“Our relationship with Queg has not always been as good as it should be, and as a result there are many mistaken notions about this place and its people circulating in the Kingdom of the Isles. I will take some pride in correcting those misunderstandings.”

“Well, it’s all new to me,” said Amirantha, playing along. “Whatever I learn will be useful for my reports home. Perhaps my master will wish to send a trade delegation here; you say the Quegans build good ships?”

“Among the best,” said Pug, knowing that was shading the truth. The Quegans built fearsome war galleys, but they were coastal-going vessels not meant to be more than a day or two offshore. They had nothing that could cross so vast an expanse as the Endless Sea to the west of the Straits of Darkness and reach Novindus. Still, flattery always appealed to those who thought it was sincere.

Amirantha and Pug chatted about nothing particularly significant as they observed the city through which they passed. The docks and more disreputable inns and businesses gave way to a series of broad streets that were obviously occupied by middle-class to well-to-do businesses, many several stories tall, with the owning families occupying the top floors. Beyond that was a green belt of parks that was the absolute boundary between the lower and upper cities, for on the rising hillside large homes with sprawling yards and fountains gave way to even larger estates surrounded by high walls and sturdy gates. Most were guarded by soldiers wearing private livery, all attempting to outdo their neighbors in terms of ostentation. As opposed to the Imperial soldiers dispatched to meet them at the docks, these guardsmen wore highly polished chest guards and helms of steel. Some were painted in bright colors, while some affected gold trim and ridiculous plumes of feathers or dyed horsehair. Certainly the guards looked stout enough to keep vagabonds and rabble from disturbing their masters, but one glance from Amirantha to Pug revealed what the Warlock thought of these “fighting men,” should real trouble visit this island.