“After that?”
Nakor shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll leave this to someone better able to run it than myself. It’s not really my calling. If it were the Temple of the Lost God of Knowledge, maybe, though I think I’ve had enough of Wodar-Hospur’s handiwork for a lifetime.” He referred to the magic codex which he had possessed for many years, an artifact which had given him incredible knowledge and power, but which had also threatened his sanity.
“What then?”
“I don’t know. I think I’ll move on.”
They reached Nakor’s office and Pug closed the door behind them. “Are you thinking of leaving Sho Pi in charge?”
“I don’t think so. He’s . . . heading for a different path, though I’m not sure what that might be.”
“Someone else?” asked Pug as he sat.
Nakor nodded. “I’m not sure, but I think I may know who.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
“No,” said Nakor with a grin as he sat down. “I might be wrong, then I would look foolish.”
“Heaven forfend,” Pug said dryly.
“Now what sort of help do you need from me?”
Pug explained the situation with the Saaur to the north, then finished by saying, “Patrick wants me to deliver an ultimatum, and if they refuse to depart from the Kingdom, he’s ordered me to destroy them.”
Nakor frowned. “Tales of your powers have been circulating for some years, my friend. I thought it but a matter of time before someone in authority attempted to bend you to their cause.”
“I’ve served the Kingdom without orders before.”
“True, but you’ve never been under the authority of an impetuous boy before.”
Pug sat back in his chair, and said, “I’ve never considered myself under anyone’s authority since coming to my power. As a Great One of the Tsurani Empire, I was outside the law, subject to no authority save my own conscience and a mandate to do what was best for the Empire.
“Since returning to Midkemia, the crown was content to leave me alone, to let me conduct my business down in Stardock as I saw fit. King Borne, and King Lyam before him, were satisfied knowing I would do nothing to cause harm to their realms. Now, about this ‘go destroy our enemies’ order of Patrick’s, I’m not sure what’s best to do.”
Nakor pointed at Pug. “You’ve lived on another world, Pug. That boy up in the castle has barely spent more than a couple of years of his life off the island of Rillanon. You’ve been a slave and a man beyond the law of the land, you’ve labored in a kitchen and you are afforded the rank of Duke. You’ve traveled in time.” Nakor smiled. “You’ve seen a lot of things.” He lost the smile. “Patrick’s a scared boy, but he’s a scared boy with a bad temper and an army who will obey him. That’s a dangerous combination.”
“Maybe I should go to the King.”
Nakor said, “Perhaps, but I’d save that option until you’ve talked to the Saaur and seen if you can convince them to leave.”
“Would you consider coming with me? You have a wonderful knack for knowing what to do in unusual situations.”
Nakor was silent a moment, then said, “Preventing the death of many would be a good act. Yes, I’ll come with you. But you could do me a favor, first.”
“What?”
“Come with me.”
Pug stood and followed Nakor out of the office. In the far corner of the large hall Sho Pi and a pair of acolytes were in discussion. Nakor shouted, “Sho Pi, you keep an eye on the children. I’ll be back.”
He took Pug through the streets toward the castle, but short of where they would normally turn to approach the main drawbridge of the castle, they turned and followed another street down toward a burned-out section of the city. Reaching a checkpoint, they were halted by a pair of guardsmen, wearing tabards of the Baron of Darkmoor. “Halt,” said one in a bored tone of voice.
Nakor said, “This is Pug, Duke of Stardock, on a mission for the Prince of Krondor.”
“Sir!” said the guard, coming to attention. He might not have seen the magician before, but every soldier in the West knew of him by reputation and he looked the part.
“We need to commandeer a score of prisoners for a work detail,” said Nakor.
“I’ll fetch some guards to accompany you,” said the sentry.
“No need,” said Nakor, holding up his hand. “We can take care of ourselves.”
He motioned for Pug to follow and hurried by before the guard could object. Pug said, “We’ll be fine.”
They entered an area of a half-dozen city blocks, razed by fire and catapults, where the prisoners of war were being kept. Nakor found a large boulder and climbed atop it. He shouted in the language of Novindus, “I need some workers.”