Who found him out? Darellon asked.
I did, Sparhawk said. I was riding from Cimmura to Demos. That was shortly before King Aldreas sent me into exile. Theres a patch of woods three leagues this side of Demos. It was just about dusk when I passed those woods, and I saw a strange light back among the trees. I went to investigate and saw Martel. Hed raised some kind of glowing creature. Its light was very bright so bright that I couldnt make out its face.
I dont think youd have wanted to see its face, Sparhawk, Sephrenia told him.
Perhaps not, he agreed. Anyway, Martel was speaking to the creature in Styric, commanding it to do his bidding.
That doesnt seem like anything out of the ordinary, Komier said. Weve all raised spirits or ghosts of one kind or another from time to time.
This was not precisely a spirit, Lord Komier, Sephrenia told him. It was a Damork. The Elder Gods of Styricum created them to serve as slaves to their will. The Damorks have extraordinary powers, but they are soulless. A God can summon them from that unimaginable place where they dwell and control them. For a mortal to attempt that, however, is sheer folly. No mortal can control a Damork. What Martel had done is absolutely forbidden by all of the Younger Gods.
And the Elder Gods? Darellon asked.
The Elder Gods have no rules, my Lord only whims and desires.
Sephrenia, Dolmant pointed out, Martel is an Elene. Perhaps he felt no obligations to observe the prohibitions of the Gods of Styricum.
So long as one is practising the arts of Styricum, one is subject to the Styric Gods, Dolmant, she replied.
I wonder if perhaps it might have been a mistake to arm the Church Knights with Styric magic as well as conventional weapons, Dolmant mused. We seem to be dabbling in an area best left untapped.
That decision was made over nine hundred years ago, your Grace, Abriel reminded him, coming back to the table, and if the Knights of the Church had not been proficient in magic, the Zemochs would have won that battle on the plains of Lamorkand.
Perhaps, Dolmant said.
Go on with your story, Sparhawk, Komier suggested.
Theres not too much more, my Lord. I didnt know what the Damork was until Sephrenia told me about it later, but I knew that it was something we were forbidden to contact. After a while, the thing vanished, and I rode in to talk with Martel. We were friends, and I wanted to warn him that what he was doing was prohibited, but he seemed almost mad somehow. He shrieked at me and told me to mind my own business. That didnt leave me any choice. I rode on to our motherhouse at Demos and reported what Id seen to Vanion and Sephrenia. She told us what the creature was and how dangerous it was to have it loose in the world. Vanion ordered me to take a number of men and to apprehend Martel and to bring him to the motherhouse for questioning. He went completely wild when we approached him, and he went to his sword. Martels very good to begin with, and his madness made him all the more savage. I lost a couple of very close friends that day. We finally managed to overpower him and we dragged him back to the motherhouse in chains.
By the ankles, as I recall, Kalten added. Sparhawk can be very direct when hes irritated. He smiled at his friend. You didnt endear yourself to him by doing it that way, Sparhawk, he said.
I wasnt trying to. Hed just killed two of my friends, and I wanted to give him plenty of reasons to accept my challenge when Vanion was finished with him.
Anyway, Vanion took up the story, when they brought Martel back to Demos, I confronted him. He didnt even try to deny what hed been doing. I ordered him to stop practising the forbidden secrets, and he defied me. I had no choice but to expel him from the order at that point. I stripped him of his knighthood and his armour and turned him out of the front gate.
That could have been a mistake, Komier grunted. Id have had him killed. Did he raise that thing again?
Vanion nodded. Yes, but Sephrenia appealed to the Younger Gods of Styricum and they exorcized it. Then they stripped Martel of the most significant of his powers. He went away weeping and swearing revenge upon us all. Hes still dangerous, but at least he cant summon up horrors any more. He left Elenia and hes been hiring his sword out to the highest bidder in other parts of the world for the past ten or twelve years.
Hes just a common mercenary then? Darellon asked. The slender Alcione Preceptor had an intent look on his narrow face.
Not quite common, my Lord, Sparhawk disagreed. Hes had Pandion training. He could have been the very best of us, and hes very clever. He has wide contacts with mercenaries all over Eosia. He can raise an army at a moments notice and hes totally ruthless. I dont believe that Martel believes in anything any more.
