Finally! Kalten said, letting out an explosive breath. Sparhawk, why didnt you get word to us to let us know how you were?
Messengers are a little hard to find in Troll-country, Kalten.
Any luck? Ulath asked eagerly. Ulath was a huge, blond-braided Thalesian, and Bhelliom had a special meaning for him.
Sparhawk looked quickly at Sephrenia, silently asking permission.
All right, she said, but only for a minute.
Sparhawk reached down inside his tunic and drew out the canvas pouch in which he carried Bhelliom. He pulled open the drawstring, lifted out the most precious object in the world and placed it on the table Vanion used for a writing desk. Even as he did so, there came again that faint flicker of the darkness somewhere off in a dim corner. The hound of darkness his nightmare had conjured up in the mountains of Thalesia followed him still, and the shadow seemed larger and darker now as if each re-emergence of Bhelliom somehow increased its size and its brooding menace.
Do not look too deeply into those petals, gentlemen, Sephrenia warned. Bhelliom can capture your souls if you look at it too long.
God! Kalten breathed. Look at that thing!
Each glowing petal of the Sapphire Rose was so perfect that one could almost see dew clinging to it. From deep within the jewel emanated a blue light and an almost overpowering command to look upon it and observe its perfection.
Oh, God, Bevier prayed fervently, defend us from the seduction of this stone. Bevier was a Cyrinic Knight and an Arcian. Sometimes Sparhawk felt that he was excessively pious. This, however, was not one of those times. If even half of what he had already sensed was true, Sparhawk knew that Beviers fear of Bhelliom was well placed.
Ulath, the huge Thalesian, was muttering in Troll. Not kill, Bhelliom-Blue-Rose, he said. Church Knights not enemies to Bhelliom. Church Knights protect Bhelliom from Azash. Help make what is wrong right again, Blue-Rose. I am Ulath-from-Thalesia. If Bhelliom have anger, send anger against Ulath.
Sparhawk straightened. No, he said firmly in the hideous Troll-tongue. I am Sparhawk-from-Elenia. I am he who kills Ghwerig-Troll-Dwarf. I am he who brings Bhelliom-Blue-Rose to this place to heal my queen. If Bhelliom-Blue-Rose do this and still have anger, send anger against Sparhawk-from-Elenia and not against Ulath-from-Thalesia.
You fool! Ulath exploded. Have you got any idea of what that thing can do to you?
Wouldnt it do the same sort of things to you?
Gentlemen, please, Sephrenia said to them wearily. Stop this nonsense at once. She looked at the glowing rose on the table. Listen to me, Bhelliom-Blue-Rose, she said firmly, not even bothering to speak in the language of the Trolls. Sparhawk-from-Elenia has the rings. Bhelliom-Blue-Rose must acknowledge his authority and obey him.
The jewel darkened briefly, and then the deep blue light returned.
Good, she said. I will guide Bhelliom-Blue-Rose in what must be done, and Sparhawk-from-Elenia will command it. Blue-Rose must obey.
The jewel flickered, and then the light returned.
Put it away now, Sparhawk.
Sparhawk put the rose back into its pouch and slipped it back under his tunic.
Wheres Flute? Berit asked, looking around.
That, my young friend, is a very, very long story, Sparhawk told him.
Not dead? Sir Tynian asked in a shocked tone. Surely not dead.
No, Sparhawk told him. That would be impossible. Flute is immortal.
No human is immortal, Sparhawk, Bevier protested in a shocked voice.
Exactly, Sparhawk replied. Flutes not human. Shes the Styric Child-Goddess Aphrael.
Heresy! Bevier gasped.
You wouldnt think so if youd been in Ghwerigs cave, Sir Bevier, Kurik told him. I saw her rise from a bottomless abyss with my own eyes.
A spell, perhaps? But Bevier did not seem quite so sure of himself now.
No, Bevier, Sephrenia said. No spell could have accomplished what she did in that cave. She was and is Aphrael.
Before we get involved in a theological dispute here, I need some information, Sparhawk said. How did you all get away from Wargun, and whats happening in the city?
