Long moments dragged by, then suddenly a figure stepped through the rift. A short man with a closely trimmed beard, Pug still wore the ancient fashion of the Tsurani Great One, a simple black robe and cross-gartered sandals. “What is it?” he asked as soon as he was through.

Jason inclined his head toward Jim and Amirantha, and it was the Warlock who spoke. “We’re being played for fools, Pug.”

Pug’s brow wrinkled as he asked, “What do you mean?”

“I’ll explain,” said Amirantha, “after Jim tells you what he saw a few days ago in the Jal-Pur, but it would help if we had another with us.”

“Who?”

“We need an expert on death.”

Pug looked slightly amused. “I know just the fellow.” He turned and held up his hand, and the Warlock could feel shifting magic in the room, though Jim only perceived it as his “bump of trouble” starting to act up. After a moment, Pug said, “You two, follow me.” To Jason he said, “Put away the toy when we’re through.” He stepped into the rift and Jim turned and said, “Send word to Captain Jenson to weigh anchor and make for Krondor. I’ll find him there.” He turned and followed Pug.

Just before he entered, Amirantha turned to Jason and said, “You also might tell Samantha that Jim and I will be missing supper tonight.” He then followed the other two into the rift.

CHAPTER 3

SERGEANT-ADAMANT

Creegan motioned with his hand.

Sandreena entered his quarters still covered in dust from the road and feeling hunger pangs. She had paused long enough once she had given her horse over to the stable boy to drink deeply from the well behind the temple, but she hadn’t eaten anything but a handful of dried fruit and some nuts since leaving Land’s End. Her order was mendicant and there was no shrine or temple in Land’s End, so she was still surviving on what she had purchased in Durban with the last of her coin.

The moment she handed her documents to the Father-Bishop she knew something was wrong, something that had nothing to do with the message she had just delivered. He waved her to sit in a chair across from his desk and said, “The Grand Master has passed.”

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and made a short prayer to the Goddess to care for the old man on his way to Lims-Kragma’s domain. He had been a good man, almost saintly, and Sandreena had no doubt he would be rewarded with a place higher on the Wheel of Life.

The Father-Bishop remained silent while she prayed, and then when she opened her eyes, she discovered him staring intently at her. “Father-Bishop?”