Pug shrugged. “I’m probably forgetting something.” With a light tone he said, “Remember, I was almost dead at the time I had this conversation.”
Gathis said, “The future is not fixed, though it can be difficult to change if events gain enough momentum.”
Pug nodded, and Miranda said, “I have no idea what that means. What are you hiding?”
Pug said, “Only that in exchange for a very long life and a great deal of power I will have to eventually pay a high price.”
Miranda said, “There’s no ‘only’ about that.”
Gathis said, “We all have prices to pay.”
Pug changed the subject. “You’ve been the keeper of this shrine for ages, Gathis. What do you think this means?”
“I think a time of change is upon us, Master Pug, and soon someone will present himself to fill the void left by Macros’s death.”
Pug said, “I think you are right. Perhaps it’s one of the students.” Pug remained silent a moment, then said, “Someone will find this shrine.”
Gathis said, “I have evolved a very subtle but powerful spell to disguise it, Master Pug.”
“I know. I lived on this island for decades and never suspected it was here, but whoever is fated to become Sarig’s next tool will somehow find this place.”
Gathis pondered that observation, and said, “I think that is a likely possibility.”
“We will await that day. In the meantime,” he said to Miranda, “let’s return to the house. I want to see a little of how things are running here, then I want to rest before returning to Subai’s camp in the morning.”
They returned to the house, and as they crossed the center courtyard, they encountered a group of students sitting around the fountain, enjoying the quiet spring evening. As Pug approached, they all respectfully rose, save for a Brunangee Fire Singer whose snakclike lower body made it impossible for her to do more than raise her roughly humanoid upper torso in an approximation of a slight bow. Pug waved them all back to where they had sat.
Robert d’Lyes said, “Pug, it is good to see you again.”
“How have you found life on our tidy little island?” asked Pug. He had brought the young magician along with Miranda to the island during the winter. Robert had resigned as a member of the council at Stardock and had nowhere else to go. Patrick seemed indifferent to the idea of a court magician, so Pug decided to employ him at the island.
“It’s a wonderful place,” said Robert. “I’ve learned more about my arts in the last month than I did in the previous two years at Stardock.”
Miranda and Pug glanced at one another. “That’s impressive,” said Pug, motioning for Gathis and Miranda to sit on a nearby bench. “You were the youngest member of the council and rose faster in the learning of your craft than any student we had at Stardock. And you’re learning even faster here?”
Robert smiled. He had chosen to affect a beard in imitation of Pug, a flattery Pug didn’t find appealing, but which he chose not to comment upon. “It’s astonishing. What I find even more wonderful is that with practitioners of magic from other worlds I’m learning things Chalmers and Kalied never would have dreamt of.”
Pug was now genuinely intrigued. “Oh, really? Care to give me an example?”
Robert nodded, his youthful enthusiasm clearly evident. He turned to the Fire Singer and said, “Takkek snowed me something a few days ago that I’ve been practicing.” He moved away from the group and started to sing. It was a faint sound, as if half-whispered, but clearly singing. The words were impossible to understand, as if the mind refused to grasp them and they were forgotten as soon as they were heard. Yet there was a pattern to them, a mildly hypnotic rhythm that caused Pug to glance around at the other students. They were sitting and watching with rapt expressions as Robert continued his song.
A flame appeared in the air, a foot or so before Robert’s face. It was the size of a baby’s finger, but clearly it was a flame. It flickered and danced in the wind, then suddenly went out. Robert looked tired, but elated, as he said, “I’m just now starting to understand a little of what Takkek has shown me, but give me time.”
“I am impressed,” said Pug. “Under the old labels used by the Tsurani Assembly, that’s Lesser Path magic, and should be close to impossible for you to perform.”
Robert laughed. “I’m convinced Nakor was right: there is no magic, just tricks, and if we open our minds, we can learn anything.”
Rising, Pug said, “Well, enjoy the evening and don’t set fire to the house. Miranda and I are off. Oh, Robert,” said Pug, turning to face the student.
“Yes, sir?”
“Gathis says you’ve been doing a good job in my absence. Continue to help out, if you would, please.”
“It’s my pleasure,” said the student.
Pug and Miranda returned to their quarters. As they reached the door, Pug said, “That really was quite remarkable.”
Miranda laughed and pushed him through the door. Playfully she said, “I’ll show you something remarkable.”
She shut the door.