Youre not supposed to do it that way.
It worked, didnt it?
Its a question of style, Sparhawk. Im technically in charge here, and I dont know what Bhelliom and the Troll-Gods are going to think of me after that.
He laughed, and then gently put Bhelliom back into its box. Nice job, he told it. They were going to have to work together, after all, and a little encouragement now and then never hurt. Then he firmly closed the lid.
Its time for some speculation, gentlemen, he said to the others. What can we make of this?
They know where we are, for one thing, Talen offered.
It could be the rings again, Sephrenia noted. Thats what happened last time. The cloudand the shadowwere concentrating on Sparhawk and Ehlana right at first because they had the rings.
Bhellioms closed up inside the box, Sparhawk said, and so are the Troll-Gods.
Are they still inside the jewel? Ulath asked him.
Oh, yes, Sparhawk said. I could definitely feel them when I took Bhelliom out. He looked at Aphrael, phrasing his next question carefully. There were still some things that needed to be concealed. Ive heard that a God can be in more than one place at the same time. He left it a little tentative.
Yes, she replied.
Does that apply to the Troll-Gods as well?
She struggled with it. Im not sure, she admitted. Its a fairly complicated business, and the Troll-Gods are quite limited.
Does this box confine them in the same way that chain-mail pouch did back in Zemoch?
She shook her head. Its different. When theyre encased in gold that way, they dont know where they are.
Does that make a difference?
You have to know where you are before you can go someplace else.
Ill take your word for it. He made a face. I think we may have blundered again, he said sourly.
How so? Bevier asked him.
We dont really have any absolute proof that the Troll-Gods are in league with our enemy. If theyre trapped inside this box with Bhelliom and cant get out, they couldnt be, could they?
That was Ghworg in the mountains of Atan, Ulath insisted. That means that hes out and about at least.
Are you sure, Ulath? Those peasants around the bonfire were convinced that the big fellow in the ancient armor was Incetes too, you know.
All the evidence points to it, Sparhawk. Everything weve seen this time is just like it was last time, and it was the Troll-Gods then, wasnt it?
Im not even positive about that any more.
Well, something had to have enough authority over the Trolls to make them migrate from Thalesia to the north coast of Atan.
Just how smart do you have to be in order to be a Troll? Im not saying that it was something as crude as the hoax Rebal foisted off on those peasants, but... Sparhawk left it hanging.
That would be a fairly complex hoax, dear one, Sephrenia murmured.
But not quite impossible, little mother. Ill drop the whole line of thought if youll just tell me that what Im suggesting is impossible.
Dont throw it away just yet, she said, her face troubled.
Aphrael, Sparhawk said, will this gold box keep our friend out there from being able to locate Bhelliom?
She nodded. The gold shields it. He cant hear it or feel it, so he cant just move toward the sound or the sense of it.
And if I put Ehlanas ring in there as well? Would the box shield that too?
Yes, but your own rings still out in the open where he can feel its location.
One thing at a time. He touched his ring to the lid of the box. Open, he said.
The latch clicked, and the lid raised slightly. Sparhawk removed Ehlanas ring from his finger and put it inside the box. You look after it for a while, he told the Bhelliom.
Please dont do that, Sparhawk, Vanion told him with a pained look.
Do what?
Talk to it like that. You make it sound like a real being.
Sorry, Vanion. It helps a little if I think of it that way. Bhelliom definitely has its own personality. He closed the lid and felt the latch click.
AhFlute? Khalad said a bit tentatively.
Yes?
Is it the box that keeps Bhelliom hidden? Or is it the fact that the box is made out of gold?
Its the gold, Khalad. Theres something about gold that muffles Bhelliom and hides it.
And it works on Queen Ehlanas ring as well?
She nodded. I cant hear or feel a thing. She stretched her open palm out toward the box Sparhawk was holding. Nothing at all, she confirmed. I can feel his ring, though.
Put a golden glove on him, Kalten shrugged.
How much money did you bring along, Sir Kalten? Khalad asked. Golds expensive, you know. He squinted at Sparhawks ring.
I dont have to cover his whole hand, he said, just the ring itself.
Ill have to be able to get at it in a hurry, Khalad, Sparhawk cautioned.
Let me work on it. Does anyone have a gold florin? That would be about the right size.
They all opened their purses. Kalten looked around hopefully, then sighed. he reached into his purse. You owe me a gold florin, Sparhawk, he said, handing the coin to Khalad.
Im in your debt, Kalten, Sparhawk smiled.
You certainly areone gold florins worth. Shall we move on? Its starting to get chilly out here.
