The Complete Darkwar Trilogy: Flight of the Night Hawks, Into a Dark Realm, Wrath of a Mad God

‘There are many things you have not heard of.’ Pug frowned as he looked at his son. ‘What were you thinking, risking a visit to the Death Goddess’s Hall?’

‘I knew Caleb had no more than minutes, Father. And I knew you had been to see the Goddess twice, and had lived.’

‘The second time was not of my choosing,’ reminded Pug. Magnus knew the story; his father had been almost killed by the demon who led the Emerald Queen’s army during the Serpentwar.

‘But the first time you went seeking Grandfather and returned,’ countered Magnus.

‘Tomas and I were nearly dead when we revived from our first visit to Lims-Kragma’s Hall. You could have been trapped there.’

‘Her hall is an illusion, Father.’

Nakor shook his head. ‘The gods’ illusions can kill as easily as steel or stone, Magnus. They are real enough when they need to be.’

Miranda said, ‘It was madness! I could have lost both sons.’

Magnus’ blue eyes narrowed. ‘You’ve taught me well. I did not become ensnarled in the illusion; in fact I forced a change and met her in the Pavilion of the Gods.’ Pug and Miranda exchanged glances at that.

‘I would risk my own life for my brother’s,’ Magnus continued. When his mother said nothing, but let her expression show her displeasure, he added, ‘Mother, I know you fear for us both, but you lost neither.’

‘That is something for us to discuss in a moment,’ said Pug. ‘Nakor?’

‘I will tell you what I know, Pug,’ he said with a grin. ‘But first,’ he pointed one finger at the boys.

Pug turned and despite having just spoken to them moments before, it was as if he was noticing the boys for the first time. ‘Who are you?’

Tad pointed at himself and inclined his head, as if asking if he was whom he meant. Pug’s scowl made it clear. ‘I’m Tad. He’s Zane. We’re from Stardock.’

‘Why were you with my son?’ asked Miranda.

Tad launched into the story of the festival and how they woke up in the wagon, and while it was a disjointed and somewhat rambling version, they got the story in one telling. At the end, Magnus said, ‘You mean to say that you’re not Caleb’s apprentices?’

Tad and Zane exchanged guilty looks, and then Zane said, ‘No. But we never said we were.’

‘McGrudder said you were.’

Tad shrugged. ‘Caleb was taking us to Yar-Rin and then down into Kesh to find us crafts that we could apprentice. If he couldn’t place us together, there, he was going to take us up to Krondor. He was doing it for our mother.’

Pug stepped forward and said, ‘You already know more than you should, just through what you’ve seen and heard in the last day.’ He glanced at his wife and son then added, ‘I think we’ll give some thought about what to do with you. But in the meantime, why don’t you get some rest.’ He glanced at Nakor. ‘We’ll talk in a while, but would you please find them a room, now?’

Nakor nodded and moved quickly to the door, motioning for the boys to follow. Tad and Zane fell in behind.

‘I’m Nakor,’ said their guide. ‘I’m a gambler. Do either of you know how to play card games?’ Both boys said no, and Nakor shook his head. ‘I’m getting out of practice. No one on this island plays cards. What do you do?’ He glanced over his shoulder as he asked the last question.

Both boys were silent as each waited for the other to speak first. Finally Tad said, ‘Things.’

‘What things?’ asked Nakor as they reached a hallway lined with doors.

‘Loading and unloading cargo,’ said Zane.

‘So you’re young stevedores?’

‘Not really,’ said Zane. ‘And we can drive wagons!’

‘Teamsters, then?’

‘No, not really. But I can sail a boat,’ said Tad. ‘And we’ve both done some fishing.’

‘I can hunt a little,’ said Zane. ‘Caleb took me once and showed me how to shoot a bow. He said I had the makings, and I took down a deer by myself!’ His pride shone clearly as he walked next to his foster brother.

‘I help Fowler Kensey mend nets sometimes,’ offered Tad. ‘and he showed me how to catch ducks on the lake.’

‘And I’ve helped Ingvar the Smith mend pots,’ added Zane. ‘He doesn’t like to tinker so he showed me. And I know how to bank a forge so the fire’s there the next morning, and how to temper steel –’ Tad shot him a dubious look ‘– I’ve watched him do it often enough!’

Nakor led them into the room, which was empty save for four beds with rolled-up mattresses. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘that’s quite an impressive list of skills, far more than most boys your age have.’ He waved to them to unroll the mattresses. As they did so, he pointed to a chest near the door and said, ‘Blankets are in there. A candle and flint and steel, too, though you’ll not need it. I expect you’ll be asleep as soon as I close the door. It’s three hours to sunrise here, so rest for a while. Someone will come and get you and take you to get something to eat when you wake. I expect you’ll be hungry.’

‘I’m hungry now,’ said Zane with a slight note of complaint.

Tad shook his head slightly.

‘But I can wait to eat,’ he quickly amended as he went to fetch blankets out of the wicker chest.

As Nakor turned to leave, Tad said, ‘Sir, a question.’

‘Call me Nakor, not sir. What’s the question?’

‘Where are we?’

Nakor was silent a moment, then grinned. ‘I can’t tell you yet. You will know what you may after Pug decides what to do with you.’

‘What do you mean, sir – Nakor?’ asked Tad.

Nakor lost his smile. ‘You boys have seen things and heard things that could get someone else killed.’ Tad’s face drained of colour and Zane’s eyes widened. ‘Pug has to decide what we can do with you. Magnus thought you were Caleb’s apprentices, which meant certain things. You are not, which means certain other things. I can’t be more specific, but soon you will know what Pug wishes. Until then, you are guests, but don’t wander off without a guide. Understood?’

Both said, ‘Yes,’ and Nakor departed.

They went to bed and as they lay down, Tad said, ‘Killed?’

‘He said someone else, not us.’

‘But why?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Zane. ‘Caleb’s father is powerful, he’s a magician like his other son.’ Both boys had the usual fear of things magic widespread among the common folk of the region, but it was tempered by the fact they were talking about Caleb’s father. In the boys’ minds Caleb was like a generous and kind uncle, which would almost make Pug something akin to a grandfather. At least they hoped so.

Zane continued. ‘Everyone says that he owns Stardock Island. That would make him a noble of some kind. They have enemies. Nobles fight wars and things.’

Tad laid his head down on his arm. ‘I’m tired, but I don’t feel sleepy.’

‘Well, you heard him; we can’t go anywhere. Maybe we should try.’