“This is where it gets interesting,” said Gulamendis. “Let me read: ‘And then to our lord Hijilia came a herald of the demon kind, under a banner of truce, offering terms.’”

“A truce?” Thinking of the dozens of worlds overrun by the Demon Legion and the millions of Taredhel left dead on those worlds, he muttered, “We never got the offer.”

“These Edhara didn’t accept, in any event, vowing to fight to the end. The author of this chronicle began writing as if this was his last testament, and jammed in every detail he thought was important.

“The reason I think we might contrive to use the portal in the cave to get away is that was what the rulers of the Edhara were planning on doing. It’s unclear to me if they managed to get away in time or if they reached the portal.

“The point is, if we manage to get out of here, and if we can reach Sorcerer’s Island, and then E’bar, we have something vital to tell the Regent’s Meet.”

Laromendis was silent a moment, then said, “You mean we need to tell Tandarea.”

Gulamendis fell silent also and then said, “It always comes back to that, doesn’t it?”

“The Meeting cannot continue on the course it has been on for the last three hundred years, brother. The Circle of Light must be reformed, and all matters regarding magic need to be restored to it. Just a few months with those humans on Sorcerer’s Island tells me that this is true; if you spoke to Magnus or Pug about their own history and learned of Pug’s first attempt, the Academy at Stardock, and all the problems that created…” He took a breath. “Let’s get home first.”

Gulamendis said, “Let’s. I think we can be there today if we leave now.”

“In daylight?”

“Do you see anyone else around here?”

“No, but a few months ago there was a really massive battle taking place a few miles south of here,” reminded the Conjurer.

“And as we abandoned this position, I doubt it’s still in progress,” said the Demon Master. “That would explain why there’s only a small garrison in that huge fortress we just left, and why we were able to come and go as we pleased. They’ve gone somewhere else.”

Laromendis stood up. “The thing that’s annoying me most,” he said, “is that there are still too many mysteries and odd goings-on. I’m a simple elf at heart; I make things appear out of thin air, and people give me things: food, gold, their daughter’s virtue, a nice robe…”

“You have always thought like a brigand, and a brigand you are at heart.” Gulamendis smiled. “Still, you’re my brother and my brigand, and I shall stand with you.”