The Warlock observed, ‘This is a . . . fascinating place. I always assumed your work was done at Stardock.’
Pug inclined his head slightly as he said, ‘That’s what we want people to think. My predecessor here on this island, Macros, created the legend of the Black Sorcerer to maintain privacy. We have continued the illusion to keep that privacy. Moreover, the Academy at Stardock is a busy place, and although much is accomplished there, this is where the real work, research and education of the exceptional students takes place.’
Around a mouthful of bread and cheese, Brandos said, ‘I assume that either you’ve decided to trust us, or you’re going to kill us.’ He pointed to his bowl of stew. ‘This is very good, by the way.’
Miranda smiled. There was something very unselfconscious about this veteran fighting man that appealed to her. if we wished you dead, Brandos,’ she said, ‘you wouldn’t be eating up cook’s good stew.’
‘That’s a relief,’ he said. ‘Though, as last meals go, this wouldn’t be bad.’
Magnus and Caleb both laughed, and Amirantha said, ‘Well, then, if we’re not to be killed, are we to be trusted?’
Pug regarded the Warlock and said, ‘I’m not sure "trusted" is the word I’d employ, rather consider yourself accepted for the time being. Demons are an issue for us, at the moment, and we have little knowledge of them here or at Stardock.’
Magnus said, ‘The monks at That Which Was Sarth weren’t especially helpful either; most of their records are pretty straightforward: "on this date a demon appeared, Brother Iganthal or Father Boreus banished it," or was eaten by it and someone else did the banishing. But as to the nature and ways of demons, they were surprisingly vague.’
‘Not really,’ said Amirantha. He looked at Pug as he spoke, as if addressing him specifically, it’s difficult to negotiate with demons, and the power they bring is intoxicating, addictive even. But there’s a price, and it’s a price I was never willing to pay.’
‘Your life?’ asked Caleb.
The Warlock shook his head. ‘My soul, for lack of a better term. I may not be a particularly good man, but I’m willing to stand before Lims-Kragma when my time comes, and account for all I’ve done, good or ill. I’ll take whatever passes for justice among the gods; I won’t give up my place on the Wheel of Life for eternity in order simply to gain in this lifetime.’
‘It would have to be an amazing deal,’ agreed Magnus.
‘It’s not so simple, is it?’ asked Pug.
Amirantha shook his head as he put down his large spoon, apparently finished eating. ‘If some agency of evil came to you and offered you a bargain, the outcome would depend on your strength of character, but the agencies of darkness are far more subtle than that.
‘There’s a force out there,’ he continued, picking up his cup of wine and sipping, then setting it down, ‘that is hardly overt.
‘I’m convinced that my brother, the man you knew as Leso Varen, was already more than half-mad when he killed our mother. Something had already reached out and touched his heart and found a willing minion. I knew my brother well; his vanity would never allow him to bend his knee to another, but that vanity could lead him to be manipulated easily.’
Remembering a conversation with the God of Thieves, when Ban-ath had revealed that Macro’s vanity had been his biggest ally in manipulating the otherwise crafty sorcerer, he could only nod agreement.
‘While my brothers and I were disinclined to speak, we did have mutual acquaintances. As you may already understand, those of us who practise what are called the "dark arts," often find our needs drive us to deal with a more unsavoury type of fellow: thieves, bandits, renegades, and their like. People who can secure goods that would otherwise be impossible for us to obtain.
‘This is less true in my own calling, for I make most of what I need: wards, stones of power, and other items that over the years have proven useful in following my interests.’
‘Having your head ripped off,’ inserted Brandos.
‘I was about to say something else, but he makes my point.’ Idly picking up his spoon and poking at what remained of the food before him, the Warlock said, ‘Those who need living human subjects must deal with slavers and those who need death - such as my brother - must also associate with slavers, warlords or others guaranteed to engender mayhem. Cults become particularly useful.’
At the mention of cults, Pug asked Caleb, ‘Did Zane . . . ?’
‘No,’ said Caleb to his father. ‘He said Sandreena preferred to wait until Father-Bishop Creegan arrives.’
‘Creegan here?’ asked Amirantha, his eyebrows rising as his only sign of surprise.
‘We have many friends.’
‘Indeed,’ said the Warlock.
‘You know him?’
‘We’ve met,’ said Amirantha.