“We are very deep underground,” said Pug. “As to where, I promised the monks I would not reveal that location unless given leave. As I transported you here by magic outside your understanding, it’s safe to assume you would have no way of finding your way back here should the urge visit you.”

Amirantha chuckled. “Indeed.”

They reached a large door and Pug pulled it open. Inside was a small room, with a table fully occupying half its area, over which stood a white-haired magician in black robes. “Father,” said Magnus to Pug as he entered. Then he greeted Amirantha and Jim.

Next to him stood a monk in the simple light brown robes of the Ishapians. He was a nondescript man of middle years, with a round head topped by a thatch of brown hair cut with a tonsure. He inclined his head in greeting and said, “Pug. You bring guests?”

“Brother Victor, these are friends. This is James, Baron of the King’s Court in Rillanon, and great-grandson of Lord James of Krondor, also known as Jimmy the Hand.”

At that the monk smiled. “We have a story about your ancestor you may not know,” said the monk.

“And this is Amirantha, a Warlock of a people from across the great ocean, the Satumbria. He is something of an expert on demons and I have need of his wisdom.”

“Your vouching for them grants an indulgence,” said the monk. “But the Father-Superior might not be so kindly disposed.”

“Which is why I came straight here,” said Pug with a nod.

The monk smiled. “So when I mention, in passing, your visit, I should do so, what? An hour or so after you depart?”

“That should be ample,” said Pug. “We don’t plan on staying long, unless there’s a need.”

“Well, then,” said the monk with a wry expression, “what do you seek this time?”

Magnus turned to Amirantha and said, “We’ve been challenging Brother Victor’s nearly inexhaustible knowledge on every subject imaginable.”

The monk held up his hands, palms outward, and said, “Hardly that.”

“He is the living repository of where everything in this vast library is placed,” said Pug.

Amirantha said, “Prodigious is the only word that springs to mind. Don’t you have some sort of written record?”

“Of course,” said the monk, “and a dozen brothers labor ceaselessly to update it as new material is found and sent to us, but until they do, we make do with scraps of hastily cobbled together notes, and this.” He tapped the side of his head with a forefinger.

“What do you know of the Demon Brothers?” asked Pug.

The monk went almost completely motionless for nearly a half minute, then he closed his eyes. “I believe there’s a mention of them…” His eyes widened. “Wait! I’ll be right back.”