That put him to thinking of all those he had lost over the years: Kulgan, his old teacher, and Meecham, Kulgan’s companion; Father Tully, one of his first and wisest teachers; Princess Carline, whom he once thought he loved; and Laurie, one of his closest friends as a man, who wed the Princess. Laurie had died too young and left Carline a widow far too long. Lord Borric…He sighed and Amirantha looked at him with a questioning expression. Pug held up his hand to indicate it was of no importance, yet with the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he knew it was. Katala, his first love, his first wife, lost to a wasting sickness no magic or art could cure. His first two children—William, his son, and Gaminia, the daughter of his heart—both lost at the end of the war with the Emerald Queen’s army. And now Miranda and his youngest, Caleb.

Pug pushed aside deep and dark feelings and chided himself for not getting over his black moods. He knew from the day he had bargained with the gods that this would be his fate, yet he still resented it.

The litters arrived at the entrance to the palace, saving Pug more dark reflection. He glanced over and saw Amirantha studying him. Without saying anything, the Warlock made it clear he understood Pug’s mind had been elsewhere.

The three left the litters and immediately were taken to quarters while Jim was escorted to a reception in the Emperor’s Court. As part of his retinue, they could have been with Jim had he insisted, but Pug had decided there was work they could do, even from closely guarded quarters.

Once they were alone, Pug nodded to Magnus, who went to a chair in the corner of their quarters and sat. Pug said to Amirantha, “These Quegans seem like hospitable enough folks.”

Amirantha looked around the room, a large antechamber for entertaining and casual conversation; there were two doors each on the right and left walls as they entered, and a large vaulted window opposite the door to the hall. Amirantha said, “Lovely view,” and Pug joined him.

“Yes,” said the magician, as they looked down on one of the Emperor’s many gardens. This one was dominated by a large pool in which several people were swimming or lounging near it.

Amirantha’s eyebrows rose slightly when he realized the bathers were all nude, and he said, “Ah, is that the custom here?”

Pug said, “The Quegans are Keshians by ancestry. The Imperial Court of Great Kesh is in a very hot climate, on table lands overlooking the Overn Deep in the heart of the Empire. Their attitudes toward dress are very different than those of us from the Kingdom. We are a cold-weather people most of the time and dress accordingly.”

“I see,” said Amirantha. “I pass no judgment. I just find it…interesting.”