He was relieved they had not had to test those ploys. For Nefu was even more resourceful than Jim had imagined. They sailed along the line of ships, staying to the east and looking as if they were bound on imperial business for some destination behind the lines, until sundown, at which point Nefu sailed around in a lazy circle until he was where he wished to be. He had lowered the sails and sculled the ship silently through the darkness. Sculling was a primitive means of propelling a boat, probably used centuries before sail or oar. Jim was amazed to see the long oar come out of the hold; it was in sections that were quickly fitted together and put over the stern as the rudder was hoisted out of the water by means of a clever winch-and-cable mechanism. Then Nefu and two of his men fixed the twenty-five-foot-long oar in a iron cradle bolted to the stern of the boat, slipping it through a cut-out that Jim had assumed was a common feature to allow water splashing up on the deck to run off.
Sculling took a lot of power, and this oar was massive, so two men worked it. It was a slow and tedious way to move a boat, but move the boat it did, and silently they crept between two sentry ships anchored along the line Jim had drawn on the imaginary map in his mind.
By dawn an exhausted crew raised the sails and they set a course for Sorcerers Isle. They took down the Keshian pennants and kept a sharp watch for Kingdom warships.
A day later they came within view of two things simultaneously: a smudge on the north-eastern horizon which Nefu claimed was Sorcerers Isle, and a dot of white to the south-east that the lookout claimed was a squadron of Kingdom warships.
Despite Jims assurances that he could convince the commander of any Kingdom squadron they were there on official business, Nefu declined to see if Jim could effectively keep him and his crew out of a Kingdom prison and his boat from being confiscated. The fact that Jim was without identification of any kind, that the Kingdom was in a state of war, and that there was no guarantee that this particular squadron commander had ever met Baron James Jamison all weighed heavily in the smugglers decision.
Hence Jim found himself rowing furiously against the current trying desperately to take him away from his destination. Not for the first time that morning did Jim curse Destan for disabling his Tsurani transport orb.
Jims shoulders ached and his back hurt and he knew that this was the first time in his life he was seriously beginning to feel his age. At forty a mans body begins to betray him, and its only male vanity that makes him not believe it.
Jim was well past forty.
He worked hard at staying fit, drinking little and eating well, but the rigours of his trade, both as leader of the Mockers and supervisor of the Kings Intelligence Service, conspired to keep him from taking care of himself as much as he should.
Never in his life had he regretted that fact more than now.
As he pulled hard on the oars, he wondered if it might really be time to settle down and start that family. Assuming there was still a Kingdom in which to raise them after this war was over.
Of course if Kesh was victorious, he could probably find employment in Roldem.
Then he wondered if Franciezka was honest about her feelings for him. He had been thinking of her a great deal lately, a fact which both did and didnt surprise him. It did because he had walled off his feelings towards women early in life, a necessity given his career; it didnt because Lady Franciezka Sorboz was far and away the most interesting and devious woman he had ever encountered. Life with her would never be dull. And it didnt hurt his little daydream that she was still the most arrestingly beautiful woman he knew. But most of all, she was the most intelligent woman he had ever met, and he had met a lot of intelligent women. They had to be intelligent to put up with the idiots they married. That then raised the question of how they could marry idiots and still be called intelligent, at which point Jim decided to put aside the question and concentrate on something simple, like who had started this war, why, and how he could convince Pug to save the Kingdom.
Jim kept rowing.
The boat rose and fell and in the distance Jim could hear the sound of surf but he refused to look behind, knowing this to be a cruel joke being played by Kalkin, God of Thieves. He knew if he looked the island would be back where it was when Nefu had first put him over the side into this boat.
Twice more the boat lifted and then Jim remembered there were rocks along the western shore of the island and then he looked.
White surf crashed against a massive rock face and Jim started frantically pulling with his right oar, while backing with his left, pulling his little boat around onto a southerly course.
He had rowed until he felt his arms would fall out of his shoulder sockets, and now he let the boat drift. He just shipped the oars, sat back, and watched. Currents took the boat around the island, slowly moving past the rocks to an open, sandy area. Jim had been to Sorcerers Island more than once, but he hardly considered himself an expert on geography. His usual landing site when he came by ship was on the south-east corner of the island, and he was now at the south-west.
