Pug nodded and said, “I think over there,” and suddenly they appeared on a slope just below the ridge line opposite the main gate. Pug poked his head above and looked around. If anyone was on the wall or in the tower, the chance of them being seen on the other side of the slope was high, though Pug was confident Magnus and himself could deal with anything likely to come from a half-abandoned fortress. Still, it paid to be cautious and Pug’s last encounter with a demon prince had almost cost him his life.

Pug studied the fortress for a long minute, moving his hand to indicate the others should remain out of sight. He saw no sign of movement anywhere. He waited and then conjured up a wandering eye.

The spell was one he rarely employed, for while useful for scouting areas he did not personally wish to enter, it was easily detected by any other competent magician and it tended to leave him with a splitting headache.

A tiny orb appeared before his face, and suddenly Pug’s vision originated at the orb and his own eyes were as if blind. He sent the orb speeding across the clearing before the gate, the so-called killing ground, and over the wall and swiftly into the open doors of the main keep.

No alarm was raised. Pug let his magic vision race along halls and corridors, into rooms, and up towers. The armory stood empty as did the pantries. The keep was abandoned.

Pug let the spell end, opened his eyes, and said, “There’s no one there.”

He rose and led them over the ridge and down the slope. Pug stopped for a moment and knelt. He poked at what appeared to be a fibrous plant, knocked down by falling rock and ash. “This plant was nearly four feet tall…” He stood. “No one has cleared this area for a while. You don’t provide even modest cover for an attacking foe.”

Gulamendis said, “I suspect this place was abandoned years ago and only reoccupied by the demons recently. Parts of the keep we passed through had layers of dust on the floor.”

“Tracks?” asked Magnus.

“We just didn’t worry about them,” said Gulamendis. “We judged that if no one has used those parts of the keep in years, they were unlikely to use them just after we left, and that if anyone came in after a few days…” He shrugged. “We planned on being far from here by then.”

Pug said, “Logical.”

They quickly walked to the door within the massive gates and Pug pushed on it. It swung slowly open. “Apparently they had no idea you had visited the area.”

They slipped through the gate, staying within the deep shadows along the walls. Moving quickly, Gulamendis led them into the corner then over to the side of the shed. He glanced around. There was no hint of life.