros indicated and saw the fleet of the Emerald Queen.
‘It’s huge,’ said Miranda.
‘More than six hundred ships,’ said Macros. ‘Close to seven hundred.’
‘They must have been building somewhere we didn’t know about,’ offered Pug. He, like Miranda, had stayed abreast of the intelligence coming from Calis’s agents in Novindus.
‘We need a plan,’ said Miranda.
Pug said, ‘Here’s the plan: I will swoop down to confront the Emerald Queen and her Pantathian servants. When they spring whatever trap they have waiting for me, you two come in and catch them by surprise.’
Macros said, ‘No, I’ll come in. Alone.’
As Miranda started to object, Macros said, ‘Your job is to get us out of there if this doesn’t work.’
She considered a moment, and while the wind sent her hair streaming out behind her, Pug thought he had never seen her looking more beautiful. ‘Very well,’ she said.
Pug quickly kissed her and said, ‘Place a spell of recall upon us all.’
Miranda said, ‘Where do we travel if we have to leave in a hurry?’
Pug had already considered the question. ‘Elvandar,’ he said. ‘The elves have the best healers in the world, and we may need them. They also have the best magic wards if something tries to follow us.’
She nodded. ‘Telling you to be careful would be the height of foolishness.’ She kissed her father’s cheek. ‘Be careful.’
Then she kissed Pug passionately. ‘Stay alive.’
Pug and Macros lowered toward the fleet and Macros said, ‘Am I going to be a father-in-law?’
Pug said, ‘If we somehow live through this.’
Macros said, ‘Then I’ll see you do.’
‘I’m counting on it,’ said Pug, and Macros laughed. ‘What do you propose to do?’ he asked.
‘I think a direct approach is best.’ Pug considered a moment. ‘I’m certain they expect me to come at them sometime between now and when they reach the Straits.’
‘They might expect you at the Straits.’
‘That is too late. If I fail, there is no time to regroup, but if I come now . . .’
‘What should I do?’
‘Be ready to provide me with a distraction. They have no knowledge you’re back.’ Then he muttered, ‘At least, I hope they don’t.’ He spoke up: ‘If I get into trouble, do something to give me a chance to escape, but don’t put yourself at risk; rely on Miranda to get us both out.’
‘I’D do what I must,’ said Macros.
‘Then let us begin,’ said Pug.
He faded from Macros’s sight, and the sorcerer knew he was attempting to get as close as possible to the ship upon which the Emerald Queen rode before revealing himself.
Macros let his own enhanced senses reach out and locate Pug, following him as he approached the fleet.
Pug swooped down over the vanguard of the flotilla. A full score of warships formed a V at the head of the fleet. On either flank another twenty ships guarded the bulk of the armada. At the rear came a squadron of faster warships, tacking back and forth, ready to race forward and give support on either side if the need arose.
Pug saw the Emerald Queen’s ship, dead center of a huge cluster of transport ships. Pug used his magic vision, attempting to locate his quarry.
As if watching through a crystal, he saw her with the lens of his magic perception: she rested upon a throne, set amidships, upon a wallowing galley rowed by three banks of oars. Surrounding her were an honor guard of some of the most evil-looking creatures Pug had ever spied. Each exuded a miasma of foulness like a cloud of smoke, trailing along behind him.