Given the belligerency of almost everyone currently sailing on the Bitter Sea, Jim expected Pug to have lookouts posted around the island. Then he realized that Pug probably had some magic device or spell that let him know when trouble was on its way.
Jim took a long breath and let it out. At this point he decided he would rather walk for a day than row, so he grabbed the oars and turned the boat towards shore.
He started rowing again.
Magnus watched as the boat came ashore. He used his distant sight to see who it was who had come across the Bitter Sea in a rowing boat designed to cross a harbour at most.
At first he wasnt sure who the scruffy-looking sailor was, but when the boat rode in on a breaker and the man jumped out, Magnus smiled. Of course.
He willed himself to the beach and Jim nearly leapt from surprise. Damn, I wish you wouldnt do that! Couldnt you appear a few yards away, yell hello and then walk up in a civilized manner?
Magnus leaned on the staff he always carried and smiled, genuinely amused. Hello, he said. Tell me, how did you get to here in a rowing boat? Tell me you didnt start in Vykor or Durbin.
I didnt. Got dropped off by a smuggler about half a days sail out, which is why Ive been rowing for the entire day. He glanced around at the light. At least I think so. It is close to sundown, right?
Magnus pointed. Thats west. That bright round yellow thing hanging above the horizon is the sun. Yes, it is close to sundown.
Exhausted, Jim said, Just take me to your father.
Magnus reached out and put his hand on Jims shoulder, and abruptly they were in Pugs presence.
Jim looked around, confused, as he had expected to be taken to the castle. He smiled at Pug as the magician turned to greet him. Pug still wore the black robe he had always worn since his time in the Assembly of Magicians on Kelewan, where he had learned his craft in Greater Path Magic.
Jim, he said extending his hand.
Pug, said Jim, looking around. Rebuilding, I see.
The villa was nearing completion. With the aid of talented magicians as well as skilled craftsmen, a years worth of work had been finished in a month. Pug said, Making changes, but its much the same as before.
Left unsaid were the people who would be missing.
Jim said, Im exhausted. Have you a cup of wine and somewhere we can speak?
Magnus said, Ill get the wine, Father.
Pug motioned for Jim to follow him and led him through the entrance to the main building. It was just as it used to be, a massive square with a huge garden in the middle. Currently the fountain was restored to its formal beauty, comprising three dolphins which would spew water in graceful arcs into the pool around them. It was currently empty, waiting for water. And the soil in the garden was bare, having recently been denuded of weeds.
Jim followed Pug to his office within his personal quarters. The room looked very different. Instead of the large sprawling desk Pug had used for years there was a small work table and a single chair. I thought it time for some changes, said Pug. He motioned with his hand. Im leaving the walls as white plaster. It was Mirandas idea to paint the quarters that light blue she loved so much. At the mention of his wife, Pugs voice echoed a distant sadness.
The magician motioned for Jim to pull up a chair. So, how is it you come to us in a boat, Jim? Magnus was alerted that someone approached, and went to investigate. I will confess I was surprised to see you. Why didnt you use the orb I gave you?
Broken, said Jim, deciding to leave the details until later.
Ah, said Pug. Tell me what you can about the madness I see going on across the whole of the Bitter Sea.
Across the whole of Triagia, said Jim. Kesh has marched against the Kingdom, on all fronts, apparently.
Magnus appeared with a pitcher of wine and three mugs on a tray. He poured one for Jim and his father, then one for himself.
I will confess Ive been caught completely off guard, said Pug. When we saw the Keshian fleet sailing to the south of us, we began our enquiries, contacting our agents. Without success.
My agents south of the Girdle of Kesh have been eliminated.
All of them? asked Magnus.
Theyve all dropped out of sight. Probably murdered. Jim sipped his wine. In my craft, its best to assume the simplest explanation. Then he considered Amed Dabu Asam. But I could be wrong. My most trusted agent in the Jal-Pur was turned and tried to kill me.
Turned? asked Magnus. You mean he was secretly working for Kesh?