What does he look like? Darellon asked.
A little bigger than medium size, Kalten replied. Hes about the same age as Sparhawk and me, but hes got white hair he has had since he was in his twenties.
I think we might all want to keep an eye out for him, Abriel suggested. Whos the other one Adus?
Adus is an animal, Kalten told him. After Martel was expelled from the Pandions, he recruited Adus and a man named Krager to help him in his activities. Adus is a Pelosian, I think or maybe a Lamork. He can barely talk, so his accent is a little hard to identify. Hes a total savage, devoid of human feelings. He enjoys killing people slowly and hes very good at it.
And the other one? Komier asked. Krager?
Kragers fairly intelligent, Sparhawk replied. Basically, hes a criminal false coins, extortion, fraud, that sort of thing but hes weak. Martel trusts him to perform tasks that Adus wouldnt be able to understand.
Whats the link between Annias and Martel? Count Radun asked.
Probably nothing more than money, my Lord. Sparhawk shrugged. Martel is for hire and he has no strong convictions about anything. There are rumours that he has about a half-ton of gold hidden somewhere.
I was right, Komier said bluntly. You should have killed him, Vanion.
I made the offer, Sparhawk said, but Vanion said no.
I had reasons, Vanion said.
Was there anything significant about the fact that there were Rendors in the party that attacked Count Raduns house? Abriel asked then.
Probably not, Sparhawk replied. Ive just come back from Rendor. Theres a pool of mercenaries there in the same way that there is in Pelosia, Lamorkand, and Cammoria. Martel draws on those people whenever he needs men. Rendorish mercenaries have no particular religious convictions, Eshandist or otherwise.
Do we have enough evidence against Annias to take before the Hierocracy in Chyrellos? Darellon asked.
I dont think so, Patriarch Dolmant said. Annias has bought many voices in the higher councils of the Church. Any charges we might bring against him would have to be supported by overwhelming proof. All we have now is an overheard conversation between Krager and Baron Harparin. Annias could wriggle out of that rather easily or simply buy his way out of it.
Komier leaned back in his chair, tapping at his chin with one finger. I think the Patriarch has just put his finger on the key to the whole affair. As long as Annias has his hands on the Elenian treasury, he can finance these schemes of his and continue to buy support in the Hierocracy. If we arent careful, hell bribe his way to the Archprelacy. Weve all stood in his path from time to time, and Id guess that his first act as Archprelate would be to disband all four militant orders. Is there any way we can cut off his access to those funds?
Komier leaned back in his chair, tapping at his chin with one finger. I think the Patriarch has just put his finger on the key to the whole affair. As long as Annias has his hands on the Elenian treasury, he can finance these schemes of his and continue to buy support in the Hierocracy. If we arent careful, hell bribe his way to the Archprelacy. Weve all stood in his path from time to time, and Id guess that his first act as Archprelate would be to disband all four militant orders. Is there any way we can cut off his access to those funds?
Vanion shook his head. He controls the Royal Council except for the Earl of Lenda. They vote him all the money he needs.
What about your Queen? Darellon asked. Did he control her too before she fell ill, I mean?
Not even a little, Vanion replied. Aldreas was a weak king who did anything Annias told him to do. Ehlanas an altogether different matter, and she despises Annias. He shrugged. But shes ill, and Annias will have a free hand until she recovers.
Abriel began to pace up and down, his lined face deep in thought. That would seem to be our logical course then, gentlemen. We must bend all of our efforts to finding a cure for Queen Ehlanas illness.
Darellon leaned back, his fingers tapping on the polished table. Annias is very cunning, he observed. He will easily guess what our course is likely to be and hes certain to try to block us. Even if we succeed in finding a cure, wont that immediately put the Queens life in danger?
Sparhawk is her Champion, my Lord, Kalten told him. He can cope particularly if Im there to back him up.
Are you making any progress on a cure, Vanion? Komier asked.
The local physicians are all baffled, Vanion replied. Ive sent out requests for others, though, but most of them havent arrived as yet.
Physicians dont always respond to requests, Abriel noted. This might be particularly true in a situation where the head of the Royal Council has a certain interest in not seeing the Queen recover. He considered the problem. The Cyrinics have many contacts in Cammoria, he said. Have you considered taking your Queen to the medical faculty at the University of Borrata in that kingdom? Theyre reputed to be experts in obscure ailments.
