Exile's Return: Conclave of Shadows: Book Three

by Raymond E. Feist

“The Nighthawks,” said Magnus.

  “Who?” asked Kaspar.

  Tal shrugged.

  “The Guild of Death. It’s been forty or more years since we encountered them. I’ll let my father tell you more about them, but for the moment, we’d better make haste.” He motioned for Kaspar to enter the inn first.

  They went in and found the common room deserted, which was not unexpected this time of night. Kaspar went to his door and knocked twice. Amafi opened it, and said, “Magnificence! You are well!” Then he looked past Kaspar and said, “And not alone.”

  Kaspar motioned for the others to wait outside, entered the room and approached the Talnoy. Slipping on the ring he said, “Do not attack anyone.” He took the ring off again and motioned for Magnus and Tal to enter. “Were you followed?” asked Kaspar of Amafi.

  “Yes, by the same two men who followed us earlier. I sent word with a boy to the River House.”

  “He never got there,” said Tal. “They must have stopped him.”

  Magnus said, “Then the boy is certainly dead.” He looked over to the corner where the Talnoy stood motionless. He stood in front of it for a few moments, then said, “I know what the monk meant, Kaspar. There is a wrongness here that…I can’t explain. But this thing does not belong in our world.”

  “Then,” said Kaspar, “I suggest we take it to your father and see what he can do about getting it off this world.”

  Magnus shook his head. “No.”

  “What do you mean ‘no’?” asked Kaspar. “I thought this was what we came for?”

  “Tal? Do you sense it?”

  Tal Hawkins stared at the silent black visage. He put his hand on the armor for a moment, then said, “Something…”

  “Talwin has a knack few without magic ability have, the ability to sense magic being used. Whatever foul arts trapped a soul within this armor is still strong and…dangerous.” Magnus turned to look at Kaspar. “You may be safe, because the ring gives you control over this creature, but I am not. I will return to my father and consult with him.”

  Suddenly Magnus was gone.

  Tal sat on the bed. “I hate it when he does that.”

  Kaspar sat at the other end. “I know.”

  They waited.

  More than an hour passed, and suddenly Magnus reappeared. He said, “Father instructs me to bring you and the Talnoy to a specific place on the island where he and my mother have begun erecting wards to protect us from it, as well as to hide it from anyone seeking it.”

  “Hide it?” said Kaspar. “We’re in Opardum, then in a moment, we’ll be thousands of miles away. Why would anyone look for it on your island?”

  “There are far more useful methods of detection than simply looking under rocks,” said Magnus. “This thing contains alien magic, and the only reason Varen or his agents haven’t found it is because they are not sure what they are looking for. Now that I have seen it, touched it, I could find this…artifact anywhere on this world.”

  Kaspar and Tal stood up, while Amafi stayed seated in the corner.

  Magnus said, “Get the thing to stand in the middle of the room.” To Tal he said, “I will send word if we need your help. Thank you for your part in this.”

  “Keep me informed, Magnus,” Tal said. “I am willing to serve if need be.”

  Kaspar slipped on the ring and ordered the Talnoy to step forward and it did.

  Magnus said, “Gather around.”

  “Magnificence?” questioned Amafi.

  “You’d better come along, too,” said Kaspar.

  Amafi looked relieved. “Sir.”

  They gathered closely and Magnus put his hands on Kaspar and Amafi’s shoulders; and suddenly the group was standing in a clearing behind the villa.

  Amafi gaped at what he saw around him. It was late—nearly midnight at their present location—and still people were hurrying about on various errands. Many were foreign-looking in their apparel, and a few were clearly not human.

  Kaspar said, “I think it’ll take some getting used to.”

  “Magnificence, I agree.”

  Pug and Miranda stood nearby, and Kaspar saw they had appeared inside a circle defined by five points of amber crystal which glowed from within. “Step out of the circle, quickly,” Pug instructed.

  They did so, and Pug said, “Stand back.” He waved his hands and Kaspar saw that Miranda and Magnus mimicked his movements. The crystals flared brightly for a moment, then the light was reduced to a faint glow.

