The fireplaces were cavernous, and they were all filled with blazing logs, not so much to ward off the minimal chill of the Arjuni winter but to dry out rooms saturated with over a millennium of dank humidity. There were beds and fresh linen and clothing of an Arjuni cut, but most important of all, there was a fair-sized room with a large marble bathtub set into the floor. Ehlanas eyes fixed longingly on that ultimate luxury. It so completely seized her attention that she scarcely heard Zalastas apologies. After a few vague replies from her, the Styric realized that his continued presence was no longer appreciated, so he politely excused himself and left.
Alcan, dear, Ehlana said in an almost dreamy voice, thats quite a large tubcertainly large enough for the two of us, wouldnt you say?
Alcan was also gazing at the tub with undisguised longing.
Easily, your Majesty, she replied.
How long do you think it might take us to heat enough water to fill it?
There are plenty of large pots and kettles in that kitchen, my Queen, the gentle girl said, and all the fireplaces are going. It shouldnt take very long at all.
Wonderful, Ehlana said enthusiastically. Why dont we get started?
Just exactly who is this Klael, Zalasta? Ehlana asked the Styric several days later when he came by to call. Zalasta came to their prison often, as if his visits in some way lessened his guilt, and he always talked, long, rambling, sometimes disconnected talk that often revealed far more than he probably intended for her to know.
Klael is an eternal being, he replied. Ehlana noted almost absently that the heavily accented Elenic which had so irritated her when they had first met in Sarsos was gone now. Another of his ruses, she concluded. Klael is far more eternal than the Gods of this world, he continued. Hes in some way connected to Bhelliom. Theyre contending principles, or something along those lines. I was a bit distraught when Cyrgon explained the relationship, so I didnt fully understand.
Yes, I can imagine, she murmured. Her relationship with Zalasta was peculiar. The circumstances made ranting and denunciation largely a waste of time, so Ehlana was civil to him. He appeared to be grateful for that, and his gratitude made him more open with her. That civility, which cost her nothing, enabled her to pick up much information from the Styrics rambling conversation.
Anyway, Zalasta continued, Cyzada was terrified when Cyrgon commanded him to summon Klael, and he tried very hard to talk the God out of the notion. Cyrgon was implacable, though, and he was filled with rage when Sparhawk neatly plucked the Trolls right out of his grasp. Wed never even considered the possibility that Sparhawk might release the Troll Gods from their confinement.
That was Sir Ulaths idea, Ehlana told him. Ulath knows a great deal about trolls.
Evidently so. At any rate, Cyrgon forced Cyzada to summon Klael, but Klael no sooner appeared than he went in search of Bhelliom. That took Cyrgon aback. It had been his intention to hold Klael in reservein hiding, so to speakand to unleash him by surprise. That went out the window when Klael rushed off to the North Cape to confront Bhelliom. Sparhawk knows that Klael is here nowalthough I have no idea what he can do about it. That was what made the summoning of Klael such idiocy in the first place. Klael cant be controlled. I tried to explain that to Cyrgon, but he wouldnt listen. Our goal is to gain possession of Bhelliom, and Klael and Bhelliom are eternal enemies. As soon as Cyrgon takes Bhelliom in his hands, Klael will attack him, and Im fairly certain that Klael is infinitely more powerful than he is. Zalasta glanced around cautiously. The Cyrgai are in many ways a reflection of their God, Im afraid. Cyrgon abhors any kind of intelligence. Hes frighteningly stupid sometimes.
I hate to point this out, Zalasta, she said insincerely, but you have this tendency to ally yourself with defectives. Annias was clever enough, I suppose, but his obsession with the Archprelacy distorted his judgment, and Martels drive for revenge made his thinking just as distorted. From what I gather, Otha was as stupid as a stump, and Azash was so elemental that all he had on his mind were his desires. Coherent thought was beyond him.
You know everything, dont you, Ehlana? he said. How on earth did you find all of this out?
Im not really at liberty to discuss it, she replied.
No matter, I suppose, he said absently. A sudden hunger crossed his face. How is Sephrenia? he asked.
Well enough. She was very upset when she first found out about you, thoughand your attempt on Aphraels life was really ill-conceived, you know. That was the one thing that convinced her of your treachery.
I lost my head, he confessed. That cursed Delphaeic woman destroyed three hundred years of patient labor with a toss of her head.
