At the Gates of Darkness (19 page)

Pug remained motionless, then nodded once and said, “I see.”

“I don’t know if you do,” said the Demon Master. “Demons don’t take prisoners. They eat everything they can and move on. It’s as if they’ve somehow changed from what I know them to be.”

“Isn’t that a conclusion you and Amirantha reached after your pet demons betrayed you to Dahun and Belasco?”

Gulamendis said, “That was…Yes, we did, but that
was us being confounded at how their behavior changed. This is more that their nature has changed. They’re becoming more like us.”

Pug again nodded. His dark eyes studied both elves for a moment, then he said, “You said two things?”

“They seem to be at war with themselves.” He described the attack by one army of demons, at the behest of the illusion of Maarg, upon another, and the surprising organization of the operation.

When Gulamendis was finished, it was his brother who said, “Right before we abandoned Andcardia, we began to notice demons in the field who were not simply throwing themselves at our defenses, but who seemed to be instructing other demons, organizing them in a rough fashion, sending them in waves against specific areas of defenders. I didn’t think too much of it, well, because it wasn’t my job to think of it, and I was very busy running for my life most of the time.

“This, however, was far beyond that. These were demons organized into units, camped as humans or elves would camp, with officers, pickets, what I took to be a command tent, and those who attacked came down the hill in multiple columns, coordinated by some unseen overseer—those demons we thought to be in command were illusions.” He sat back, obviously bordering on exhaustion.

Pug was silent for a long time, then said, “We have much to discuss. But it can wait until you’re recovered from your ordeal.”

Gulamendis handed over the journal he was carrying to Pug and said, “You might find this interesting. I know I did, and I don’t understand half the things he was writing.”

“Who?”

“The author. I didn’t see his name, but there is a glyph. I have a demon-taught spell of reading languages…I suppose you do as well. I think it’s a human tongue.” He sighed. “I don’t really know what I’m thinking. He had a
little tower, in which there were many books and scrolls, and he kept copious notes and journals. This was the one I found conveniently on the work desk, else I might not have noticed the information that got us to the portal we used to come here.”

“Very fortuitous,” Pug observed. “Please, if you don’t mind, find yourself downstairs to the common room and feed yourselves. Brandos’s wife, Samantha, has taken charge of the kitchen. She should have food for you. Then Jason will find you a place to sleep. I’ll have water heated for a bath.” He stood, then said, “Though where we’ll find clothing to fit you…?”

“We’ll get by,” said Laromendis. “We can wear these a while longer if we must.”

“Perhaps some robes while your clothing is washed,” suggested Pug. “In any event, please, go eat and rest and tomorrow we’ll have much more to discuss.”

The two elves left his study and Pug looked at the book handed to him by the Demon Master. He didn’t even need to open it to know who authored this work. He recognized the symbol on the binding. But to satisfy himself, he opened it and saw the glyph on the first page. “Macros,” he said softly.

Pug let out a long sigh. Did Macros live on that world and advise some alien ruler, or was this another of the man’s false leads left for him by the Trickster God?

“Kalkin!” Pug shouted. “Is this your handiwork?”

Silence was his reply.

P
ug held up his hands.

The others in the room fell silent as he said, “We have three issues here. What the elven brothers”—he indicated a considerably cleaner, well-fed, and rested pair of Taredhel magic-users—“have brought us is important and worth investigation, as well as supporting recent observations we’ve had regarding the changes in the Demon Legion’s behavior.

“What Amirantha has brought to our attention”—he pointed to a massive volume lying on the table before him—“is still being closely examined, and maybe will give us a far more fundamental understanding of our enemy’s nature and purpose.”

He paused, then said, “But what is most impera
tive, what demands our first consideration is the information that has come to us from Lord James”—he nodded toward Jim Dasher, who had chosen to stand in a far corner—“and Sandreena.” He inclined his head toward the Knight-Sergeant of the Order of the Shield of the Weak, who sat on the other side of Magnus at the table, just to his father’s right.

“This construction in Kesh, in what is known as the Valley of Lost Men, is something I personally plan on investigating within a few days. Its nature and purpose must be determined.

“The dwarf Keandar, who came to us with Sandreena, was only partially able to help us understand what is taking place down there. He was a hunter, herdsman, and warrior, and was quickly made a sentry and given a patrol. All of his people who were smiths, engineers, miners, or with other like skills, they were taken away to someplace deep within the construction, and apparently were aiding the invaders in building the device.”

From deep in the shadowed corner a voice said, “It’s a trap.”

Those at the table turned to see Lord James step out slightly and he said, “They made it too easy to find that festival of slaughter. The more I think on that the more it was them not caring if they were seen or them wanting to be seen.”

Sandreena studied the way he moved and concluded it was likely he was the Kingdom agent wearing Jal-Pul desertman dress who had handed her the message she had delivered to Creegan. There was something about him that made her go on edge, but she couldn’t quite decide what it was. She thought she had seen him before, but she had so little contact with the nobility she was certain that had she met him she would vividly remember where and when.

Pug said, “From what Sandreena reported, it’s guarded.”

