The Warchiefs of the High Council who were in attendance looked at one another. Finally Kamatsu said, “Light of Heaven, if I may? The War Party retires in confusion. The betrayal by the Warlord has robbed them of any base for negotiation within the High Council. Even as we speak, the War Party is no more, and its clans and families will be meeting to discuss which parties to join to regain some shred of their influence. For now the moderates rule.”
The Emperor shook his head and in surprisingly strong tones said, “No, honored lord, you are wrong. In Tsuranuanni I rule.” He stood, surveying those around him. “Until these matters Milamber brought to our attention are resolved and the Empire is truly safe, or the threat has been shown to be false, the High Council is recessed. There will be no new Warlord until I have commanded an election within the council. Until I decree otherwise, I am the law.”
Hochopepa said, “Majesty, the Assembly?”
“As before, but be warned, Great One, see to your brothers. If another Black Robe is ever discovered involved in a plot against my house, the status of Great Ones outside the law will end. Even should I be forced to pit all the armies of the Empire against your magic might, even to the utter ruination of the Empire, I will not allow any to challenge the supremacy of the Emperor again. Is that understood?”
Hochopepa said, “It will be done, Imperial Majesty. Elgahar’s renunciation and his brother’s and the Warlord’s acts will give others in the Assembly pause to think. I shall bring the matter before the membership.”
The Emperor said to Pug, “Great One, I cannot instruct the Assembly to reinstate you, nor am I entirely comfortable having you around. But until this matter is resolved, you are free to come and go as long as you need. When you again depart for your homeworld, inform us of your findings. We shall be willing to accommodate you somewhat in preventing the destruction of your world, if we may. Now”—he started for the door—“I must return to my palace. I have an Empire to rebuild.”
Pug watched as the others left. Kamatsu came up to him and said, “Great One, it seems to have ended well for a time.”
“For a time, old friend. Seek to aid the Light of Heaven, for his life may be a short one when tonight’s decrees are made public tomorrow. “
The Lord of Shinzawai bowed before Pug. “Your will, Great One.”
To Hochopepa, Pug said, “Let’s fetch Dominic and Meecham from where they rest and go to the Assembly, Hocho. We have work to do.”
“In a moment, for I have a question of Elgahar.” The stout magician faced the former Warlord’s pet. “Why the sudden reversal of position? I had always counted you your brother’s tool.”
The slender magician replied, “What Milamber carried warning of, upon his homeworld, gave me pause to think. I spent time weighing all possibilities, and when I suggested the obvious answer to Milamber, he concurred. It was a risk too grave to ignore. Compared to this, all other matters are inconsequential.”
Hochopepa turned to face Pug. “I do not understand. What does he speak of?”
Pug sagged in fatigue and something more, a deep-hidden terror coming to the fore. “I hesitate even to speak of it.” He looked at those about him. “Elgahar concluded something I suspected but was afraid to admit, even to myself.”
For a moment he was silent, and those in the room seemed to hold their breath, then he said, “The Enemy has returned.”
Pug pushed back the leather-covered volume before him and said, “Another dead end.” He passed a hand over his face, closing tired eyes. He had so much to deal with and a sense of fleeing time. The discovery of his ability as a Lesser Path magician he kept to himself. There was a side to his nature he had never suspected, and he wished more private conditions under which to explore these revelations.
Hochopepa and Elgahar looked up from where they sat reading. Elgahar had worked as hard as any, demonstrating some wish to make amends. “These records are in a shambles, Milamber,” he commented.
Pug agreed. “I told Hocho two years ago that the Assembly had become lax in its arrogance. This confusion is but one example.” Pug adjusted his black robe. When his reasons for returning were made known, he had, on a motion by his old friends, seconded by Elgahar, been reinstated to full membership without hesitation. Of the members in attendance, only a few abstained and none voted in opposition. Each had stood upon the Tower of Testing and had seen the rage and might of the Enemy.
Shimone, one of Pug’s oldest friends in the Assembly and his former instructor, entered with Dominic. Since the encounter with the Warlord’s Inquisitor the night before, the priest had shown remarkable recuperative powers. He had used his magic healing arts on Meecham and Pug, but something in the way they worked prevented him from using them upon himself. However, he had also possessed the knowledge to instruct the magicians at the Assembly in concocting a poultice that prevented festering in the cuts and burns he had endured.
“Milamber, this priest friend of yours is a wonder. He has some marvelous means of cataloging our works here.”