He might yet get his chance to show King Bifalt that he was not done. The King already had an idea about that. Despite his concentration on Elgart, his thoughts hurried in the background. New possibilities forced him to reconsider his plans.

He had one more question for his friend.

“The way you tell your tale,” he said more calmly, “Amandis and Flamora managed your escape together. They were together when Makh revealed his power, and his instrument of sorcery was destroyed. But then Flamora and the devotees of Flesh rode away. Why did they leave us? Where did they go?”

He meant, We needed them. They had worked small miracles to keep the peace in the Open Hand.

To the King’s surprise, Elgart laughed. “To make babies, Majesty,” he said. Then he forced himself to answer seriously. “They know that Rile’s war will not end with the library. It will go on until he has crushed all resistance. No homeland on this continent is safe, not even a land as distant and well defended as the home of the devotees and their men.

“The devotees of Flesh do not fight. They will do what they can for their people in another way. With children, Majesty. Rile’s tyranny may take years to reach them. When he comes, the devotees believe that they will need more than their own abilities to preserve them as a people.

“If the library falls, that is their only hope. They are needed here, yes. But they have cause to fear the enemy’s sorcery. I cannot begrudge any devotee her determination to preserve her own people if she can.”

King Bifalt chewed on this explanation for a moment. Again, he wanted to argue. To his way of thinking, the devotees could do more for their people by supporting him now. However, they were not here to hear him.

Instead, he told his friend, “I accept what you say. If you can make your peace with their choices, I will try to do the same. But one thing I do not understand. Amandis and Flamora were traveling with Set Ungabwey’s caravan. They left it suddenly—and just as suddenly, they reached the Church of the Great God in time to save you. How was that done? They are not known for sorcery. How could they have guessed that you would be in danger while they were days away from the Open Hand?”

“They did not, Majesty.” Elgart’s good humor took on a rueful cast. “Amandis lacks a forthcoming nature, but she answered that question while we traveled.

“When she and Flamora learned that the el-Algreb had refused Magister Marrow, they determined to intervene. They joined the caravan to reach Belleger’s Fist and you. At that time, they hoped to persuade you to send me with Amandis to the el-Algreb.