‘How do you know, Nakor?’ asked Pug.
The little gambler emerged from his invisibility. ‘I don’t know how I know, Pug. I know a lot of things and I don’t know how I know them. I just do. Now, we had better move along.’
Pug and Magnus became visible too and Nakor turned to hurry down the tunnel towards the tram. The father and son exchanged a silent question. Both knew that Pug had not removed the invisibility from Nakor. Nakor had done it himself.
Pug hurried along after the strange little man wondering if he would ever learn the truth about him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Sun-Elves
MIRANDA SCREAMED.
Unable to contain her frustration, she threw the message across the floor. She swore, then said, ‘The King won’t see me.’
Caleb said, ‘It’s understandable, Mother. Father hasn’t been on good terms with the Crown of the Isles for many years. In fact, he hasn’t been on good terms with any nobles save those working with the Conclave.’
‘I’m your mother! I don’t expect you to be reasonable. I expect you to agree with me.’
Caleb was motionless for a moment, then he started to laugh. ‘I see. I’m sorry.’
‘I’m losing my sanity,’ said Miranda as she began to pace in her husband’s study. ‘I fear I’ll never see your father again, despite his reassurances that he will return. I fear for Magnus and even Nakor.’ Softly she added, ‘I really don’t know what to do next, Caleb.’
Caleb had never seen his mother so distraught. She even sounded helpless as she admitted her uncertainty. His mother was many things, but never in her life had helpless been one of them. There had to be a reason for this lack of decisiveness. ‘What is it?’
She sat down in her husband’s chair. ‘I’m agonizing over what your father would do in this situation. Would he simply appear in the King’s private chambers and threaten him?’
‘Hardly,’ said Caleb. With a wry smile he added, ‘You might, perhaps, but not Father.’
She glared at him a moment, then was forced to smile. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
‘I think he’d find those nobles of influence who are most favourably disposed towards us and speak with them.’
‘That’s either old Lord James or Lord Erik.’
‘James is, by some convolution, a cousin,’ said Caleb. ‘That might have some weight in persuading him to intercede with the King. Erik, on the other hand, is an old companion of Nakor, and he’s seen at first hand what enemies like the Dasati can do. He stood at Nightmare Ridge.’
That one statement spoke volumes. Miranda knew that those who had suffered and fought through the Serpentwar would understand the price of not preparing, not standing staunchly against the coming insanity. If the Dasati were not stopped in Kelewan, there was nothing to prevent them from invading Midkemia next. The problem was that few who had stood at Nightmare Ridge, or who had fought in any fashion against the Emerald Queen’s army during the Serpentwar, were still alive. And even those who were still living were in their seventies or eighties. Those few nobles who hadn’t retired to their estates were outnumbered by younger men, to whom the Serpentwar was just a fight their fathers or even grandfathers talked about. Like the Riftwar, or the War of Jon the Pretender, or so many struggles with Great Kesh, it was just another bit of history, and it couldn’t be like that now, could it?
Miranda weighed her son’s words silently. Outside, a bird called and she glanced out to see that it was a beautiful morning on the island, and the was sun burning off the pre-dawn mist. ‘You’re right. We need men on our side who understand what is at risk. I’ll send a message to Lord Erik.’ She thought for a moment, then said, ‘But I will not give up on Lord James. I think, though, I’ll need an intermediary.’
‘Who?’
‘Jim Dasher, his grandson. He’s apparently more in touch with what it is we’re facing, since he found those creatures of the void. I will seen him soon, and ask him to intercede with the Duke of Rillanon.’
‘When are you going to see him?’
‘This afternoon,’ said Miranda, ‘which is in about an hour given how far east of here the Peaks of the Quor are.’
‘I’ll be interested in what you find there.’
Miranda stood and went to her son’s side. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she said, ‘I know you chafe at being in charge here, and I’ve stolen Lettie from you for a while, so you don’t even have the assistant I promised you. But if she’s going to take over for you some day, I need her to be aware of every significant issue facing the Conclave.’