I suppose its none of my business, but why didnt you just accept the fact that Sephrenia was wholly committed to Aphrael and let it go at that? Theres no way you can ever compete with the Child Goddess, you know.
Could you have ever accepted the idea that Sparhawk was committed to another, Ehlana? His tone was accusing.
No, she admitted, I suppose I couldnt have. We do strange things for love, dont we, Zalasta? I was at least direct about it, though. Things might have worked out differently for you if you hadnt tried deceit and deception. Aphraels not completely unreasonable, you know.
Perhaps not, he replied. Then he sighed deeply. But well never know, will we?
No. Its far too late now.
The glazier cracked the pane when he was setting it into the frame, my Queen, Alcan said quietly pointing at the defective triangle of bubbled glass in the lower corner of the window. He was very clumsy.
How did you come to know so much about this, Alcan? Ehlana asked her.
My father was apprenticed to a glazier when he was young, the doe-eyed girl replied. He used to repair windows in our village. She touched the tip of the glowing poker to the bead of lead that held the cracked pane in place. Ill have to be very careful, she said, frowning in concentration, but if I do it right I can fix it so that we can take out this little section of glass and put it back inagain. That way, well be able to hear what theyre talking about out there in the street, and then well be able to put the glass back in again so that theyll never know what weve found out. I thought you might want to be able to listen to them, they always seem to gather just outside this window.
How did you come to know so much about this, Alcan? Ehlana asked her.
My father was apprenticed to a glazier when he was young, the doe-eyed girl replied. He used to repair windows in our village. She touched the tip of the glowing poker to the bead of lead that held the cracked pane in place. Ill have to be very careful, she said, frowning in concentration, but if I do it right I can fix it so that we can take out this little section of glass and put it back inagain. That way, well be able to hear what theyre talking about out there in the street, and then well be able to put the glass back in again so that theyll never know what weve found out. I thought you might want to be able to listen to them, they always seem to gather just outside this window.
Youre an absolute treasure, Alcan! Ehlana exclaimed, impulsively embracing the girl.
Be careful, my Lady. Alcan cried in alarm. The hot iron!
Alcan was right. The window with the small defective pane was at the corner of the building, and Zalasta, Scarpa and the others were quartered in the attached structure. It appeared that whenever they wanted to discuss something out of the hearing of the soldiers, they habitually drifted to the walled-in cul-de-sac just outside the window. The small panes of cheap glass leaded late the window-frame were only semi-transparent at best, and so, with minimal caution, Alcans modification of the cracked pane permitted Ehlana to listen and even marginally observe without being seen.
On the day following her conversation with Zalasta, she saw the white-robed Styric approaching with a look of bleakest melancholy on his face and with Scarpa and Krager close behind him.
Youve got to snap out of this, Father, Scarpa said urgently. The soldiers are beginning to notice.
Let them, Zalasta replied shortly.
No, Father, Scarpa said in his rich, theatrical voice, we cant do that. These men are animals. They function below the level of thought. If you walk around through these streets with the air of a little boy whose dog just died, theyre going to think that somethings wrong and theyll start deserting by the regiment. Ive spent too much time and effort gathering this army to have you drive them away by feeling sorry for yourself.
Youd never understand, Scarpa, Zalasta retorted. You cant even begin to comprehend the meaning of love. You dont love anything.
Oh, yes I do, Zalasta, Scarpa snapped. I love me. Thats the only kind of love that makes any sense.
Ehlana just happened to be watching Krager. The drunkards eyes were narrowed, shrewd. He casually moved his ever-present tankard around behind him and poured most of the wine out. Then he raised the tankard and drank off the dregs. Then he belched. Parnme, he slurred, reaching out his hand to the wall to steady himself as he weaved back and forth on his feet.
Scarpa gave him a quick, irritated glance, obviously dismissing him. Ehlana, however, rather quickly re-assessed Krager. He was not always nearly as drunk as he appeared to be.
Its all been for nothing, Scarpa, Zalasta groaned. Ive allied myself with the diseased, the degenerate and the insane for nothing. I had thought that once Aphrael was gone, Sephrenia might turn to me. But she wont. Shed die before shell have anything to do with me.
Scarpas eyes narrowed. Let her die then, he said bluntly. Cant you get it through your head that one womans the same as any other? Women are a commoditylike bales of hay or barrels of wine. Look at Krager here. How much affection do you think he has for an empty wine barrel? Its the new ones, the full ones, that he loves, right, Krager?