  Pug said, “Anyone looking for this will have to be a very powerful magician to locate it.”

  “Very powerful,” echoed Miranda.

  Pug said, “Let me have the ring, please.”

  Kaspar took the ring out of his pouch and handed it to Pug. The magician placed it on the palm of his hand and looked closely at it. “This is nothing made by the hand of mortal man, obviously.”

  Magnus said, “Both the ring and the artifact positively reek, Father.”

  “Once the wards hiding this thing in the cave were disturbed…” Pug started. “We may never know how that happened, but I have my suspicions.”

  Pug silently examined the Talnoy, while Kaspar, Amafi, Magnus, and Miranda waited outside the circle of wards. Others from the community gathered, and Amafi whispered, “Magnificence, what manner of place is this?” He stared at a creature with coal black skin and bright red eyes who was watching Pug intently.

  “A school, if you can believe it,” said Kaspar. Looking at Pug, he said, “And a great deal more.”

  The examination went on for more than an hour, but no one grew bored and departed. Everyone was content to stand quietly and observe, while Pug examined the Talnoy. Only an occasional whisper broke the night’s quiet.

  Finally, Pug said, “Let us go to my study.”

  Kaspar and Amafi followed Magnus, Miranda, and Pug, while the other inhabitants of the island dispersed, returning to whatever tasks awaited them, or to bed. Amafi looked from place to place as they walked through the large villa, the garden, and into the halls leading to Pug’s private study.

  Once inside, Pug said, “It is a very evil thing you have brought us, Kaspar.”

  Kaspar said, “I find that no surprise, Magician.”

  “I fear it is everything you said, and more,” said Pug. He sat down at his desk and indicated for the others to be seated. Miranda came to stand behind her husband, putting her hands on his shoulders, while Magnus remained standing in the corner. Kaspar and Amafi took the two chairs opposite Pug. “I think we shall wait for Nakor to return before I make a final decision, but I am ready to concede that what you say you saw was indeed what menaces this world.

  “Even one of these creatures would take some effort to destroy, and an army of such…” Pug let the thought trail off. “We shall have an end to it, though.” He was silent for a bit, then said, “Magnus, you had something else?”

  Magnus stepped forward and put the Nighthawks medallion on the desk. “Two men tried to follow Kaspar in order, I believe, to find the Talnoy.”

  Pug sat back in his chair, an expression of disgust on his face. “The Guild of Death, after all these years.”

  “The Guild of Death?” prompted Kaspar.

  Pug’s dark eyes studied Kaspar’s face. “There were, in reality, two guilds. The original was a brotherhood, a sort of extended family, who were among the most lethal assassins in the history of the Kingdom and Kesh. They operated out of Krondor, Kesh City, and Salador for nearly sixty years. Over that time they were infiltrated, or some members turned loyalties, but by the time people I knew began to encounter them they had been…subverted to serve dark forces. Before they had been a small group, no more than fifty, who killed by contract and mostly for political reasons. By the time my friends encountered them, they were already under the sway of those who sought to plunge the Kingdom into chaos.

  “A dear friend, Duke James of Krondor, when he was old Prince Arutha’s squire with my first son, William, and a student
of mine discovered their stronghold, an old military fortress out in the Jal-Pur desert. He found hundreds of them trying to conjure a demon into our realm.” Pug sighed. “Prince Arutha and his army killed hundreds of them down there.

  “Later I met a man…” He looked at Kaspar. “You knew this man as Leso Varen. When I met him, he was called Sidi. He’s had other names, as well. And other bodies, from what I can judge. You know who he works for?”

  Kaspar said, “That was explained to me.” He turned to Amafi and said, “And you don’t need to know.”

  “Magnificence,” said Amafi with a slight bow. “I rejoice in my ignorance.”

  “This man, Varen for now, is the…leader, for lack of a better term, of those who seek to open the doors to chaos and destruction and plunge this world into the sort of madness you’ve witnessed, Kaspar.”

  “I understand,” said Kaspar, “so the point is, Varen was the leader of the Nighthawks.”

