Jim crossed the empty great room, crossing before the massive fireplace. In ages past, this type of castle would have housed as many as a hundred members of a noble family, their retainers and families, and on especially cold nights they would have gathered in this one room. He paused for a moment and considered the attention to detail undertaken by Macros the Black in constructing this place. Anyone exploring this near ruin would assume it had been built ages before its actual erection.
He mounted the stairs leading to the one tower he knew to be occupied and wondered how his great-grandfather would have viewed the current situation. By all reports of his nature, Jim concluded that he would have been both annoyed and amused by it.
Pug had shamed the Prince of Krondor at that time, later King Patrick, disavowing his loyalty to the Kingdom of the Isles and virtually daring the Kingdom to assert its claim on the island duchy of Stardock, in the Vale of Dreams.
Jim knew there had also been some dispute with those running Stardock on Pugs behalf at that time, as well. Whatever the true cause, Pug had then withdrawn to this island with his family and retainers. He had also begun the Conclave of Shadows, the secret organization that had become a major part of Jims life, despite his original wish to have nothing to do with it.
Reaching the top landing, Jim paused and thought about his report. He carried the most dire intelligence, but he was about to make an important choice.
The relationship between the Jamison family and the Conclave became strained when Jims grandfather had been summoned to the Kings court and elevated to the rank of Duke of Rillanon.
At times during his grandfathers administration of the capital cityand by extension of the Kingdom itselfconflicts of interest had arisen between the Conclave and the Kingdom. James of Rillanon, like his grandfather before him, had been steadfast in his loyalty to the Kingdom of the Isles.
Jim reflected that it might have been simpler for his great-grandfather; in those days the aims of the Stardock magicians and the Kingdom were more or less in harmony. He wondered if Jimmy the Hand would have looked at this situation the same way Jim did.
Jims father, William Jamison, and his uncle Dasher had both died in the border wars with Kesh when Jim was a boy, and his great uncle Dashel had no surviving sons. By the time he was twenty years of age, Jim Dasher Jamison was the sole surviving heir to the family, and both his grandfather and great uncle had marked him.
Jim pushed aside the memory of the ruse his forbearers used to persuade him to take control of all the criminal activity along the Bitter Sea coast, as well as taking charge of the Kingdoms intelligence services. He had found he had a knack for both and had made the criminal activities serve the Kingdoms interest, but that hadnt made wearing two caps at the same time any easier.
And now he was on the verge of more responsibility, as a fully committed agent of the Conclave. Pushing open the door to the towers common room, he wondered if he was making the right choice.
He pushed open the door and was confronted by two young women knitting, while a third placed wood on a fireplace set in the opposite wall. Three men huddled close to the fire speaking quietly. One young magician recognized him and said, Jim Dasher, welcome!
Jim nodded a return greeting and said, Jason. He glanced around. Where is everyone else?
Scattered, said Jason, pushing his long blond hair back from his forehead. Pugs sent many of the younger students home or to Stardock, the rest have been moved to safe locations. A few of us have stayed to keep a lookout for any more trouble and convey messages. What do you require?
I need to speak to Pug, said Jim, not bothering to mask his impatience. He held up a sphere of dull golden metal. This doesnt work. I had to take a fast ship from Durbin to get here.
The magician took the sphere and said, The Tsurani transport spheresWeve not had any new ones in years. He looked at it and his tone was regretful. I fear most of the artificers who made them perished on Kelewan. The few who survived He shrugged. Most of those we have are decades old, my friend, Jason said softly.
Jim knew that the few Tsurani magicians who survived now struggled with the rest of their people on their new home world, or were perhaps living quietly in LaMut. And, without saying as much, Jason had implied that if the Conclave had access to newer devices, Jim would have had them.
Feeling a fool, Jim said, Yes. Youre right. Now, may I speak with Pug?
Pugs not here, said Jason.
Where is he?
Glancing over at his companions the young magicians tone was apologetic. We dont know. We havent seen him for nearly a month now.
Jim said, Then I need to speak with Magnus.
Hes gone as well, said Jason. Come, sit by the fire and rest. We have means of sending word, but it may take some time.
