Chapter 8: Of Lands Afar PT 3

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				   Relynn Skarr

PUG:
She lives. Makala has many blessings to count.

PUG:
Gorath, see if you can do something about the cage...

GORATH:
Cover your head and stand back!

Pug took Gamina into his arms.
	Eyes glistening with relieved tears, he hugged the girl tight to his
chest and for a long moment he simply held her, his head resting in her
silver-white mane of hair, while he mulled through recent events. At last he
slipped a finger beneath her chin, gently lifted, and allowed his gaze to lock
with hers as they initiated the special mind-speech that had been Gamina's gift
since birth.
	'He was lying father, all that time,' Gamina thought. 'Even when he
brought me here. He was trying to get you away from Krondor!'
	'I know, I know,' Pug thought in return, pushing a stray wisp of her
hair into place. 'I shall have to see you better guarded in the future. I had
always supposed that your gifts would keep you safe from harm, but I see my
pride in you sometimes borders on the dangerously arrogant. We must be more
careful. Agreed?'
	'Agreed. '
	Again she hugged herself to him. Feeling her faint nod, he released her
and kissed her forehead, looked to where Owyn and Gorath stood at the cave
mouth. Curiously, the squire was bent double, his face buried in his hands as
he shook with violent coughs.
	"I'm okay," Owyn wheezed, waving his hands, occasionally stealing
glances at Gamina. "Really, I'll be fine."
	Pug smiled. The boy's theatrics were poor, but it was manifestly obvious
he wished an introduction before his lungs collapsed. "Gamina, this hacking
young ruffian is Squire Owyn Beleforte of Tiburn. Both he and Gorath have been
instrumental in helping find you. Perhaps we should have them down to Stardock
for dinner someday."
	"Stardock?" Owyn's performance faltered at the mention of Pug's Academy
of Magic. Realizing his lapse, he coughed tentatively into his hand. "You mean,
the Stardock?"
	"None other." Pug frowned as he drew out a small multi-faceted stone
from the folds of his robe. "This special pattern stone should take us there,
but we have to drop off Gamina before we attend to our business."
	"We will go to join Prince Arutha?" Gorath asked.
	"No," Pug replied, clapping his hands overhead. "We go to Sethanon!"