‘He’s mad,’ said Magnus.
‘But he’s not stupid,’ said Pug. ‘If he sees a gain by throwing open the gateway to Kelewan to your people, he will. And no Dasati would ever understand what he must have told them.’ Martuch and Hirea both were paying rapt attention. ‘He knows enough of the Tsurani to realize that if the Dark One’s agents attempt to establish a foothold to begin changing that world, the Emperor could order a million warriors to swarm the position, each willing to die for the Empire. And the combined might of the Assembly of Magicians and every magic at the disposal of every temple would also be unleashed on the invaders. It might wreak havoc on the Tsurani, but they would shut down any foothold on their world as soon as it was detected.’ Pug fell silent for a moment, considering what he had just said. ‘The Dark One needs time to establish a large enough presence on Kelewan so that the entire might of Tsuranuanni, a million warriors, thousands of magicians and priests, all together, can’t stop him.’
‘That means chaos,’ said Magnus.
‘Yes,’ agreed Pug. ‘He needs to plunge the Empire into chaos so that they cannot respond to his incursion.’
‘How?’ asked Martuch.
‘By killing the Emperor,’ said Magnus.
‘Or obliterating the Assembly,’ said Pug. ‘Varen cannot dislodge the temples, they’re too scattered and it would take too long. So it must be the Emperor or the Assembly.’
‘Or the High Council,’ suggested Magnus.
‘Yes, that could be his…’ Pug stood up and looked at Martuch and Hirea. ‘I must speak to Nakor, tonight.’
‘Impossible,’ said the old fighter. ‘We already said our official farewells as mentor and trainer. You can’t go alone. There is no reason for anyone, let alone two Lessers, to come requesting a meeting with the Lesser of a recruit to the Imperial Guard.’
‘Is there a way of keeping track of what the recruits are doing, in case an opportunity presents itself?’ Pug asked.
‘It’s possible,’ said Martuch. ‘Members of the White are gathering in key locations throughout the Empire, but especially around the palace of the Karanas, the TeKarana, and the Dark One’s Temple. We have not told anyone of what you have revealed about the Gardener and the Bloodwitches. For the time being let everyone believe we are under the guidance of a single, wise intelligence.’ He sounded tired as he added, ‘We must do what we must: there are no options, and we cannot choose our time. If we are to strike soon, then it will be soon.’
‘Ready or not,’ said Magnus.
‘If I can reach Nakor, perhaps I can at least contribute to your being more ready than not.’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ said Martuch, standing up. He moved towards the ladder leading up to the surface. ‘Rest for now. I fear that in a short time we may either have no time to rest, or be resting for eternity.’
Hirea waited until his friend had departed, then said, ‘What you told us about the Gardener weighs heavy upon him. The Gardener was the one we believe was going to deliver us from the Dark One’s madness.’
Pug considered his next words carefully. At last he said, ‘You may still be right.’ When Hirea looked at Pug with a curious expression, he added, ‘Before he left us, the intelligence that was Macros, that tiny bit of him which had been placed in the Dasati body led me to believe that Nakor is the key to this. "Find Nakor", he said, and I believe that is the key. Nakor and Bek.’
‘Bek,’ said Hirea, almost as if it were a question. ‘I have trained many warriors, human, some among the greatest of my lifetime, but that one is not a natural being. From what I know of your race, no human should be able to do what he does, and now, no Dasati can do what he does.’ He looked at Pug. ‘What is he, really?’
‘I think he’s a weapon,’ said Pug. ‘But only Nakor knows for certain.’
Hirea removed his sword-belt and laid it on an empty bunk. He stretched out on another. ‘Then we must wait.’
Pug said, ‘But not for long.’ To Magnus he said, ‘No matter what Martuch finds out, tonight we must find Nakor.’
Miranda was nearly frantic at the reports coming through the rift from Kelewan. A massive assault was underway in the Holy City. Despite the estrangement between her husband and the leadership at Stardock, many of those at the Academy were still friends or agents.