Galain said, “Our Queen speaks to your companion.”
In the Keshian dialect most like Ellia’s, Aglaranna said, “I said, ‘You bring us treasure.’ Your sons are beautiful. We are so much the richer for their joining us.”
Ellia’s eyes welled with tears as she said, “They look like their father.”
Tomas rose, and as he crossed to stand before Ellia, he said, “It is not the way of my wife’s people to speak the name of those who have traveled to the Blessed Isles. In his sons he lives on. You are more than welcome here.” To Althal he said, “Take these newly come to us and find them a home. See to their needs.” Then he addressed Ellia. “You are safe here, and under my protection. No harm will come to you or your sons in Elvandar. At first our ways will seem strange to you, but you will come to know that they are your ways, truly, and that your fathers’ fathers had been apart from us too long. Welcome to your true home.”
Weak with relief, Ellia allowed herself to be led away, one child holding fast to each of her hands. When they had left, Tomas said, “And who are you?”
“A friend of your son’s,” answered Miranda.
Galain leaned upon his bow and said, “I thought your name familiar.”
Tomas’s expression remained neutral. He motioned for Miranda to come away from the dais and led her over to a table, where several elves had placed refreshments. Motioning for a few members of the Queen’s court to attend, he said, “How is Calis?”
“Disturbed,” answered Miranda. “Has he told you his mad plan?”
By the fearful expression on Aglaranna’s face, she could see he had. Tomas nodded.
“Well, for better or worse, I’m helping him.” Then she shook her head. “Though how much good I’m doing is . . .” She picked up a pear and bit into it, chewed, and swallowed. “Now, the snakes know someone with some talent was snooping around their army.” She explained what had happened: her scouting the advancing army across the sea, the encounter with Ellia and the boys, her escape, and the final attack at the bank of the river.
After she was finished, Aglaranna said, “It was unlikely they’d think their mad campaign would escape the notice of those with power for long. It may be they think you one of any number of magicians or priests.”
Miranda nodded. “And they have no way of knowing where I am. The one who found me is in no condition to tell them. The others might suspect I’m here, but they won’t attempt to breech your defenses . . . yet.”
Tomas said, “We can speak more of these matters in the morning. You should rest. Night is almost upon us and you look fatigued.”
“Oh, that’s what I am,” agreed Miranda, “but by morning I plan on being a great distance from here. There is much to be done and little time in which to do it. I must seek out your son and confer with him, and next convince some otherwise reasonable men to agree to a most foolish and dangerous undertaking. Then I can be about other business. I hadn’t planned on coming here straight away, but now that I’m here, can you tell me something?”
“What?”
“Where I can find Pug?”
Tomas glanced at his wife and said, “We’ve not seen him for years. The last message I had from him was seven years ago. He said he was concerned over the reports my son brought back from his last voyage to Novindus. He had consulted with the Oracle of Aal, and . . .”
“And what?” prodded Miranda.
Tomas’s blue eyes regarded Miranda for a moment, as if measuring her. He said at last, “He said he feared that his own powers would be lacking in the coming battle and he needed to seek allies.”
Miranda smiled and there was nothing of humor in that smile. “His powers were lacking.” She shook her head. “Who else on this world matches him in power, save you?”
“Even my powers pale compared to what Pug can do if need be,” answered Tomas. “My arts are set by my heritage, and are as, they were at the end of the Riftwar, fifty years ago. But Pug, he studies and learns and masters new things yearly, and it may be no one since Macros the Black can approach his might.”
At the mention of Macros, Miranda made a sour expression. “Much of what is alleged about his prowess was based upon his listeners being gullible, by all reports.”
Tomas shook his head. “I have been places you could only imagine, woman. And I stood at Macros’s side in the Garden of the City Forever, and I saw the creation of this universe. He may have been a man given to overboasting at times, but not by any great margin, I will avow. His powers approached the gods’, and his skills would be welcome in the coming fray.”
Miranda said, “Still, by all reports the Black Sorcerer is fifty years vanished from his realm. So then, whom could Pug be seeking?”
Aglaranna said, “Find the where, and that may tell you who.”