By some time, do you mean hours or days? asked Jim, pulling off his leather gauntlets and moving to a stool near the fire.
Jason only shrugged, and Jim felt his frustration return in full. He knew his crew would wait until he sent word or returned, so he felt little need to move away from the warming fire. Thinking of nothing better to do, he sat back against the cold stones, removed his boots, and wondered just where the two magicians might be.
CHAPTER TWO Foreboding
LIGHTNING FLASHED ACROSS THE SKY.
Amirantha silently counted before the distant boom of thunder came. Looking at his old companion, Brandos, the Warlock of the Satumbria said, The storm is moving away from us.
The fighter nodded, remaining silent as he concentrated on cleaning his armour. He sat on a low stool near the massive fire burning in the ancient keeps fireplace in the tiny room near the top of the only occupied tower.
Amirantha had been amused the first time he had visited the legendary castle of the Black Sorcerer. Now he simply found it old and drafty, stifling in its familiarity and a place locked in the grip of sorrow. After a year of living with these people, the Demon Master now understood their pain and anger. Whatever had passed for normalcy before the vicious attack on Villa Beata, the death of Miranda, her son Caleb and his wife Marie, along with the murder of a score of students, that normalcy had never returned.
One of the few brighter moments over that year had been Brandos return a month previous. He had travelled back from their home near the city of Maharta in Novindus, with his wife Samantha. But even that unrelentingly cheerful woman had only been able to lift the constant pall of gloom of this place momentarily.
Pug and his surviving son, Magnus, would come and go from the castle, and at times they shared interesting discussions. Amirantha was forced to concede he had broadened his understanding of demons and the demon realm more in the last year than he had in fifty years of solitary study. Often they possessed similar information, but the magicians had misinterpreted its significance, and he had frequently helped Pug identify misapprehensions in his knowledge.
But those times were growing more infrequent as Pug and Magnus were away for longer stretches dealing with matters pressing upon the Conclave. Amirantha and Brandos had not been formally invited to join their organization, but there was a tacit understanding that they were nevertheless a part of it, willing or not. Amirantha had no doubt that the magicians had the means to ensure he didnt leave the island with the vital knowledge he possessed, so he considered his choice in the matter a moot point.
He stood and stretched, then made a small motion with his head to indicate that Brandos should look out of the small window. The old fighter put aside the leather jerkin he had been cleaning and walked over to his friend. He now looked ten years the magic users senior despite being the younger of the two. What? he asked softly.
The rain is going to play out soon, answered the Warlock as he looked out at the late afternoon murk.
You look bored.
Constantly, said the Warlock. When I first came here, I did so with great anticipation, I thought that for the first time in my life I might have colleagues with whom I could share my knowledge as well as learn from; that I might find kindred souls, and I did at first, but latelyNow, who do I have instead?
Children.
Amirantha smiled. The magicians who remained here with Pug and his son, Magnus, were hardly children, yet with one word Brandos reminded Amirantha of his tendency to be dismissive of almost everyone he met, because of his long life and the perspective it offered. Yet, Pug was even older than him, as were others who came and went from this island. Miranda, Pugs late wife, had been one of those, and her sudden death had served as a grim reminder to Amirantha that his long life and vast experience was not a defence against mortality.
Hardly, said Amirantha. But most of them are still in the formative stages of their education, training, and power. None of them have been practicing their arts for more than twenty years.
Brandos returned to his stool and took up the leather he had been cleaning. Applying a generous dollop of soap to his weapons belt, he said, It makes you wonder where all the grown-ups went, doesnt it?
Amirantha continued to stare out of the window. Indeed. He craned his neck slightly. Im ready to go outside.
Brandos sighed, looking at his unfinished cleaning. Well, a short walk. I could use a leg stretcher. Looking at his friend, he added, Samantha says that lately Ive been as irritated as a bear woken from an early hibernation, so maybe itll do us both good.
Weve had four days of rain.
Its an island in the middle of an ocean, Amirantha. Its late autumn. Theres going to be a lot of rain.
Muttering as he opened the door, Amirantha said, Its not an ocean. Its a sea.