Sandreena’s attention was pulled back to the situation
before them and she said, “He may be right. I had little trouble getting close and it was only fatigue and careless-ness that caused Keandar to discover me. Had I not torn off the magic token that kept him under control, I think I would have killed him; he’s sturdy enough and a skilled fighter, but they’re not feeding their prisoners well or resting them, and he was weakened.

“I don’t know. They are undertaking something on a tremendous scale, Pug, for just a lure to a trap.” She reiterated what she had seen for those in the room who might be vague on the details of what she had reported to Pug earlier in the week.

It was Gulamendis who spoke next. “I don’t know if it’s a trap, in particular, but it certainly is something neither Amirantha or myself can reconcile with what we know of demon behavior. It’s far too…patient. This device Sandreena describes has been under construction for at least a year, probably two, given the amount of stone in those walls and the number of workers involved.

“Our own geomancers could do it in a fifth of the time, but, Sandreena, did you see any signs of magicians constructing anything?”

“No,” she replied. “Three of the four arching towers are finished, and the fourth was halfway done. They were hauling stones up with a gigantic hoist atop a series of huge wooden platforms. And the workers looked as if they were ready to drop at any minute.”

Pug said, “Jim, I appreciate your impulse toward caution, and I promise that my own experience with demons tends to put my instincts in harmony with your own, but we have one occurrence on this world that is clearly demon controlled, and we must go down there and put an end to it.”

“May I suggest one more reconnaissance before you launch an assault? I can provide as much distraction from Krondor as you need for the Keshian court to not pay at
tention to an army of ten thousand mercenaries marching across two hundred miles of open country, but it would really be a benefit to our cause if we didn’t get them all obliterated and have to inform Kesh that an infernal invasion is under way on their sovereign territory and, by the way, the Demon Legion is heading straight toward the City of Kesh.”

“Then we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Pug. “But your suggestion is in harmony with my own opinion; I will go with Magnus to look over this site.” He looked at Amirantha and Gulamendis. “I would really find it useful if you two would accompany us.”

“Of course,” said Amirantha, and a moment later after considering the request, Gulamendis nodded as well.

Laromendis said, “We need to send word to the Lord Regent, as well.” He did not look happy at that prospect, and Pug thought it best to ask him about this later, in private.

Pug said, “Given the time, we shall leave after the evening’s supper. Sandreena.” Then, turning to the Knight-Sergeant, he said, “Would you care to accompany us?”

Amirantha barely hid his surprise at the request, but said nothing.

“Certainly. If there’s any way I can find out what happened to Knight-Adamant Jaliel, I will take it.”

“Our first responsibility will be to evaluate the situation.” To the others in the room Pug said, “Continue your duties, and make sure everyone is ready for whatever orders are issued.” He motioned for a young magician to come to him. When the youthful-looking magician was close, he said, “Send word to Lord Kaspar and ask him to join us. Tell him we’ll have him back to his palace before anyone notices he’s gone. Thank you.” The magician nodded he understood and departed.

“Let us adjourn and we shall send word after we have completed our reconnaissance.”

The meeting broke up and Sandreena rose quickly from the table, first to put some distance between herself and Amirantha; she found the necessity of being with him in the name of duty acceptable, if barely, but would just as soon avoid his company if she had the option.

Besides, she was intrigued by this Kingdom nobleman lurking in the corner of the room, and decided it was as valid an excuse to get away from the Warlock as she could contrive. All too soon she would have to be conferring with Amirantha and his elven counterpart on matters of demon lore and, more important to her, how to eradicate them.

She caught up with Jim at the door and said, “Excuse me, sir, but have we met?”

With a slight smile, he nodded. “On the docks in Durban. I was the agent who gave you the package.”

“Ah,” she said. “Still, I have some other meeting in mind. In Durban I could not see your face, just your eyes…” She squinted slightly. “Something about your eyes.”

“Well, then, a formal introduction: I’m James, Court Baron in Krondor, aid to the Prince at times, servant of His Majesty the King, and,” he lowered his voice, “member of the Conclave of Shadows.”

She glanced around. “Apparently I am as well.”

“I heard about Creegan having to hurry off to become Grand Master of your order.” He motioned for her to walk with him. The meeting room was in the lower basement of the castle opposite the pantry and kitchen, and he led her up the stairs to the central keep’s great room. Here tables had been set up and the fire was burning, against the need to feed nearly thirty key members of the Conclave. “Walk with me outside?” asked Jim.

Sandreena said, “I could use some fresh air.”

They stepped outside the central keep and found the marshaling yard relatively empty. Whatever activity the Conclave was undertaking, it was doing a masterful job disguising it. Against the remote possibility they were under
scrutiny, anything relating to marshaling the Conclave’s forces with their allies was happening somewhere else.

“You and Amirantha…?” He looked her in the eye. “Something going on between you?”

“It’s personal.”

Jim took a slow, deep breath and looked away. He said, “I was going to have this talk with you tomorrow; I’ve already discussed it with Creegan and Pug. But now is as good a time as any.”

