“All but me,” said Amirantha without emotion. “We were always a small nation—just a loose confederation of villages, really, scattered around the northern grasslands of Novindus. The Emerald Queen’s army ended our existence.”

“Ah,” said the High Priest as his servant entered. All four men remained silent as food and wine were served, then the servant withdrew.

The High Priest looked at Pug and said, “No matter how many years pass, you look no different.” He turned to Amirantha and said, “When I first met our friend here, I was a young priest, just ordained, working in the temple at Krondor. This fellow had several encounters with the High Priestess serving there.” He looked regretful. “A wonderful woman, really, if you got to know her. She was my mentor and it’s because of her I now hold this impossible office that was thrust upon me.”

He looked again at Amirantha. “I suspect years after I’ve gone to meet Our Lady, he will still look as he does.”

Amirantha only nodded politely.

Then the old man’s manner changed. “Now, enough of reminiscence. What brings you here at this late hour?”

Pug said, “I am not sure, myself. Amirantha, Jim?”

The Warlock said to Jim, “You begin.”

Jim had just bitten off a large hunk of bread and cheese, and was forced to wash it down with red wine, and after almost choking a bit he said, “Very well.” He related his entire experience out in the Jal-Pur desert, describing the scene of slaughter and self-sacrifice as best he could. Given his years of training in observing detail, the narrative lasted almost a half hour.

None of the others spoke until he was finished. Pug said, “That is horrible, indeed.” He looked at Amirantha and said, “You demanded we have an expert in death. Here he sits. Now, what in all this troubles you, that we are not seeing?”

Amirantha had been preparing for this question since he had first heard Jim’s account. “Nothing that Jim observed makes sense. I will explain, but first let me ask you this, Holy Father: how much demon lore do you understand?”

“Little, truth to tell,” answered the old man. “Our concerns here are in preparing the faithful for their eventual journey to Our Lady. We are put upon this world to let a fragile humanity understand that this life is but part of a much more profound journey, and that by living a just and honorable existence, when they meet Our Mistress she will place them upon a proper path toward ultimate enlightenment. Beyond that, our knowledge is much like anyone else’s, we gather information where we may, share what we know with others”—he indicated Pug with an inclination of his head—“and have in turn been given the benefit of their wisdom.” He laughed. “Besides, I was told to work with Pug.”

Amirantha looked surprised. “Told to? By whom?”