Aglaranna said, “He passed as happy as he could be, given his life. No one can ask more. He bade us good night and never awoke. He was at peace. For one of your race, he lived a very long time.”
Pug nodded. “But I will miss him. As I miss all the other friends of my youth.”
“I understand,” said the Queen. “That is why you should visit more often. We eledhel abide far longer than you humans.” Then considering Pug’s and Miranda’s age, she amended that to, “Most of you humans, that is.”
Pug said, “This is true.” Glancing around, he said, “Where is Calis?”
Miranda smiled. “He’s not too far away. I suspect, anyway.”
Tomas grinned. “There’s a woman. . .” He shrugged and winked.
Pug said, “Calis?”
“One from across the ocean, whom Miranda brought to us. With two beautiful boys who need a father.”
“Is it. . . serious?” asked Pug.
Tomas laughed. “My wife’s people are very different from you and me, Pug. And from my son. He is but half-elf, unique in the world, and he has spent a great deal of time among humans.” Tomas leaned over and whispered in a mock-conspiratorial tone, “I think he’s taken, but he doesn’t even know he’s tasted the hook!”
Tathar laughed and said, ‘ “This is true. Among our people we have the recognition, the sudden knowledge that a mate is before you. Not all our people know this certainty, and to them falls the difficult task of slowly building a bond with another who has also not known the recognition. With Calis and Elien, it is the difficult way. But often it ends in a love as profound as the first.”
Miranda smiled. “I think I sensed something in her when I first found her and the boys. I think it will all work out.”
Aglaranna turned to an elf nearby and said, “Would you carry word to my son, please, and have him attend us for supper this evening. Have him bring Elien and her sons, too.”
The elf bowed and hurried off.
“What brings you to us?” asked Tomas.
“I wished to see my wife,” said Pug with a smile. “And I wished an evening among friends, where the air doesn’t carry the memory of war, smoke, and blood. I wanted a quiet night before I start another quest.”
“A quest?” asked the Queen. “For what do you seek this time, magician?”
“I need to find the Saaur a homeland,” said Pug. “Else we may have yet another war upon us before we sort out the one already here.”
Miranda said, “Well, then, we’ll leave in the morning.”
“I was going to go alone,” said Pug, “but the Tsurani orb is no longer working—I almost broke my neck when it left me hanging in midair—and I don’t know where I’m bound for.”
“So you need me to show you how to get around?”
“Something like that.”
Miranda smiled. “I don’t know if I will.”
“What? Why?” asked Pug.
Poking a finger into his chest, she said, “Because I like being able to do something better than you.”
At that the rest of the Queen’s court laughed, and they relaxed as pages brought wine and food; soon they were joined by Calis and the woman from across the sea, and her sons. And at least for this one night, they put thoughts of war and the threat of war away and enjoyed the company of good friends.
Ten - Investments
Jimmy frowned.
Prince Patrick had just leaned over to whisper something in Francie’s ear and she blushed as she laughed. The Duke of Silden pointedly chose to ignore this breech of etiquette. The Dukes of Rodez, Euper, Sadara, and Timons glanced over and returned to their conversations. Their daughters, all resplendent in their finest gowns, allowed their gazes to linger a bit longer before returning their attentions to the various young courtiers at the table.
Dash had to turn away so as not to laugh at his brother’s unhappiness.
The hall at Castle Darkmoor was now overtaxed in the opinion of the Prince’s Master of Ceremony, a dour man named Wiggins. He had been a clerk in the court of Krondor, but had occasionally helped with state functions for the old Master, Jerome. Because of that small advantage, he had been named to the office on Patrick’s resurrection of the court in Darkmoor. He resembled nothing as much as a very nervous bird as he fluttered about the room, from one noble to the next, attempting to insure everyone’s needs were met, despite shortages of food, ale, and wine.