Wargun wasnt really a problem, Vanion told him. We came through Cimmura on our way south, and things went more or less the way wed planned them at Acie. We threw Lycheas into the dungeon, put the Earl of Lenda in charge and persuaded the army and the church soldiers here in Cimmura to march south with us.
How did you manage that? Sparhawk asked with some surprise.
Vanions a very good persuader, Kalten grinned. Most of the generals were loyal to Primate Annias, but when they tried to object, Vanion invoked that Church Law the Earl of Lenda mentioned back at Acie and took command of the army. The generals still objected until he marched them all down to the courtyard. After Ulath had beheaded a few of them, most of the rest decided to change sides.
Oh, Vanion, Sephrenia said in a tone of profound disappointment.
I was a bit pressed for time, little mother, he apologized. Wargun was in a hurry to get started. He wanted to butcher the entire Elenian officer corps, but I talked him out of that. Anyway, we joined with King Soros of Pelosia at the border and marched down into Arcium. The Rendors turned tail and ran when they saw us coming. Wargun intends to chase them down, but I think thats just for his personal entertainment. The other Preceptors and I managed to convince him that our presence in Chyrellos during the election of the new Archprelate was vital, so he let each of us take a hundred knights.
That was generous of him, Sparhawk said sardonically. Where are the knights from the other orders?
Theyre camped outside Demos. Dolmant doesnt want us to move into Chyrellos until the situation there solidifies.
If Lendas in charge at the palace, why are there church soldiers on the walls of the city?
Annias found out what wed done here, of course. There are members of the Hierocracy who are loyal to him, and they all have their own troops. He borrowed some of those men and sent them here. They freed Lycheas and imprisoned the Earl of Lenda. They control the city at the moment.
We ought to do something about that.
Vanion nodded. We were on our way to Demos with the other orders when we chanced to find out what was happening here. The other orders went on to Demos to be in position to move on Chyrellos and we came here to Cimmura. We only arrived late last night. The knights were all eager to go into the city as soon as we got here, but weve been campaigning hard, and theyre all tired. I want them to be a little better rested before we correct things inside the walls.
Are we likely to have any problems?
I doubt it. Those church soldiers arent Anniass men. Theyre on loan from the other Patriarchs, and their loyalties are a little vague. I think a show of force is probably about all its going to take to make them capitulate.
Are the remaining six knights who were involved in the spell in the throne-room among your hundred? Sephrenia asked him.
Yes, Vanion replied a little wanly. Were all here. He looked at the Pandion sword she was carrying. Do you want to give me that? he asked.
Are the remaining six knights who were involved in the spell in the throne-room among your hundred? Sephrenia asked him.
Yes, Vanion replied a little wanly. Were all here. He looked at the Pandion sword she was carrying. Do you want to give me that? he asked.
No, she said firmly. Youre carrying enough already. It isnt going to be much longer anyway.
Youre going to reverse the spell? Tynian asked, before you use Bhelliom to cure the queen, I mean?
We have to, she told him. Bhelliom has to touch her skin in order to cure her.
Kalten went to the window. Its late afternoon now, he said. If were going to do this today, wed better get started.
Lets wait until morning, Vanion decided. If the soldiers try to resist, it might take a while to subdue them, and I dont want any of those people slipping away in the dark to warn Annias until weve had time to get reinforcements here.
How many soldiers are at the palace? Sparhawk asked.
My spies report a couple of hundred, Vanion replied, hardly enough to cause us any problems.
Were going to have to come up with a way to seal the city for a few days if we dont want to see a relief column wearing red tunics coming up the river, Ulath said.
I can take care of that, Talen told him. Ill slip into town just before dark and go and talk to Platime. Hell seal the gates for us.
Can he be trusted? Vanion asked.
Platime? Of course not, but I think hell do that much for us. He hates Annias.
Thats it then, Kalten said gaily. We can move out at dawn and have everything tidied up by lunchtime.
Dont bother to set a place at the table for the bastard Lycheas, Ulath said bleakly, testing the edge of his axe with his thumb. I dont think hes going to have much of an appetite.
