“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.”