  “In a way, yes. He had other agents as well. In any event, if the Nighthawks are following you, it means only one thing. Varen is interested in you, and not because you were his host for several years. He may not know what it is you possess here.” He pointed to the Talnoy. “But he knows something important has come your way. Most likely he had agents around the world looking for a sign of you, but most would be in Olasko against the possibility of your return.”

  Kaspar said, “Or they may have simply been looking for some magical sign of the Talnoy, and not realized who I was.”

  “Perhaps,” said Miranda. “Trying to guess the enemy’s next move is useful; trying to guess what they are thinking is pointless.”

  Pug nodded in agreement. “In any event I think you may safely leave this matter to us.” He studied Kaspar. “You’ve still got accounts to settle. I believe you were under Varen’s influence, but you have plenty of blood on your own hands. Still, if you’d like, I’ll ask Talwin Hawkins to speak to the Duke on your behalf.”

  Kaspar laughed. “Thank you for that, Magician, but I doubt you’ve enough magic between the three of you here to convince Rodoski to let me remain in Olasko. I know I wouldn’t if our places were reversed. Even if I behave myself, there are others who would use my presence as an excuse to undercut his authority. Moreover, now that Olasko is part of Roldem, King Carol would probably rather have an army of Talnoy in Opardum than me. No, I’ll move on.”

  “You have plans?”

  “Some, but they’re not quite finalized. But one favor, if I might, Magician. Could you arrange it for me to see my sister once before I leave Olasko again?”

  “Assuredly,” said Pug. To Magnus he said, “Find our guests some rooms while I send a message to Talwin Hawkins.” To Kaspar he said, “Stay here for a few days and when we can, we’ll return you to Olasko. If Varen’s Nighthawks are out looking for you, it wouldn’t do to have you lingering in Opardum.”

  “Agreed.”

  Magnus motioned for Kaspar and Amafi to follow him and led them down a long hall into another wing of the villa. He escorted them to a comfortable room containing two beds. “Wait here,” he instructed.

  A few moments later he reappeared with a young sandy-haired and blue-eyed man, and said, “This is Malikai. I’ve asked him to see to any needs you may have while you’re with us.”

  Kaspar smiled. “And to keep an eye on us as well?”

  “Hardly necessary,” said Magnus. “We’re on an island, so there aren’t a lot of places for you to go. But there are a few we’d rather not have you wander into, for your own safety. I don’t know how long you’re to be with us, so we’ll see to some clothing as well as food while you’re here.”

  Magnus departed and Malikai said, “Sirs? Is there anything you need right now?”

  “Nothing more than a good night’s sleep,” said Kaspar, sitting and removing his boots. “We came from a bit farther east and I’m not sure what time it is here…”

  “After midnight, sir.”

  “Well, then, we can still get in a solid night’s sleep, Magnificence,” said Amafi. He sat on the other bed.

  Malikai said, “I’ll be in the room next door until breakfast, gentlemen. I have classes in the morning, but should you need me, just ask any student you see to come fetch me. They’ll know where I am. It’s a small group here.”

  “Very well,” said Kaspar. “I expect we’ll have many questions, but as you have a busy morning ahead, we’ll save them.”

  The boy left and Kaspar lay down, pulling a blanket over himself. Amafi did likewise and blew out the candle. Then he said, “Magnificence, what will you do now?”

  “Sleep, Amafi.”

  “I mean, after we leave this place?”

  Kaspar was quiet, then said, “I have some ideas, but nothing I’m ready to talk about. Good night, Amafi.”

  “Good night, Magnificence.”

  Kaspar lay there and realized it was a very good question. He had completely lost himself in getting the Talnoy and Kalkin’s warning to the Conclave of Shadows, and beyond seeing his sister one more time, he really had no idea what he would do after that.

  As tired as he was, sleep was slow in coming.

  For three days Kaspar and Amafi were guests of Pug and his family at their villa. Kaspar discovered this was the almost legendary Sorcerer’s Isle, where ships were kept away by a mix of rumor and magic. The rumors were of horrors visited on those who stopped at the island, and the magic consisted of several illusions that made the otherwise bucolic and tranquil isle appear less than hospitable to anyone sailing close enough to get a look.

