Arutha cocked his head to one side. ‘There’s a but here, isn’t there?’
‘But I need remain at Stardock with my family. There’s much work to be done and my attention there precludes me from serving in Krondor, Arutha.’
Arutha sighed slightly. ‘Understood. But that still leaves me without a magician in court, if you’re unwilling to take residency in the palace.’
‘I could send Kulgan back to nag at you,’ said Pug with a smile.
‘No, my former teacher is too quick to forget rank and scold me in front of my court. It’s bad for morale.’
‘Whose?’ asked Jimmy under his breath.
Arutha didn’t look at the squire, but said, ‘Mine, of course.’ To Pug he said, ‘Seriously, the betrayal of Makala shows me the wisdom my father employed by having an advisor on matters of magic close to hand. Kulgan’s earned his retirement. So, if not you or young Owyn, who then?’
Pug thought for a moment and said, ‘I have one student who might be just the person to advise you in the future. There is one problem.’
‘What would that be?’ asked Arutha.
‘She’s Keshian.’
Arutha said, ‘That’s two problems.’
Pug smiled. ‘Knowing your sister and wife, I would have thought a woman’s advice wouldn’t be alien to His Highness.’
Arutha nodded. ‘It’s not. But many in my court would find it … difficult.’
Pug said, ‘I’ve never noticed you to be overly concerned with the opinions of others when your mind was set, Arutha.’
The Prince said, ‘Times change, Pug. And men get older.’ He was silent for a minute as he watched another contingent of his army break camp and start to move out. Then he turned to face Pug, one eyebrow raised in question. ‘But Keshian?’
‘No one will accuse her of allying herself with this or that faction in court,’ said Pug.
Arutha chuckled. ‘I hope you’re joking.’
‘No, I’m not. She’s unusually gifted despite her youth; she’s cultured and educated, reads and writes several languages, and has a remarkable grasp of magic, which is exactly what you need in an advisor. Most importantly, she’s the only one among my students who can understand the consequences of magic in a political context, as she’s had court training in Kesh. She’s from the Jal-Pur and understands how things stand in the west, as well.’
Arutha seemed to consider this for a long moment, then said, ‘Come to Krondor when you can and tell me more. I’m not saying I will not finally agree to your choice, but I need more convincing before I do.’ Arutha smiled his half-smile and turned his horse around. ‘Still, the expression on the faces of the nobles in court when a woman from Kesh walks in might be worth whatever risk she brings.’
‘I will vouch for her; I give my word on it,’ said Pug.
Arutha looked back over his shoulder. ‘You’re very serious about this, aren’t you?’
‘Very. Jazhara is someone I would entrust my family’s lives to. She is only a few years older than William and has been with us at Stardock for almost seven years, so I’ve known her a third of her life. She can be trusted.’
Arutha said, ‘That counts for much. A great deal actually. So, come to Krondor when you will, and we will discuss this at length.’ He bade Pug good-bye, then turned to James and Locklear. ‘Gentlemen, we have a long ride ahead.’
Locklear could barely conceal his pain at the thought of more time in the saddle, albeit at a less furious pace than a few days earlier.
‘A moment, if Your Highness permits. I would speak to Duke Pug,’ said James.
Arutha waved his permission as he and Locklear rode forward.
When the Prince was out of earshot, Pug said, ‘What is it, Jimmy?’
‘When are you going to tell him?’
‘What?’ asked Pug.
Despite his crushing fatigue, James managed one of his familiar grins. ‘That the girl you’re sending is the great-niece of Lord Hazara-Khan of the Jal-Pur.’
Pug suppressed a chuckle. ‘I thought I’d save that for a more propitious moment.’ Then his expression changed to one of curiosity. ‘How did you know that?’
‘I have my own sources. Arutha suspects that Lord Hazara-Khan is involved with Keshian intelligence in the west – which he almost certainly is, from what I can find out. Anyway, Arutha is considering how to counter Keshian intelligence with an organization of his own – but you didn’t hear that from me.’
Pug nodded. ‘Understood.’
‘And as I have ambitions, I count it a wise thing to keep current on these matters.’
‘So you were snooping?’
‘Something like that,’ said James with a shrug. ‘And there just can’t be that many noble-born Keshian women from the Jal-Pur named Jazhara.’
Pug laughed. ‘You will go far, Jimmy, if someone doesn’t hang you first.’
James seemed to shed his fatigue as he returned the laugh. ‘You’re not the first to say that, Pug.’
‘I will get around to mentioning the relationship, in the future.’ Waving to Arutha and Locklear, Pug said, ‘You’d better catch up.’
Nodding as he turned his horse, James said, ‘You’re right. Good day, my lord duke.’
‘Good day, squire.’
James put heels to his horse’s sides and the animal cantered after Arutha and Locklear. He overtook Locklear as Arutha moved to confer with Knight-Marshal Gardan about the ongoing dispersal of the army.
As James rode up next to him, Locklear asked, ‘What was that about?’
‘Just a question for Duke Pug.’
Locklear yawned and said, ‘I could sleep for a week.’
Arutha overhead the remark as he rejoined them and said, ‘You can rest for a full night in Krondor when we get back, squire. Then you leave for the north.’
‘North, sire?’
‘You came back from Tyr-Sog without leave, although I grant your reasons were good ones. Now the risk has subsided, you must return to Baron Moyiet’s court and fulfill the terms of your service there.’
Locklear closed his eyes as if in pain. Then he opened them and said, ‘I thought …’
‘… you’d wormed your way out of that banishment,’ supplied James under his breath.
Arutha, taking pity on the exhausted youth, said, ‘Serve Moyiet well, and I may order you back to Krondor early. If you stay out of trouble.’
Locklear nodded without comment, as Arutha put heels to his horse and rode ahead.
James said, ‘Well, you can sleep in a warm bed in the palace for a night before you leave.’
‘What about you?’ asked Locklear. ‘Don’t you have some unfinished business in Krondor?’
James closed his eyes for a moment as if thinking made him tired, then said, ‘Yes, there’s a bit of trouble with the Guild of Thieves. But nothing for you to be bothered with. Nothing I can’t handle by myself.’
Locklear snorted and said nothing. He was too tired to think of a jibe.
James said, ‘Yes, after this nasty business with the Tsurani and moredhel, my business with the thieves in Krondor will seem dull by comparison.’