Right, Talen said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He scurried off down the street.
Good lad there, Kalten said, in spite of his bad habits. He frowned. How do you know this inn has a back door? he asked.
Every inn has a back door, Kalten in case of fire if nothing else.
I guess I hadnt thought of that.
When Talen returned, he was running as hard as he could. There were about ten men chasing him; in the lead, roaring unintelligibly, was Adus.
Look out! Talen shouted as he ran past.
Sparhawk and Kalten whipped their swords out from under their cloaks and stepped slightly apart to meet the charge. The men following Adus were shabbily dressed and carried a variety of weapons, rusty swords, axes, and spiked maces. Kill them! Adus bellowed, slowing slightly and waving his men on.
The fight was short. The men rushing up the narrow street appeared to be common waterfront roughnecks, and they were no match for the two trained knights. Four of them were down before the others realized that they had made a tactical blunder. Two more collapsed onto the bloody stones before the rest could turn to flee. Then Sparhawk leapt over the sprawled bodies and rushed at Adus. The brute parried the knights first stroke, then seized his sword hilt in both hands and flailed at Sparhawk with it. Sparhawk easily deflected those blows and countered deftly, inflicting painful cuts and bruises on his opponents mailed ribs and shoulders. After a moment, Adus fled, running hard and clutching at his side with a bloody hand.
Why didnt you chase him? Kalten demanded, coming up puffing and with his blood-smeared sword still in his hand.
Because Adus can run faster than I can, Sparhawk shrugged. Ive known that for years.
Talen came back down the street, breathing hard. He looked admiringly at the hacked and bleeding bodies sprawled on the cobblestones. Well done, my Lords, he congratulated them.
What happened? Sparhawk asked.
I went on past the inn. Talen shrugged. Then I went around the back. That big one who just got away was hiding in the alley with these others. He made a grab for me, but I dodged. Then I ran.
Good thinking. Kalten said.
Sparhawk sheathed his sword. Lets get away from here, he said.
Why not follow Adus? Kalten asked.
Because theyre setting traps for us. Martels using Krager as bait to lead us around by the nose. Thats probably why we keep finding him so easily.
Would that mean that they can recognize me as well? Talen sounded shocked.
Probably, Sparhawk said. They found out that you were working for me in Cimmura, remember? Krager probably knew that you were following him around and gave your description to Adus. Adus may not have a brain, but his eyes are sharp. He muttered an oath. Martels even more clever than I thought, and hes starting to irritate me.
Its about time, Kalten murmured as they started back up the crooked street.
PART THREEChapter 17
A purple twilight was settling in the narrow streets of Madel, and the stars were coming out. Sparhawk, Kalten, and Talen moved through the narrow, crooked streets, frequently turning corners and occasionally even doubling back to throw off anyone who might possibly be following them.
Arent we being just a little overcautious? Kalten said after about a half-hour.
Lets not take any chances with Martel, Sparhawk replied. Hes entirely capable of throwing a few people away just for the chance to hunt us down. Id rather not wake up in the middle of the night to find Lyciens house surrounded by mercenaries.
Youve got a point there, I suppose.
They slipped out through the west gate of Madel as the light faded even more. In here, Sparhawk said as they passed a thicket some distance up the road. Lets wait for a while and make sure that no ones trying to follow us.
They crouched down among the rustling saplings and peered back along the road leading down to the city. A sleepy bird somewhere in the thicket muttered complainingly, and then an ox cart with creaking wheels passed, rumbling slowly down the road towards Madel.
Its not too likely that anybodys going to leave town this close to nightfall, is it? Kalten asked quietly.
Thats what Im counting on, Sparhawk told him. Anybody who comes out now probably has serious business.
And the business could be us, right?
Its altogether possible.
A creaking sound came from the city, followed by a dull boom and the rattling of a heavy chain.
Theyve just closed the gate, Talen whispered.
That was what I was waiting for, Sparhawk said, rising to his feet. Lets go.