Brandos shook his head but said nothing.
While Amirantha descended the stairs that led to the common room, he let out a long silent sigh. He knew his foster son understood that his argumentative impulse was only borne of frustration. After the destruction of the villa there had been a flurry of activity. The dead had been cremated, the wounded tended to, and then the long conferences between Pug and his most trusted advisors had drawn to a close. Those discussions had animated the Warlock in a way he rarely experienced; they had made him happy.
Continuing down the stairs, Amirantha realized that some of his current irritation was brought forth by the contrast between that initial period of reorganization on the island, and what he was now forced to endure here. It had changed one night, two months ago; Pug and Magnus had simply vanished, along with more than thirty of their most powerful colleagues. What had been a somewhat crowded keep was all of a sudden occupied by fewer than a dozen souls.
The month Brandos had travelled south to fetch Samantha had been the loneliest time in Amiranthas life, and he was vexed to discover how lonely he could feel. He had strong feelings on matters concerning his own conduct and appearance, and the extent to which he had missed his foster son did not sit well with them. He had cursed himself for such a feeling more than once. It was not wise to grow close to anyone, especially as he was destined to outlive most people, assuming he survived the approaching struggle.
Reaching the floor of the tower, they entered the common room and were met with an unexpected presence.
Jim Dasher! said Amirantha in greeting.
Jim turned and rose from his seat before the warming fire and said, Youre still here, Amirantha. He extended his hand and they shook.
He exchanged greetings with Brandos, as Amirantha said, My lingering was at Pugs request. He can be most persuasive.
Ah, said Jim, nodding. He wouldnt let you leave.
Brandos snorted, and Amirantha said, He was insistent, but truth to tell, I have found many things here interesting.
Glancing around the stark hall, Jim said, Really?
Amirantha smiled, Well, not so much lately, but the first nine months were fascinating.
He motioned for Jim to move with him towards the large doors. My quarters are adequate, but hardly commodious, so I thought to step outside for a breath of air now that the rain has nearly stopped.
Jim nodded, pulled his boots on, and fell into step behind him. I just came in from the Jim began, and then stopped himself. Actually, Im supposed to report directly to Pug on this matter. He looked hard at Amirantha, then said, Still, much of what Ive seen concerns you, too.
Really? said the Warlock. He said no more, content to let the mysterious noble-turned-spy speak when he was ready.
As they reached the entrance to the yard, they paused, feeling the occasional rain-drop blown in by the freshening wind, then continued on, leaving the relative warmth of the keep entrance for the soggy ground of the marshalling yard. The rain had almost stopped and the wind was freshening a little; it already felt dryer.
So, you were about to say?
Jim appeared annoyed. I can never tell who knows what around here.
Amirantha laughed. I can tell you this much, my friend: all of us here have some power and ability, despite appearances to the contrary. Pug ensured all the vulnerable students were safely away within a day of
The attack, Jim finished.
I was going to say the death of his wife and son. Amirantha sighed. Never having had children, I can only imagine what hes going through. I had little experience of him to judge what he was like before that, scant hours really, but He shrugged.
You sense hes changed, said Jim. He looked to the west where somewhere behind the clouds the sun was lowering toward the horizon. He knew I was engaged on important business, and yet he has left no apparent means of contacting him; that is most unlike Pug. Its as if hes Jim shrugged.
Distracted? offered Amirantha.
More, said Jim. Hes distant in a way that troubles me.
I dont understand.
Jim smiled slightly. I dont expect you to. I hardly know the man well, despite our tenuous kinship.
Kinship?
Jim said, My great-grandmother was his foster daughter.
Amirantha raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Tenuous by blood perhaps, but otherwise?
We are not close. It is a long story, a family matter, and really not pertinent to the discussion at hand.
Amirantha shrugged. Perhaps, but we have ample time to fill. Enlighten me.
Jim stared off into the darkening afternoon gloom and said, While Pug and I may not be close, I do know a great deal about him; his role in Kingdom politics has been significant, since long before I was born.
Obviously, agreed Amirantha. Given the rank and status of those who have visited here since I was first made aware of the Conclaves existence.