“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 narrowed 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.

Taking in a deep breath, shaking his head at how things turn out despite plans at times, he chuckled to himself at how well Creegan did understand his protégé, and he slowly returned to the keep, trying to savor a few more moments of fresh air before plunging back into the intrigues and murderous needs of the Conclave.

Pug asked, “Why can’t you go?”

Laromendis said, “My brother and I are not well regarded by our people.” He sat back in one of the two chairs before Pug’s desk. The other should have been occupied by his brother, save Gulamendis was somewhere with Amirantha poring over a volume on demon lore. “To understand, you’d have to have some knowledge of the history of the Edhel.”

“I know a little,” said Pug, “from Tomas.”

Laromendis nodded. “His memories from the Valheru, the Dragon Lord.” The elf’s forehead furrowed in an expression of worry. “There are many things that I fail to understand, and that particular miracle is one of them, but what he remembers is what another being saw. It is not the only perspective.”