They emerged from the thicket and continued on along the road. Stands of trees loomed up out of the darkness on either side, and clumps of shadowy bushes lined the edges of the fields stretching off into the night. Talen nervously stayed close to the two knights, his eyes darting this way and that.
Whats the matter, boy? Kalten asked him.
Ive never been out in the countryside after dark before, Talen explained. Is it always this black?
The blond man shrugged. Thats why they call it night.
Why doesnt somebody put up some torches? Talen complained.
What for? So the rabbits can see where theyre going?
Lyciens house stood in the deep shadows of the surrounding evergreens with only a single torch at the gate. Talen was visibly relieved when they walked into the gravelled yard in front of the entrance.
Any luck? Tynian asked, emerging from the main entrance.
We ran into some trouble, Sparhawk replied. Lets go inside.
I told you that you should have let the rest of us come along, the bulky-shouldered Alcione said accusingly as they entered the building.
It wasnt that much trouble, Kalten assured him.
The others were waiting in the large room to which Lycien had first led them. Sephrenia rose to her feet, looking closely at the blood spatters on the two Pandions cloaks. Are you all right? she asked, her voice mirroring her concern.
We ran into a group of sportive fellows, Kalten replied lightly. He looked down at his cloak. The blood is all theirs.
What happened? she asked Sparhawk.
Adus tried to ambush us when we got to the inn, he told her. He had a group of waterfront toughs with him. He paused reflectively. You know, weve been running across Krager just about every time we turn around. Once or even twice might have been sheer coincidence, but its starting to happen just a little too frequently, and every time we try to follow him, theres some kind of ambush.
You think its deliberate? Tynian asked.
Its beginning to look that way, isnt it?
Would this Martel put a friend in such danger? Bevier sounded surprised.
Martel doesnt have any friends, Sparhawk told him. Adus and Krager are hirelings, nothing more. Theyre useful, but he feels no particular attachment for them. I dont think hed shed many tears if something happened to Krager. He began to pace up and down, staring thoughtfully at the floor. Maybe we can turn the tables on him. He looked at Kalten. Why dont you let yourself be seen in the streets of Madel? he suggested. Dont take too many chances, but let people know youre in town.
Martel doesnt have any friends, Sparhawk told him. Adus and Krager are hirelings, nothing more. Theyre useful, but he feels no particular attachment for them. I dont think hed shed many tears if something happened to Krager. He began to pace up and down, staring thoughtfully at the floor. Maybe we can turn the tables on him. He looked at Kalten. Why dont you let yourself be seen in the streets of Madel? he suggested. Dont take too many chances, but let people know youre in town.
Why not? Kalten shrugged.
Tynian grinned. Martel and his hirelings dont know the rest of us, so we can sort of loiter along behind Kalten without attracting attention. Is that the idea?
Sparhawk nodded. If they think Kaltens alone, it might bring them out into the open. Im getting a little tired of Martels game, so maybe its time for us to play a few of our own. He looked at Beviers cousin. How excited do the local authorities get about street brawls, my Lord? he asked.
Lycien laughed. Madel is a seaport, Sir Sparhawk. Brawling is second nature to sailors. The authorities dont pay much attention to their little scuffles except to remove the bodies, of course. Public sanitation, you understand.
Good. Sparhawk looked at his friends. You may not get a chance at Krager or Adus, but you might be able to divide Martels attention. That could be what it takes to get Kurik and Sephrenia and me aboard a ship unnoticed. Id rather not have to keep looking over my shoulder when we get to Cippria.
About the only tricky part is going to be getting you to the harbour without being seen, Kalten said.
It wont be necessary to go to the harbour, Lycien said. I have some warehouses on the river about five miles from here. A fair number of independent sea captains deliver cargoes to me there, and Im sure arrangements for your passage can be made without any need for going into the city.
Thank you, my Lord, Sparhawk said. That solves a problem.
When do you plan to leave? Tynian asked.
I dont see much point in delaying.
Tomorrow, then?
Sparhawk nodded.
I need to talk with you, Sparhawk, Sephrenia said. Would you mind coming to my room?
