“How are the others?”
“Save that loss, all is well.” He shouldered his bow and said, “The Queen is well, as is Tomas. Prince Calin and Redtree hunt together. Despite the war to the east of us, the invaders do not try to cross into Crydee, so they do not trouble our borders.”
“How is Calis?”
Galain smiled. “He most of all is well. Since his birth I have not known him to be as happy as he is. I think the release of the Lifestone has freed him from a dreadful part of his heritage.”
Pug said, “I am impatient to see my wife.”
“I understand,” said Galain, “from what I’ve seen. So far I have not had the fortune to meet she who will be my wife.”
“You’re young,” said Pug dryly. “Barely past a century.”
Galain smiled. “This is true.” He held up his hand and said, “I will see you back at the court in a few days.”
“I can take you with me,” said Pug.
“I have other duties. I must make a patrol along the river you humans call Crydee. I just came this way to greet you.”
Considering the number of times he had visited the elves, Pug correctly interpreted the remark and said, “Thank you for making the effort.”
“You are welcome.”
Pug activated the device he carried and found himself floating above the treetops a half-mile from where he wanted to be. He barely got control of his powers in time to keep from falling to his death and landed gently. Feeling shaken, he examined the Tsurani sphere and saw a fading along a portion of it that told him it was no longer usable. He regretted the loss of the device. His ability to quickly move from place to place was now gone, until he learned the trick Miranada had of moving at will without aid.
He put it back inside his robe. Several other such devices were being studied back at his island by his students, and another might prove useful. He remembered the days of free trading with the Empire of Tsurannuani through the rift gates. Now there was only one, at Stardock, closely monitored on both sides. For a dark moment he wondered if there was anything mankind couldn’t make a mess of; not for the last time in his life he cursed Makala, the Tsurani magician whose badly conceived treachery had caused the estrangement between the two worlds, all motivated by the highest ideals: to serve the Empire.
Well, he thought, dwelling on past failures once you’d learned all there was to learn was just heaping futility on failure. He put aside reminiscences and started walking.
A short time later he reached the large clearing that surrounded Elvandar, keeping it apart from the surrounding forest. As every time before, he found himself captivated by the sight of it. Even in the brightest daylight the colors of the trees were otherworldly. The magic of the place was powerful, but subtle, a sweet counterpoint to what nature had fashioned, a wonderful feeling of lightness.
High above large branches with flattened tops formed walkways between boles, and along the base of the trees cooking fires and tanning racks, pottery wheels, and other craft areas sat. Pug was greeted by several elves who recognized him, and those who did not nevertheless nodded in greeting.
He made his way along the climbing path of steps and branches until he was at the center of the great elven city. At the boundary to the Queen’s court, he found Tathar, the Queen’s seniormost advisor, waiting. “Magician!” Tathar said, extending his hand to shake in the human fashion. “It is good to see you again.”
Pug said, “It is good to see you as well, old friend.” He glanced around and said, “It is good to again be in Elvandar.” He looked at Tathar. “My wife?”
“She is with the Queen and Tomas,” answered the old advisor. “Come.”
He led Pug into the heart of the Queen’s court, where Queen Aglaranna, Tomas, and Miranda were sitting in conversation. Seeing his boyhood friend, Tomas rose, but it was Miranda who reached her husband first. “I didn’t think you were coming!” she said, delighted to be wrong.
“I didn’t think I was either,” said Pug. “But I had a bit of an argument with Patrick—”
“The Prince of Krondor?” asked Tomas. He smiled down at his short friend.
Pug looked up at his boyhood foster brother; even in that tall, slightly alien figure, Pug glimpsed the image of the kitchenboy with whom he had lived as a child. “The very same. He wanted me to go obliterate the Saaur and I thought offering them a peaceful alternative might prove a wiser course.”
Tomas nodded. “Crush your enemies without mercy.” He shook his head. “I remember those impulses all too well, my friend.”
Pug allowed Miranda to escort him to Aglaranna’s throne, where he bowed and said, “Greetings, My Lady.”
“Welcome, Pug.”
“I am grieved to learn of a friend’s departure,” Pug said.