She caught a glimpse of his profile as he stared into the sky a moment and for reasons she couldn’t name she felt herself tense and her hand moved toward her mace. Suddenly his hand shot out and seized her wrist, his thumb digging into a nerve bundle and paralyzing her for a moment. She instinctively twisted her wrist before she pulled away, breaking his hold, but the damage was done. She could not get a decent grip on her mace with her right hand.

She switched to her left and her mace came up. “What did you do that for?” she demanded as she got into a defensive position.

“Your training,” he said, backing away a step. “I didn’t want to take the chance you’d leave my brains all over the sand before I had the opportunity to explain a few things to you.”

“Such as?” she asked.

“Let’s start with the first problem between us, though it is the least important. You’ve been trying to remember where we have met, correct?”

“Yes,” she said, still on guard. The numbness in her right hand was wearing off and she tossed her mace deftly from left to right.

“I’m the bastard who sold you to the Keshian.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re Quick Jimmy!”

“Jimmyhand, Jim Dasher, yes, to all of them.”

He could tell it was taking all her self-control not to lash out at him right then. Slowly she put her mace back on
her belt. “I can kill you later, if I must,” she said softly, almost a hiss of warning. “Why? Don’t tell me this was some part of a great plan you and Creegan had for me. I was a whore then.”

“Creegan had nothing to do with it. He didn’t know you existed,” countered Jim, crossing his arms over his chest. “And it had nothing to do with the Conclave, at least not directly. I wanted you in bed with that merchant, and after a month or so, we were going to contact you and offer you your freedom after you worked for us for a while.”

“Freedom…” She paused to consider. “You wanted me to spy on him!”

“Yes. He was well connected to members of the Keshian Intelligence Corps, but he also had dealings with Kesh’s criminal empires. He was a smuggler as well as a trader.” Unfolding his arms, he put his right hand on his chest and said, “I am also a man of many interests, and when I tell you this, you will know that your life has forever changed, once more. I am the Upright Man of Krondor, and I needed my competition from Kesh neutralized.

“As fortune would have it, even though you didn’t reach Kesh and became a Sister of the Order of the Shield of the Weak, I found other means to achieve my end.” He looked at her with a narrowing gaze. Her expression was one of open shock. “You know what this means?”

“The Upright Man…” She put her mace away. “It means I’m not leaving this island alive if I don’t agree to something.”

He grinned. “Creegan said the Goddess had plans for you that were better than mine, and I will not disagree. You are far too intelligent to let you wither in some Keshian lord’s bed, or retire to some small town to start a modest inn with the gold we would have given you.

“No, you are destined for greater things, Sandreena.” He took a folded parchment out of his belt and handed it to her.

She took it and saw the seal of the Order pressed into
heavy wax. She cracked the seal and unfolded the message. She read it. Then she read it a second time. Softly she said, “He can’t be serious?”

Jim was forced to laugh at her response. “He said that would be your exact words. He knows you well, Sandreena. Or should I say, Mother-Bishop Sandreena.”

“Me, in charge of the Order in the west?”

“You already are. As you no doubt realize, we of the Conclave have not done as well recruiting agents within the various temples. We have none in several of the temples, Sung, Astalon, and Lims-Kragma being the most difficult—it’s that absolute mind-set, I think. I am as practical a man as you’ll meet, and there are times when I feel divided in my loyalties between the Kingdom and the Conclave.”

“Then why do it?” she asked.

“Because while I love my homeland, Pug is trying to save the world. It’s hard to argue for the Kingdom’s interest if the entire planet is conquered by demons.”

She took a deep breath and said, “What if I don’t want to be Mother-Bishop?”

“Well, you were wrong about not leaving here alive. You’ll wake up on a beach somewhere near Land’s End, and you’ll have a vivid memory of your boat overturning in rough water and you not reaching Sorcerer’s Isle. You’ll also decide that rather than try again, you’ll return to Krondor and seek out help there.

“After that, you’ll continue as Knight-Sergeant of the Order while waiting for Creegan to send a new Bishop to run things in the west, and…?” He shrugged. “Creegan will find another.”

“Another?”

“You’re not the only talented youngster in the Order, Sandreena. You just happen to be the one who is here now, and, well, you’re a great deal more talented than anyone else we have around. Amirantha practically sings your praises when it comes to how you can dispatch a demon.” Jim nar
rowed his gaze as if appraising her. “You always were one of the more striking women I’d seen. I remember you in the brothel and there was a reason you commanded the highest price. You’ve kept the core of that beauty despite the training, sweat, and pounds of muscle you’ve put on, but I’ll tell you this much: he sees more in you than most men.”

Her expression turned dark. “He had a pitiful way of showing me.”

“Ah,” said Jim with a single slow nod. “Now I see; more than he admits to himself. Very well; that’s between you and Amirantha. Now, are you taking the commission or not?”

She looked one more time at the folded message, then said, “Of course I am. If I don’t, I’ll never get to go look for Jaliel.”

Without another word, she turned and walked back to the keep. Jim stood outside, enjoying the cool breeze off the ocean and the relative calm. He knew there wouldn’t be much calm after today.