Pug nodded. Then he said, “But it is not your land.”
“This is not our world,” said Jatuk bitterly. “So we must take what we can.” He gazed to the south. “You have suffered, you humans of the Kingdom, and I now understand that it was through no fault of yours that we were brought here. But we have no means to return home, and even if we could, what would we find there, Black Robe?”
“A burned-out world populated by starving demons, hunting one another down for food until only one is left. In time, it will starve and wither. Finally, it will die.”
“So there is nowhere to go.”
Pug said, “Perhaps there is.”
Jatuk looked at Pug and said, “Where?”
“I don’t know yet, but Midkemia is a big world. Here the grasslands appear vast, but you know your own history. Once your forebears were as you are now, a small band abandoned upon Shila by the Valheru called Alma-Lodaka.”
Despite having learned the truth of their “goddess’s” nature in the last year, old habits died hard, and the older Saaur bowed their heads in reverence at the Green Mother’s name.
“But over the ages,” Pug continued, “your nation grew until you had conquered the entire globe. You and your children may be content to wander the Thunderhell, to fight the nomadic tribes that already claim this land, but eventually you’ll return to the villages and towns of my nation. You will either have to make war or change your ways.”
Jatuk was silent. “What can we do?”
Pug said, “Abide. Leave those of us to the south alone and we will leave you alone. When we have disposed of Fadawah and his men, and have restored peace to our land, we shall turn our minds and will to the problem of finding the Saaur a proper home.”
Jatuk thought on this, and at last said, “Do not take too long in making things so, Black Robe, for my people are coming to like living here. Should too much time pass, we shall resist leaving.”
“I understand,” said Pug. To himself he added, Now if I can only get Patrick to understand. He pushed that thought aside as food was put before Nakor and him, and decided the opportunity to learn more about the Saaur was too good to ignore. He would worry about Patrick’s reaction when he returned to Darkmoor in the morning.
Patrick said, “You did what?”
Pug said, “I gave them assurances we would aid them in relocating out of the Kingdom after we disposed of Fadawah.”
“But they agreed to leave?”
“Yes, if we can find them a reasonable alternative.”
“Find them an alternative!” Patrick shouted.
The full court was about to commence, and the Prince was holding an impromptu interview with Pug, Nakor, Arutha, and his sons. “Those monsters killed three hundred of my men!”
Arutha said, “A misunderstanding, Highness.”
“A misunderstanding?” Patrick appeared unconvinced. Turning to Pug he said, “Why did you disobey me? I ordered you to destroy them if they wouldn’t quit the Kingdom at once.”
Pug was growing tired of the young Prince’s manner. “Highness, I am not an executioner. I have fought for the Kingdom, but I will not use my powers to destroy an entire race because you are piqued.”
“Piqued!” Patrick’s temper exploded. “You dare to talk to me in such a fashion?”
Pug stood, looked at Arutha, then said, “Explain things to the boy, or I will go to his father and have this discussion with the King. And when I get finished, Borric may have to reconsider who is running this half of his Kingdom.”
The Prince’s eyes widened, and as Pug turned to leave, Patrick shouted, “I have not given you leave to depart!”
Pug ignored the Prince and walked out through the door. Nakor stood and said to Arutha, “I’d better go with him.” To Patrick he said, “And you better listen to him, boy. For he is powerful enough to be your greatest ally, or your worst enemy.”
Patrick’s mouth fell open at the little man’s added insult. He looked at Arutha, who only shook his head slightly and said, “We have court, Highness.”
Dash and Jimmy exchanged glances but said nothing. Patrick stood motionless for a long minute, then composed himself. “You are right, my lord duke. We mustn’t keep the court waiting.”
As Jimmy and Dash ducked out of a side door, Jimmy said, “Duke Pug has a lot of confidence in his ability to persuade the King he’s right to embarrass the Prince that way.”
They walked toward the courtyard. Dash said, “From everything I’ve heard . . . well, it’s probably a well-earned confidence.” He glanced around. “Look, we both know that Patrick’s got a temper. We had enough fights with him when we were children. And we know the King kept him off the throne of Krondor an extra year because he didn’t think he was ready.”
Jimmy’s voice lowered. “Well, he wasn’t.”
“He’s still not,” said Dash.