I dont think we dare dissolve the encasement that surrounds her, Sephrenia said. At the moment its all that sustains her life. She could not survive a trip to Borrata.
The Preceptor of the Cyrinic Knights nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps youre right, madame, he said.
Not only that, Vanion added. Annias would never let us take her out of the palace.
Abriel nodded bleakly. He considered it for a moment. Theres an alternative. Its not as good as having the physician actually look at the patient, but sometimes it works or so Ive been told. A skilled physician can learn a great deal from a detailed description of symptoms. That would be my suggestion, Vanion. Write down everything you know about Queen Ehlanas illness and send someone to Borrata with the documents.
Ill take it, Sparhawk said quietly. I have certain personal reasons for wanting the Queen restored to health. Besides, Martels in Cammoria or at least hes reputed to be and he and I have a few things to discuss.
That raises another point, Abriel said. Theres a great deal of turmoil in Cammoria right now. Someones been stirring up civil unrest there. Its not the safest place in the world.
Komier leaned back again. What would you gentlemen say to a little show of unity? he said to the other preceptors.
What did you have in mind? Darellon asked.
Id say that we all have a stake in this, Komier replied. Our common goal is to keep Annias off the Archprelates throne. We all have champions who stand above their comrades in skill and bravery. I think it might be a good idea for us each to select one of those champions and send him to join Sparhawk in Cammoria. The assistance couldnt hurt, and the sending of men from all four orders would convince the world that the Church Knights stand as one in this matter.
Very good, Komier, Darellon agreed. The militant orders have had their differences in the past few centuries, and too many people still think that were divided. He turned to Abriel. Have you any idea whos behind the trouble in Cammoria? he asked.
Many believe that its Otha, the Cyrinic replied. Hes been infiltrating the central kingdoms for the past six months or so.
You know, Komier said, Ive got a strong feeling that someday were going to have to do something about Otha something fairly permanent.
That would involve coming up against Azash, Sephrenia said, and Im not sure we want to do that.
Cant the Younger Gods of Styricum do something about him? Komier asked her.
They choose not to, she replied. The wars of men are bad enough, but a war between the Gods would be dreadful beyond imagining. She looked at Dolmant. The God of the Elenes is reputed to be all-powerful, she said. Couldnt the Church appeal to Him to confront Azash?
Its possible, I suppose, the Patriarch said. The only problem is that the Church does not admit the existence of Azash or any other Styric God. Its a matter of theology.
How very shortsighted.
Dolmant laughed. My dear Sephrenia, he said. I thought you knew that was the nature of the ecclesiastical mind. Were all like that. We find one truth and embrace it. Then we close our eyes to everything else. It avoids confusion. He looked at her curiously. Tell me, Sephrenia, which heathen God do you worship?
Im not permitted to say, she answered gravely. I can tell you that its not a God, though. I serve a Goddess.
A female deity? What an absurd idea.
Only to a man, Dolmant. Women find it very natural.
Is there anything else you think we ought to know, Vanion? Komier asked.
I think weve just about covered everything, Komier. Vanion looked at Sparhawk. Anything you want to add? he asked.
Sparhawk shook his head. No, he said. I dont think so.
What about the Styric who set the church soldiers on us? Kalten asked.
Sparhawk grunted. Id almost forgotten that, he admitted. It was at about the time that I heard Krager and Harparin talking. Kalten and I were wearing disguises, but there was a Styric who saw through them. Not long after that, we were attacked by some of Annias people.
You think theres a connection? Komier asked.
Sparhawk nodded. The Styric had been following me around for several days, and Im fairly sure he was the one who pointed Kalten and me out to the soldiers. That would connect him to Annias.
Its pretty thin, Sparhawk. Annias has some fairly well-known prejudices where Styrics are concerned.
Not so many that he wouldnt seek out their help if he thought he needed it. On two occasions Ive caught him using magic.
A churchman? Dolmants expression was startled. Thats strictly forbidden.
So was plotting the murder of Count Radun, your Grace. I dont think Annias pays too much attention to the rules. Hes not much of a magician, but the fact that he knows how its done indicates that hes had instruction, and that means a Styric.