  The island was beautiful, and as it was now late spring in the north, in full bloom. Amafi and Kaspar both took the time to rest and refresh themselves after the rigors of their time in Opardum.

  For the old assassin, it was his first trouble-free rest in a year, and for Kaspar it was a place to unburden himself from the terrible responsibility he had felt since meeting Flynn and the others. Both men enjoyed the relaxation.

  On the morning of the fourth day, Malikai found Kaspar sitting on the verge of a large green behind the villa, listening to a lesson being conducted by an instructor who appeared to have slightly orange skin. Other than that, she was remarkably attractive. Kaspar could barely grasp the scope of her discussion, but as with the university in Novindus, the simple fact of all these eager young minds being educated fascinated him.

  “Good day, Kaspar,” said a woman’s voice from behind him.

  Kaspar turned and saw an unexpected face. “Rowena!” he said, rising. “Why…?”

  She smiled. “Here I am Alysandra, which is my real name.”

  Kaspar laughed. “So you were one of Pug’s agents?”

  “Yes, as was Tal.”

  Alysandra motioned for Kaspar to walk with her. “I almost died at the hands of that madman, you know.”

  Kaspar said, “At the end…things were out of control. I rarely understood what I was agreeing to.”

  “Oh, I don’t hold you responsible,” she said brightly, her smile as engaging as before. “After all, I was told to get close to Varen, to see if he had any weaknesses. He didn’t find me interesting in that way. He did enjoy cutting me up bit by bit.” She said the last matter-of-factly. “They did a lovely job of healing my wounds. Not a scar to be found.”

  Kaspar was at a loss. When he had known her as the Lady Rowena of Talsin, a third daughter of a minor noble of a backcountry barony in the land of Miskalon, she had been the most seductive woman he had encountered. Here, she was different. Her manner gave him the feeling that she viewed what happened to her in a distant fashion, as if it had happened to someone else.

  “Well, even if you were following another’s orders, it was while you were ostensibly under my protection. I allowed it to happen.”

  “That’s all right, honestly. After all, I was there to kill you if I had the chance.”

  Kaspar stopped dead for a moment, then caught up with her. “You were?”

  “Only after I found ou
t what Leso was doing.”

  “Did you?”

  “No, but they’re still investigating what they found in the citadel. It’s something…very strange according to those who know about such things.”

  “What about you?” he asked. “Now that you’re well, will you return to your family?”

  She laughed—the same musical laugh Kaspar remembered as they lay in one another’s arms those many nights in Opardum. “Family? I have no family, or as close to a family as I will ever know. There’s something wrong with me, Kaspar, or at least it seems that’s what people think. It’s not that I like to hurt people, it’s just that I don’t care if they’re hurt. Do you see?”

  And suddenly Kaspar did. “You’re the perfect assassin.”

  “Well, I don’t know about perfect, but I certainly feel no remorse. I found you to be a great deal of fun, and as a lover you’re considerate and very strong, but if you died now, I wouldn’t care. So, Pug thinks it best for me to stay here and work for him.”

  Softly Kaspar said, “I agree.”

  She smiled and gripped his arm. “Well, I must go. But if you see your sister soon, tell her I said hello.”

  “I will,” he said, and as he watched her walk away he felt a profound sadness.

  Later that morning, Malikai found Kaspar and said, “Magnus would like to speak with you, sir.”

  Kaspar followed the young man, luxuriating in the scent of fresh blossoms and the feel of the sun on his back as he walked through the garden. Magnus was standing next to some very lush flowers of a type unknown to Kaspar. The pale magician said, “It has been arranged for you to visit your sister.”

  “When?”

  “Now,” said Magnus, putting his hand on Kaspar’s shoulder.

  Suddenly they were in the back room at the River House. “There’s a private dining room at the back. She is waiting for you there.”

  Kaspar found his way to the rear of the dining room which was already crowded even though it was still early in the evening in Opardum. He entered the room and found Natalia sitting at the end of the table.

  She rose and said, “Oh, Kaspar,” and came to him. She was obviously pregnant. She kissed him and said, “I thought I’d never see you again.”