Jim shook his head. No. Thats the maddening thing. He glanced from Magnus to Pug then took another drink. My arms are going to fall off from all that rowing, he sighed. He put down the mug. Theres another player in the game.
Who? asked Pug.
I dont know. I know its not Roldems agents, because I have a good relationship with them now, and there is no gain for Roldem and much to lose. Keshs intelligence leader is well known to me, and he was caught by surprise: key members of his staff were being murdered when I last saw him. And now you tell me your agents were kept ignorant of the coming war. Jim looked as if he was ready to weep in frustration. Some of this is possible, but all of it?
Magnus said, Theres one possibility, one that even we didnt think of.
What? asked Pug.
Magic, said Magnus. Whoever has balked all our information-gathering neutralized it, compromised it, fed us lies it could all be done with magic.
Pug was silent for a while, then said, My best contact for years in Kesh, Turgan Bey, Lord of the Keep and personal adviser to the Emperor, has retired. My next highest contact, Januk Hadri, Privy Counsellor to the Emperor, has been silent.
I always thought it odd that Bey would retire, said Jim. Some of those Truebloods love the life of leisure, but not Bey. Some other man might see a political sea change coming and retire to a villa on the shore of the Overn with a dozen beautiful women, or go hunting for lions or whatever else it is retired Keshian nobles do, but he loved the infighting of politics. I expected him to die on the job. Jim leaned forward. He was your agent?
I told you the Conclave had many friends.
Jim sat back, his hands in his lap. I thought I had a good conduit to Keshs court intrigue, but Turgan Bey?
Magnus smiled.
Jim shook his head. Im impressed. Then he looked at Magnus and said, It must be magic.
A lot of it, said Magnus. A spell of influence to get a noble to decide it was time to retire, for instance. It is much more subtle than any overt enchantment or spell of control. Just make a man slightly tired, slightly less interested in the day in and day out, and you might not even have to suggest its time to step down. He may even do it on his own.
Pug said, Yes, magic playing on your man in the Jal-Purs divided loyalties, or his greed, or
Jim closed his eyes. Of course. Amed was of the desert tribes, and blamed the Truebloods for his fathers murder, which is why I could turn him against the Empire, but ... he was Keshian.
A call to slumbering patriotism, said Magnus.
Its still a lot of magic, Pug, said Jim. And it would take years. Agents would have to be identified, influenced, plans made
But it could be done? asked Pug.
Jim was silent for a while, thinking. After a few moments he said, Yes. If they can identify that first agent, if he or she is highly enough placed. He sat tapping his cheek with his finger. I use blinds that is, agents who do not know who they are working for. But if you get to someone high enough they may be able to give you the identity of others, and if you can get to them He outlined quickly how the three intelligence services of Isles, Kesh, and Roldem were structured and utilized, glossing over a lot of detail, but ending on the point that many agents knew who was working for the other agencies. He finished by saying, So one of mine gives up one of Franciezkas, and in turn her agent gives up one of Kaseems.
And at some point, one of them turns out to be working for the Conclave, said Magnus.
So this has been going on for years, now, said Pug.
Who? asked Jim. Who besides you has this ability, this power?
Magnus said, There are only two possibilities. If the temples were to work together, even only two or three of the most powerful, they could do it. They have magic, though it is of a very different nature to what we are used to
Which might be of benefit, interrupted Pug. It might be harder for us to detect the influence.
Magnus added, Or it could be the Academy.
Jim looked shocked. The Academy? Why? I mean, who? Dont you still play a role there?
Pug said, A little, and we have agents there as well. He looked troubled as he gazed out the window. I dont know how such an undertaking could His voice trailed off and he was silent.
Jim asked, Do the Pantathians have that much magic?
Magnus said, Why do you ask? They were obliterated. I was there when their birthing crèches were destroyed in the Ratngary Mountains.
Without humour, Jim said, You missed some.
Pug stood up. What?
On a boat in the south of Kesh I saw a scaled green hand with black talons sticking out of a robe, and if thats not a Pantathian, then Ive not read every report on them in the archives in Krondor.