The wind had come up, gusty at first, but blowing steadily stronger. They followed the trail on down the slope until they were riding along the upper edge of a long, sandy beach with the wind screaming and tearing at them and the salt spray stinging their faces.
This is more than just a gale! Ulath shouted over the screaming wind. I think weve got a hurricane brewing.
Isnt it too early for hurricanes? Kalten shouted.
It is in Eosia, Ulath shouted back.
The shrieking of the wind grew louder, and they rode with their cloaks pulled tightly about them.
Wed better get in out of this, Vanion yelled. Theres a ruined farmstead just ahead. He squinted through the driving spray. Its got stone walls, so it should give us some kind of shelter from the wind.
They pushed their horses into a gallop and reached the ruin in a few minutes. The moldering buildings were half buried in weeds, and the windows of the unroofed structures seemed to stare down from the walls like blind eyes. The house had completely tumbled in, so Sparhawk and the others dismounted in the yard and led their nervous horses into what had evidently been the barn. The floor was littered with the rotting remains of the roof, and there were bird-droppings in the corners.
How long does a hurricane usually last? Vanion asked.
A day or two, Ulath shrugged. Three at the most.
I wouldnt make any wagers on this one, Bevier said. It came up just a little too quickly to suit me, and its forced us to take shelter. Were pinned down in these ruins, you know.
Hes right, Berit agreed. Dont we almost have to assume that somebodys raised this storm to delay us?
Kalten gave him a flat, unfriendly stare, a fair indication that he had not yet shaken off his suspicions about the young man and Queen Ehlanas maid.
I dont think its going to be much of a problem, Ulath said. As soon as we get back on board that ship, well be able to outrun the hurricane.
Aphrael was shaking her head.
Whats wrong? he asked her.
That ship wasnt built to ride out a hurricane. As a matter of fact, Ive already sent it back to where it came from.
Without even telling us? Vanion objected.
My decision, Vanion. The ships no good to us in this kind of weather, so there was no point in putting the crew in danger.
It seemed well made to me, Ulath objected. The builders must have taken high winds into account when they designed her.
She shook her head. The wind doesnt blow where that ship came from.
There are winds everywhere, Flute, he pointed out. Theres no place on this entire world where the wind doesnt blow now and... He broke off and stared at her. Where does that ship come from?
Thats really none of your business, Sir Knight. I can bring it back after the storm passes.
If it passes, Kalten added. And I wouldnt be at all surprised that when it does, this broken-down barns going to be surrounded by several thousand armed fanatics.
They all looked at each other.
I think maybe wed better move on, storm or no storm, Vanion said. He looked at Flute. Can you still... ? I mean, will this wind interfere?
It wont make it any easier, she admitted glumly.
I dont want you to hurt yourself, Sephrenia told her.
Flute waved her hand as if brushing it aside. Dont worry about me, Sephrenia.
Dont try to hide things from me, young lady. Sephrenias tone was stern. I know exactly what all this winds going to do to you.
And I know exactly what trying to carry it around will do to our mysterious friend out there. Trying to chase us with a hurricane on his back will exhaust him far more than carrying ten people on horseback will exhaust meand Im faster than he is. They dont call me the nimble Goddess for nothing, you know. I can run even faster than Talen, if I have to. Where would you like to go, Lord Vanion?
The Preceptor looked around at them. Back to Jorsan?
Its probably as good as any place in a hurricane, Kalten said At least the beds are dry.
And the beer is wet? Ulath smiled.
That did sort of enter into my thinking, Kalten admitted.
The wind shrieked around the corners of the building, but the inn was a sturdy stone structure, and the windows had stout shutters. Sparhawk chafed at the delay, but there was no help for it.
Sephrenia had put Flute to bed immediately upon their return to the inn, and she hovered over the little girl protectively.
Shes really concerned, Vanion reported. I guess there are limits after all. Flutes trying to make light of it, but I know exhaustion when I see it.
She wont die, will she? Talen asked in a shocked voice.
She cant die, Talen, Vanion replied. She can be destroyed, but she cant die.
Whats the difference?
Im not sure, Vanion admitted. I am sure that shes very very tired. We shouldnt have let her do that. He looked around the hallway outside the room where Sephrenia was tending the weary little Goddess. Wheres Kalten? he asked.
He and Ulath are down in the tap-room, my Lord, Bevier replied.
I should have known, I guess. One of you might remind them that I wont go easy on them if theyre unwell when we set out, though.
They went on downstairs again and periodically checked the weather outside. If anything, the wind actually began to blow harder. Sparhawk finally went back up and knocked lightly on the door to Sephrenias room. Could I have a word with Flute? he asked when his tutor came to the door.