“Not really,” said Magnus. “There are a couple of things that are probably worth a little study, but this was Grandfather’s work from a long time ago, if I can judge these things. I remember the story you told of coming here after the Riftwar ended, and finding a letter from him about his library, giving it to you. What he took to Telesan were copies. Exact copies, so I think they were magic duplicates, not made by scribes. Perhaps if we had saved everything by considering the titles there we might get some idea of why he went there after leaving Midkemia and what he was hoping to accomplish.”

“You have a better memory than most, Magnus,” said Pug. “I can remember a dozen titles I tossed aside. Let’s quickly draw up a list and compare them, and with those we brought back with us, perhaps we’ll get some understanding of this previously unknown jaunt of your grandfather’s.”

Magnus made a slow exhalation, not quite a sigh, and said, “Again another reason to miss Mother.”

Pug reached out and took his son’s hand for a moment, squeezing it slightly, then releasing it. “I know.” Both father and son knew that Miranda might have provided an insight into what her father had been doing on that other world. “One thing,” said Pug. “More than anything else, Macros having lived for a time on Telesan—and from having his own quarters, in some station of importance—clearly indicates a connection between our world and that one. It seemed a little too coincidental that the brothers would flee from their Hub world and end up somewhere that just happened to be a former residence of Macros the Black.”

“Kalkin?”

“Who knows what the gods are doing?” replied Pug. “I have long ago accepted the notion that I will never fully understand this struggle, our part in it, or just how much good we are accomplishing.”

Amirantha said, “I’d say quite a bit, even if not intentionally.”

Pug asked, “How do you judge that?”

“Your friend, Kaspar, he is doing remarkable things in Muboya and the region has never been this peaceful in my lifetime, and that’s over a hundred years.

“You’ve got people from various nations around the world putting the safety of this planet ahead of their personal interests and their national interests. I am hardly anyone’s idea of a good man, Pug, yet here I am doing my bit for the greater well-being of the world.” He smiled slightly and said, “That’s no mean achievement.”

“Perhaps,” Pug said. “There are times I wish it was worth the price.”

No one at the table said anything. Amirantha and Brandos had both witnessed Miranda’s death at the hands of a demon who had been feigning death and then leaped upon her back before anyone could prevent it.

Finally Brandos said, “So, if I might presume to ask, what’s next?”