Jim smiled. “Quegan protocol dictates we keep them waiting at least another five minutes, ten is better. Quegans are an odd people. They tend to self-aggrandizement, to the point of considering the Imperial Keshian Court degenerate, and see themselves as the true inheritors of all things grand and imperial. They would be a silly people if it wasn’t for that irritatingly large navy they insist on sailing all over the Bitter Sea. That gets them a great deal of respect they otherwise wouldn’t enjoy. Their position as something of a balance shifter here in the west keeps them more or less at peace with their neighbors, but should the cause arise where the Free Cities, Kesh, and the Kingdom could get over their own differences, we’d happily obliterate this island.” He said the last with a cheerful expression.

“But then you’d have a war over who got the island,” said Amirantha with a wry expression.

“Oh, I’d happily argue to just let Pug and some of his compatriots sink it.” He looked at the magician. “You could manage that, couldn’t you?”

Pug shook his head and deemed not to answer.

“What we have now is a short time of it. The Imperial Archivist is at our disposal, but only for three days. I need you to discover what you need in two, because if I must break in and steal something, I need to plan it the day before we leave.” He sighed. “While I have little problem robbing the Quegans, I do have a problem with starting a needless war, especially when we may need to be fighting a far more dire one soon. So, try not to do anything overtly suspicious. The Quegans are suspicious by nature, and you will be watched, so always remember there are eyes on you, ears nearby, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Once we leave this cabin, we will be living our roles as nobles and scholars. If you have any questions, now is the time.”

No one did, as they had rehearsed their various roles for the seven days’ sailing time from Krondor to Queg. The necessity of having to arrive in public by ship had given them a great deal of time to review their plan.

“Well,” said Jim, standing, “I think we’ve kept the Quegan nobles standing in the hot sun long enough. Let us go and be diplomats.”

Pug and his two companions followed Jim up on the deck and found the sailors of the Kingdom ship Royal Dolphin securing their vessel. A long gangway had been run out to the dock below, and Jim paused dramatically at the top before starting his descent. Pug had not visited Queg in over a century and more than anything he was amazed at how little had changed.