can’t assure you that your life won’t be in danger, Berit,’ he said soberly, ‘so I can’t order you to do this.’
‘There’s no need to order me to do it, my Lord Sparhawk,’ Berit replied.
‘Good man,’ Sparhawk said. ‘Now go and get your horse. You’ve got a long ride ahead of you.’
It was nearly noon when Sparhawk and Count Radun emerged from the castle. ‘How long do you think it’s going to take for Primate Annias to reach Chyrellos?’ the count asked.
‘Two weeks at least. Berit has to get to Cimmura before Annias can even start for Chyrellos.’
Kurik came riding up to them. ‘Everything’s ready,’ he told Sparhawk.
Sparhawk nodded. ‘You’d better go and get Sephrenia,’ he said.
‘Is that really a good idea, Sparhawk? Things might get a little chancy when we get to Chyrellos.’
‘Do you want to be the one to tell her that she has to stay behind?’
Kurik winced. ‘I see what you mean,’ he said.
‘Where’s Kalten?’
‘Over there at the edge of the woods. He’s building a bonfire for some reason.’
‘Maybe he’s cold.’
The winter sun was very bright in the cold blue sky as Sparhawk and his party set out. ‘Surely, madame,’ Count Radun objected to Sephrenia, ‘the child would have been quite safe within the walls of my castle.’
‘She would not have stayed there, my Lord,’ Sephrenia replied in a small voice. She laid her cheek against Flute’s hair. ‘Besides,’ she added, ‘I take great comfort in having her with me.’ Her voice sounded weak somehow, and she looked very pale and tired. In one hand she carried Sir Parasim’s sword.
Sparhawk pulled Faran in beside her white palfrey. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked her quietly.
‘Not really,’ she answered.
‘What’s the matter?’ He felt a sudden alarm.
‘Parasim was one of the twelve knights in the throne room in Cimmura.’ She sighed. ‘I’ve just been obliged to shoulder his burden as well as my own.’ She gestured slightly with the sword.
‘You’re not ill, are you?’
‘Not in the way that you mean, no. It’s just that it’s going to take a little while to adjust to the additional weight.’
‘Is there any way that I could carry it for you?’
‘No, dear one.’
He drew in a deep breath. ‘Sephrenia,’ he said, ‘is what happened to Parasim today a part of what you told me was going to happen to the twelve knights?’
‘There’s no way to know, Sparhawk. The compact we made with the Younger Gods was not that specific.’ She smiled wanly. ‘If another of the knights dies this moon, though, we’ll know that it was merely an accident and had nothing to do with the compact.’
‘We’re going to lose them one every month?’
‘Moon,’ she corrected. ‘Twenty-eight days. Most probably yes. The Younger Gods tend to be methodical about such things. Don’t concern yourself about me, Sparhawk. I’ll be all right in a little while.’
It was some sixty leagues from the count’s castle to the city of Darra, and on the morning of the fourth day of their journey, they crested a hill and looked down upon the red tile roofs and the hundreds of chimneys sending pale blue columns of smoke straight up into the windless air. A black-armoured Pandion Knight awaited them on the hilltop. ‘Sir Sparhawk,’ the knight said, raising his visor.
‘Sir Olven,’ Sparhawk replied, recognizing the knight’s scarred face.
‘I’ve a message for you from Preceptor Vanion. He instructs you to proceed directly to Cimmura with all possible speed.’
‘Cimmura? Why the change in plans?’
‘King Dregos is there, and he’s invited Wargun of Thalesia and Obler of Deira to join him. He wants to investigate the illness of Queen Ehlana – and the justification for the appointment of the bastard Lycheas as Prince Regent. Vanion believes that Annias will level his charges against our order at that council in order to deflect an inquiry that might be embarrassing.’
Sparhawk swore. ‘Berit’s a good way ahead of us by now,’ he said. ‘Have all the kings gathered in Cimmura yet?’
Olven shook his head. ‘King Obler is too old to travel very fast, and it’s likely to take a week to sober King Wargun up before he can make the voyage from Emsat.’
‘Let’s not gamble on that,’ Sparhawk said. ‘We’ll cut across country to Demos and then ride directly to Cimmura. Is Vanion still at Chyrellos?’
‘No. He came through Demos on his way to Cimmura. The Patriarch Dolmant was with him.’
‘Dolmant?’ Kalten said. ‘That’s a surprise. Who’s running the Church?’
‘Sir Kalten,’ Count Radun said stiffly. ‘The guidance of the Church is in the hands of the Archprelate.’
‘Sorry, my Lord,’ Kalten apologized. ‘I know how much Arcians revere the Church, but let’s be honest. Archprelate Cluvonus is eighty-five years old and he sleeps a great deal. Dolmant doesn’t make an issue of it, but most of the decisions that come out of Chyrellos are his.’
‘Let’s ride,’ Sparhawk said.
It took them four days of hard travelling to reach Demos, where Sir Olven left them to return to the Pandion motherhouse, and it was three more days before they arrived at the gates of the chapterhouse in Cimmura.
‘Do you know where we can find Lord Vanion?’ Sparhawk asked the novice who came out into the courtyard to take their horses.
‘He’s in his study in the south tower, my Lord – with the Patriarch Dolmant.’
Sparhawk nodded and led the way inside and up the narrow stairs.
‘Thank God you arrived in time,’ Vanion greeted them.
‘Has Berit delivered the count’s ring yet?’ Sparhawk asked him.
Vanion nodded. ‘Two days ago. I had men inside the cathedral watching.’ He frowned slightly. ‘Was it altogether wise to entrust that kind of mission to a novice, Sparhawk?’
‘Berit’s a solid young man,’ Sparhawk explained, ‘and he isn’t widely known here in Cimmura. Most of the full-fledged knights are.’
‘I see. It was your command, Sparhawk. The decision was yours. How did things go in Arcium?’
‘Adus led the mercenaries,’ Kalten replied. ‘We didn’t see a sign of Martel. Otherwise, things went more or less as planned. Adus got away, though.’
Sparhawk drew in a deep breath. ‘We lost Parasim,’ he said sadly. ‘I’m sorry, Vanion. I tried to keep him out of the fight.’
Vanion’s eyes clouded with sudden grief.
‘I know,’ Sparhawk said, touching the older man’s shoulder. ‘I loved him, too.’ He saw the quick look that passed between Vanion and Sephrenia. She nodded slightly as if to advise the preceptor that Sparhawk knew that Parasim had been one of the twelve. Then Sparhawk straightened and introduced Count Radun and Vanion to each other.
‘I owe you my life, Lord Vanion,’ Radun said as they shook hands. ‘Please tell me how I can repay you.’
‘Your presence here in Cimmura is ample repayment, my Lord.’
‘Have the other kings joined my nephew as yet?’ the count asked.
‘Obler