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.”Several magicians applauded this sentiment, and others seemed to weigh its merits.Only a few booed and jeered.Hochopepa stood again.“I would like to offer a proposal.I will undertake on behalf of the Assembly to send a message to the Warlord expressing our regret that the Assembly as a body may not order any magician to perform as requested, but that he is free to seek the services of any magician willing to work on his behalf.”A general murmur of approval ran through the room, and Fumita asked, “Hochopepa offers a proposition to send a statement of policy to the Warlord on behalf of the Assembly.Does anyone find this objectionable?” When no objections were forthcoming, he said, “The Assembly thanks Hochopepa for his wisdom.”He paused for a moment, then said, “Another matter needs our attention: the novice Shiro has been found lacking in the moral qualities necessary for the Greater Art.The mind probes reveal that he harbors anti-Imperial feelings, learned as a youth from his maternal grandmother, a Thuril woman.Is the Assembly agreed?”Hands were raised, and each bore a nimbus of light as the magicians voted.Green for life, red for death, and blue for abstention.Milamber abstained, but the vote was otherwise unanimous for death.One Black Robe rose, and Milamber knew that within minutes the novice would be stunned senseless, then teleported to the bottom of the lake, where his lifeless body would remain, too cold to rise to the surface.After the meeting broke up, Shimone said, “You should make a point of coming more often, Milamber.We hardly see you anymore.And you spend too much time alone.”Milamber smiled.“That is true, but I plan to remedy the situation tomorrow.”The chime sounded throughout the house, and servants jumped to make ready for the Great One’s visit.Kamatsu, Lord of the Shinzawai, knew that a Great One had struck a chime in the halls of the Assembly, willing the sound to come here, to announce his imminent appearance.In Kasumi’s room, Laurie and the elder son of the house sat engrossed in a game of pashawa, played with painted pieces of stiff paper.It was common to alehouses and inns in Midkemia and was one more detail in the young Tsurani’s drive to master every facet of Midkemian life.Kasumi stood.“It is most likely he who once was my uncle; I had best go.”Laurie smiled.“Or could it be that you wish to stem your losses?”The Tsurani shook his head.“I fear I have created a problem in my own house.You were never a good slave, Laurie, and if anything, you have grown more intractable.It is a good thing I like you.”They both laughed, and the elder son of the house left.A few minutes later a house slave came running to Laurie and informed him that the lord of the house commanded him to come at once.Laurie jumped up, more from the slave’s obvious agitation than from any inbred obedience.He hurried to the lord’s room and knocked on the doorjamb.The door slid to one side, and Kasumi held it.Laurie stepped through and saw the Shinzawai lord and his guest, and then confusion overtook him.The guest was wearing the black robe of the Tsurani Great Ones, but the face was Pug’s.He started to speak, stopped, and started again “Pug?”The lord of the house looked outraged at this forward behavior by the slave, but his nearly voiced command was stopped by the Great One.“May I have the use of this room for a few minutes, lord? I wish to speak to this slave in private.”Kamatsu, Lord of the Shinzawai, bowed stiffly.“Your will, Great One.” He left the room with his son behind, he was still in shock over the appearance of the former slave and confused at the conflicts within himself.The Great One he was, there could be no thought of fraud: his manner of arrival proved it.But Kamatsu couldn’t help feeling that his arrival heralded disaster for the plan he and his son had so carefully nurtured for the last nine years.Milamber spoke “Shut the door, Laurie.”Laurie shut it, then studied his former friend.He looked fit, but vastly changed.His bearing was nearly regal, as if the mantle of power he now wore reflected some inner strength he had lacked before.“I.,” Laurie began, then lapsed into silence, confused about what to say.Finally he said, “Are you well?”Milamber nodded.“I am well, old friend.”Laurie smiled and crossed the room and embraced his friend, then pushed himself away.“Let me look at you.”Milamber smiled.“I am called Milamber, Laurie.The boy you knew as Pug is as dead as last year’s flowers.Come, sit and we will talk.”They sat at the table and poured two cups of chocha Laurie sipped at the bitter brew and said, “We heard nothing about you.After the first year I gave you up for lost I’m sorry.”Milamber nodded, “It is the way of the Assembly.As a magician I am expected to forgo all my former ties, except for those that can be maintained in a socially acceptable manner.Being without clan or family, I had nothing to forgo.And you were always a poor slave who never knew his place.What better friend for a renegade, barbarian magician?”Laune nodded.“I am glad you have returned.Will you stay?”Milamber shook his head no “I have no place here.Besides, there is work I must be about.I now have an estate of my own, near the city of Ontoset.I have come for you.And Katala, if.” His voice trailed off, as if he were fearful of asking about her.Sensing his distress, Laurie said, “She is still here and has not taken a husband.She would not forget you.” He broke into a grin.“Gods of Midkemia! It completely slipped my mind.You would have no way of knowing.”“What?”“You have a son.”Milamber sat dumbstruck.“A son?”Laurie laughed “He was born eight months after you were taken.He is a fine boy, and Katala is a fine mother.”Milamber felt overwhelmed at the news and said, “Please.Would you bring her here?”Laurie jumped to his feet “At once.”He rushed from the room Milamber sat fighting down the upsurge of emotion.He composed himself, using his magician’s skills to relax his mind.The door slid open, and Katala was revealed, uncertainty on her face Laurie stood behind, a boy of about four in his arms.Milamber rose and spread his arms to her Katala rushed to him, and he nearly cried in his joy.They clung quietly for a moment, then she murmured, “I thought you gone.I hoped.but I thought you gone.”They stood for several minutes, each lost in the pure pleasure of the other’s presence, until she pushed herself away “You must meet your son, Pug.”Laurie brought the boy forward.He regarded Milamber with large brown eyes.He was a well-formed boy, with a stronger likeness to his mother, but something in the way he tilted his head made him resemble the boy from Crydee keep.Katala took him from Laurie and passed him to Milamber.“William, this is your father.”The boy seemed to take this in with some skepticism.He ventured a shy smile, but leaned back, keeping his distance.“I want down,” he said abruptly.Milamber laughed and put the boy down
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