Miranda said, “There seems a great degree of futility in what we attempt.”
“Perhaps,” offered Nakor, “but we have seen wonderful things. The creation of the Temple of Arch-Indar is no mean feat. It will be a tiny, inconsequential sect for centuries, and most who encounter it will not think it equal in importance to the long-established worship of Astalon, Dala, Sung, and the other lesser Gods, but the fact that enough purity of the Goddess exists in the universe to serve us in balking Nalar’s attempts to again create havoc on our world is a miracle. There may not be another such manifestation for centuries, yet we know one may come.”
“What of you?” asked Pug. “What are your plans?”
“My work here is done, for a while,” said Nakor.
“Where will you go?” asked Miranda.
“Here and there . . . I will seek out Nalar’s minions and send you word should I encounter them. And every so often I will encounter likely candidates for your community and send them to you. And from time to time I will return to eat your food and drink your wine and see what’s new and interesting here.”
“You will always be welcome, Nakor.”
Miranda said, “Who do you serve, Nakor?”
Nakor grinned. “Myself. All of us. Everything.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps someday I will, but for now I am content to wander, learn things, and help out where I may.”
“Well,” said Pug, reaching for another cup of wine, “stay a while longer while I bring about the creation of my new council here, and give me the benefit of your wisdom.”
Nakor said, “If you think it wisdom, then you do need my advice.”
Miranda laughed.
Trumpets sounded and drums beat as the Prince and his fiancee departed the throne room. After six weeks of relative peace since Pug had ended the war, the crown judged it time to make the formal announcement. Patrick had just finished informing the court that he and Francine would depart at the end of the month to return to Rillanon for the royal wedding. The nobles and influential commoners in the room cheered and waited to disperse until Patrick escorted Francine out of the hall.
Jimmy approached Erik von Darkmoor and said, “Captain, I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am by what I read of your actions in Yabon.”
Erik shrugged. “After what Pug, Nakor, and the others did, we had little serious opposition.”
“Those forced marches, though, must have been punishing.”
“They were,” said Erik, “but mostly on our feet, since we had no horses. We had very little problem securing any area we entered, and once we freed prisoners in Ylith and Zun we had enough men to leave behind and act as jailers. By the time we reached LaMut, we were hunting bandits, nothing more. Now that General Nordan has agreed to lead those who want to leave—and a few who don’t—back to Novindus, and the rest are being sent down to serve with Duko, things are getting relatively quiet.”
Jimmy said, “Still, it was an impressive three weeks.”
“I just wish we had more ships,” said Erik. “This business of having to do business with the Quegans to get the invaders back across the sea has me feeling itchy each time I see a Quegan ship anchor off of Fishtown.”
“Blame your old friend,” said Jimmy, pointing at Roo, who stood with his wife talking to a minor noble.
“Roo always could smell an opportunity. I just wish I knew how he got the Quegans to make the deal. They’re usually impossible to deal with.”
Jimmy shrugged. “Probably just found something they really wanted and agreed to get it for them; that’s usually how you do business.”
“I’ll leave business to Roo. Being the Captain of the Crimson Eagles is enough for me.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t accept the promotion,” said Jimmy.
“I’m happy where I am. Being Captain of the Prince’s Household Guard is a lot more ceremony than real soldiering.”
“But it’s one step from there to being Swordmaster for a Duke or the Knight-Marshal’s position here in Krondor.”
Erik smiled. “I’m happy. I like running the Crimson Eagles, and I think the Kingdom needs an army independent of the other nobles. We might have had a different war had we had Kingdom garrisons in Sarth, Ylith, and Zun.”
“You may be right, but the Dukes will resist the idea of garrisons in their Duchies they don’t control.”
“I’ll think about that when I return to Krondor,” said Erik. “Right now I’m going to Ravensburg and to my wife. It’s been months and I wonder if she remembers what I look like.”
Jimmy said, “You’re not easy to forget, Captain. Few men come as large as you.”