He followed her out of the door, slightly puzzled. Is it something we cant discuss in front of the others? he asked her.
It might be better if they dont hear us arguing.
Are we going to argue?
Probably. She opened the door to her room and led him inside. Flute sat cross-legged on the bed, her dark eyebrows knit in concentration as she wove the intricate mesh of a cats cradle out of a strand of wool yarn. It was far more complex than the one Talen had made when he had demonstrated it to her. She looked up, smiled at them, and proudly extended her little hands to show them her handiwork.
Shell be going with us, Sephrenia said.
Absolutely not! Sparhawk said sharply.
I told you wed argue about this.
Its an absurd idea, Sephrenia.
We all do many absurd things, dear one. She smiled affectionately at him.
Dont do that, he said. Youre not going to win me over that way.
Dont be tiresome, Sparhawk. Youve been around her long enough to know that she always does what she decides to do, and shes decided that shes going with us to Rendor.
She wont if I have anything to say about it.
Thats the whole point, Sparhawk. You dont. Youre dealing with something you cant understand. Shes going to come with us in the end anyway, so why not just give in gracefully?
Gracefulness is not one of my strong points.
Ive noticed.
All right, Sephrenia, he said flatly. Just who is she, anyway? You recognized her the first moment we saw her, didnt you?
Of course.
Why of course? Shes only about six years old, and you havent left us Pandions for generations. How could you possibly know her?
She sighed. Elene logic always clouds an issue with facts. The child and I are kindred in a rather peculiar sense of the word. We know each other in a way you couldnt begin to comprehend.
Thanks, he said dryly.
Im not belittling your intelligence, dear one, she told him, but theres a part of Styric life youre not prepared to accept either intellectually or philosophically.
He frowned slightly, his eyes narrowed in thought. All right, Sephrenia, he said, let me have a try at the Elene logic youre so fond of dismissing. Flute is a child, hardly more than a baby.
The little girl made a face at him.
He ignored that and went on. She suddenly appeared in an uninhabited region near the Arcian border far from any kind of human habitation. We tried to leave her at that nunnery south of Darra, and she not only managed to escape but also got a goodly distance ahead of us even though we were travelling at a gallop. Then she somehow managed to persuade Faran to let her on his back, and Faran wont let anybody near him except me unless I tell him to. When she met Dolmant, you could tell by his face that he sensed something very unusual about her. Not only that, you bully full-grown knights like a drill-sergeant, but any time Flute decides to do something or go someplace, you give in without a fight. Wouldnt you say that all of that suggests that shes not an ordinary child?
Youre the one whos exercising this logic. I wouldnt dream of interfering.
All right then. Lets see where logic takes us. Ive seen a fair number of Styrics. With the exception of you and the other magicians, theyre all fairly primitive and not very bright no offence intended, of course.
Of course. Her expression was amused.
Since weve already established the fact that Flute is not an ordinary child, what does that leave us?
What would be your guess, Sparhawk?
Since shes not ordinary, she must be special. In Styricum, that can only mean one thing. Shes a magician. Nothing else could explain her.
She applauded ironically. Excellent, Sparhawk, she congratulated him.
But thats impossible, Sephrenia. Shes only a child. She hasnt had time to learn the secrets.
Some few are born with that knowledge. Besides, shes older than she looks.
How old?
You know that I wont tell you that. The knowledge of the exact moment of ones birth can be a powerful weapon in the hands of an enemy.
A disturbing thought came to him. Youre preparing for your own death, arent you, Sephrenia? If we fail, the twelve Pandions who were in the throne room with you will die one by one, and then youll die, too. Youre preparing Flute to be your successor.
She laughed. Now that, dear Sparhawk, is a very interesting idea. Im surprised you came up with it, considering the fact that youre an Elene.
Thats a very irritating habit youve picked up lately, you know? Dont try to be mysterious with me, Sephrenia, and dont treat me like a child just because Im an Elene.
Ill try to remember that. Youll agree to let her come with us, then?
Do I have any choice?
No. As a matter of fact, you dont.