Chapter 3
Kurik woke Sparhawk early the following morning and helped him into his formal black armour. Then, carrying his sword-belt and plumed helmet, Sparhawk went to Vanions study to await the dawn and the arrival of the others. This was the day. He had striven towards this day for a half a year and more. Today he would look full into the eyes of his queen, salute her and swear his oath of fealty. A terrible impatience welled up in him. He wanted to get on with it, and he swore at the sluggard sun for its leisurely rising. And then, Annias, he almost purred, you and Martel are going to become no more than footnotes to history.
Did you get hit on the head when you had that fight with Ghwerig? It was Kalten, who was also wearing his formal black armour and who entered with his helmet under his arm.
Not really, Sparhawk replied, why?
Youre talking to yourself. Most people dont do that, you know.
Youre wrong, Kalten. Almost everybody does it. Most of the time, though, it involves rewriting past conversations or planning ones yet to come.
Which were you doing just now?
Neither. I was sort of warning Annias and Martel what to expect.
They couldnt hear you, you know.
Maybe not, but giving them some kind of warning is the knightly thing to do. At least Ill know I said it even if they dont.
I dont think Ill bother with that when I go after Adus, Kalten grinned. Do you have any idea of how long it would take to pound a thought into Adus? Oh, who gets to kill Krager, by the way?
Lets give him to somebody who does something nice for us.
Sounds fair. Kalten paused, and his face grew serious. Is it going to work, Sparhawk? Will Bhelliom really cure Ehlana or have we just been fooling ourselves?
I think its going to work. We have to believe that it will. Bhellioms very, very powerful.
Have you ever used it at all?
Once. I collapsed a ridge-line in the mountains of Thalesia with it.
Why?
It needed to be done. Dont think about Bhelliom, Kalten. Its very dangerous to do that.
Kalten looked sceptical. Are you going to let Ulath shorten Lycheas a bit when we get to the palace? Ulath really enjoys doing that to people or I could hang the bastard, if youd prefer.
I dont know, Sparhawk said. Maybe we should wait and let Ehlana make the decision.
Why bother her with it? Shes probably going to be a little weak after all this, and as her champion, you really ought to try to spare her any exertion. Kalten squinted at Sparhawk. Dont take this wrong, he said, but Ehlana is a woman, after all, and women are notoriously tenderhearted. If we leave it up to her, she may not let us kill him at all. Id rather have him safely dead before she wakes up. Well apologize to her, of course, but its very hard to un-kill somebody, no matter how sorry you are.
Youre a barbarian, Kalten.
Me? Oh, by the way, Vanions got our brothers putting on their armour. We should all be ready by the time the suns up and the people in the city open the gates. Kalten frowned. That might present a problem, though. Therell be church soldiers at the gates, and they may try to slam them shut in our faces when they see us coming.
Thats what battering rams are for, Sparhawk shrugged.
The queen might get a little cross with you if she finds out that youve been knocking down the gates of her capital city.
Well make the church soldiers repair them.
Its honest work right enough, and thats something church soldiers know very little about. Id suggest you take a hard look at that stretch of cobblestones outside our gate before you make any final decisions, though. Church soldiers arent very handy with tools. The big blond man sank into a chair, his armour creaking. Its taken us a long time, Sparhawk, but its almost over now, isnt it?
Very nearly, Sparhawk agreed, and once Ehlanas well again, we can go looking for Martel.
Kaltens eyes brightened. And Annias, he added. I think we should hang him from the arch of the main gate of Chyrellos.
Hes a Church Primate, Kalten, Sparhawk said in a pained voice. You cant do that to him.
We can apologize to him later.
How exactly do you propose to do that?
Iil work something out, Kalten replied in an offhand manner. Maybe we could call it a mistake or something.
The sun had risen by the time they gathered in the courtyard. Vanion, looking pale and drawn, struggled down the stairs with a large case. The swords, he explained tersely to Sparhawk. Sephrenia says well need them when we get to the throne-room.
Cant somebody else carry them for you? Kalten asked him.
No. Theyre my burden. As soon as Sephrenia comes down, well get started.
The small Styric woman seemed very calm, even remote, when she emerged from the chapterhouse with Sir Gareds sword in her hands and with Talen close behind her.
Are you all right? Sparhawk asked her.