Tehol closed his blue eye. ‘I see…’
Bugg sighed. ‘Gallows humour, Master.’
‘My, you are in a state, aren’t you?’
‘I am undecided,’ Bugg said, nodding. ‘Yes I know, one of my eternal flaws.’
‘What you require, old friend, is a mortal’s perspective on things. So let’s hear it. Lay out the dilemma for me, Bugg, so that I might provide you with a properly pithy solution.’
‘The Errant follows the Warlock King, to see what he plans. The Warlock King meddles with nefarious rituals set in place by another ascendant, who in turn leaves off eating a freshly killed corpse and makes for an unexpected rendezvous with said Warlock King, where they will prpb-ably make each other’s acquaintance then bargain to mutual benefit over the crumbling chains binding another ascendant-one soon to be freed, which will perturb some-one far to the north, although that one is probably not yet ready to act. In the meantime, the long-departed Edur fleet skirts the Draconean Sea and shall soon enter the river mouth on its fated return to our fair city, and with it are two fell champions, neither of whom is likely to do what is expected of them. Now, to add spice to all of that, the secret that is the soul of one Scabandari Bloodeye will, in a depressingly short time, cease to be a secret, and consequently and in addition to and concomitant with, we are in for an interesting summer.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Not in the least, but one mouthful at a time, I always say.’
‘No you don’t. Shurq Elalle is the one always saying that.’
‘Your penchant for disgusting images, Master, is as ever poorly timed and thoroughly inappropriate. Now, about that pithy solution of yours…’
‘Well, I admit to disappointment. You didn’t even mention my grand scheme to bankrupt the empire.’
‘The Invigilator now hunts for you in earnest.’
‘Karos Invictad? No wonder you put me under a shroud. I shall endeavour to be close to the roof’s edge the day he clambers into view with his drooling henchmen, so that I can fling myself over the side, which, you’ll agree, is far preferable to even one bell’s worth of his infamous, ghastly inquisition. In the meantime, what’s for supper?’
‘Vinik eggs-I found a somewhat broken nest washed up under a dock.’