“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 attention 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.”