No. Absolutely not, she whispered. I just got her to sleep. She came out into the hallway, closed the door, and set her back protectively against it.
Im not going to hurt her, Sephrenia.
You can make safe wagers on that all over Daresia, she told him with a steely glint in her eyes. What did you want to ask her?
Could I use Bhelliom to break up this storm?
Probably.
Why dont I do that, then?
Did you want to destroy Jorsan?and kill everybody in town?
He stared at her.
You have no real idea of the kind of forces involved in weather, have you, Sparhawk?
Well, sort of, he said.
No, I dont think you do, dear one. Whoever raised this hurricane is very powerful, and he knows exactly what hes doing, but his hurricane is still a natural force. You could use Bhelliom to break it up, certainly, but if you do, youll release all that pent-up force at one time and in one place. You wouldnt even be able to find pieces of Jorsan after the dust settled.
Maybe Id better drop the idea.
I would. Now run along. I have to keep watch over Aphrael.
Sparhawk went back down the hallway feeling a little like a small boy who had just been sent to his room.
Ulath was coming up the stairs. Have you got a minute, Sparhawk? he asked.
Of course.
I think youd better keep a close eye on Kalten.
Oh?
Hes beginning to have some murderous thoughts about Berit.
Is it getting out of hand?
You knew about it, then?about the feelings he has for your wifes maid? Sparhawk nodded. The more he drinks, the worse its going to get, you know and theres nothing else to do during this storm except drink. Is there any real substance to those suspicions of his?
Is it getting out of hand?
You knew about it, then?about the feelings he has for your wifes maid? Sparhawk nodded. The more he drinks, the worse its going to get, you know and theres nothing else to do during this storm except drink. Is there any real substance to those suspicions of his?
No. He just pulled them out of the air. The girls very, very fond of him, actually.
I sort of thought that might be the case. Berit was already having enough trouble with the Emperors wife without going in search of more. Does Kalten do this very often? Fall desperately in love, I mean?
So far as I know, its the first time. Hes always sort of taken affection where he could find it.
Thats the safest way, Ulath agreed. But since hes waited so long, this is hitting him very hard. Wed better do what we can to keep him and Berit apart until we get back to Matherion and Alcan has the chance to straighten it out.
Khalad came down the hallway to join them. Sparhawks squire had a slightly disgusted look on his face. He held up Kaltens florin. This isnt going to work, Sparhawk, he said. I could cover the stone with it easily enough, but itd probably take you a half-hour to pry it open again so that you could use the ring. Im going to have to come up with something else. Youd better give me the ring. Im going to have to go talk with a goldsmith, and Ill need precise measurements.
Sparhawk felt a great reluctance to part with the ring. Cant you just.... ?
Khalad shook his head. Whatever the goldsmith and I decide on will have to be fitted anyway. I guess it gets down to how much you trust me at this point, Sparhawk.
Sparhawk sighed. You had to put it on that basis, didnt you Khalad?
I thought it would be the quickest way, my Lord. Khalad held out his hand, and Sparhawk removed the ring and gave it to him. Thank you, Khalad smiled. Your faith in me is very touching.
Well said, Ulath murmured.
Later, after Sparhawk and Ulath had carried Kalten upstairs and put him to bed, they all gathered in the common-room for supper. Sparhawk spoke briefly with the innkeeper and had Sephrenias meal taken upstairs to her.
Wheres Talen? Bevier asked, looking around.
He said he was going out for a breath of fresh air, Berit replied.
In a hurricane?
I think hes just restless.
Or he wants to go steal something, Ulath added.
The door to the inn banged open, and the wind blew Talen inside. He was wearing doublet and hose under his cloak, and a rapier at his side. The weapon did not seem to encumber him very much. He set his back against the door and strained to push it shut. He was soaked through, and his face was streaming water. He was grinning broadly, however.
I just solved a mystery, he laughed, coming across to where they sat.
Oh? Ulath asked.
What would it be worth to you gentlemen to know Rebals real identity?
How did you manage that? Berit demanded.
Sheer luck, actually. I was outside looking around. The wind blew me down a narrow lane and pinned me up against the door of the shop at the end. I thought Id step inside to get my breath, and the first thing I saw in there was a familiar face. Our mysterious Rebals a respected shopkeeper here in Jorsan. He told me so himself. He doesnt look nearly as impressive when hes wearing an apron.
A shopkeeper? Bevier asked incredulously.
Yes indeed, Sir Knightone of the pillars of the community, to hear him tell it. Hes even a member of the town council.
Did you manage to get his name? Vanion asked.
Of course, my Lord. He introduced himself just as soon as the wind blew me through the door. His names Amador. I even bought something from him just to keep him talking.
What does he deal in? Berit asked.
Talen reached inside his tunic and drew out a bright pink strip of cloth, wet and somewhat bedraggled. Isnt it pretty? he said. I think Ill dry it out and give it to Flute.
Youre not serious, Vanion laughed. Is that really what he sells?
May muh tongue turn green iffn it aint, yer Preceptorship, the boy replied, imitating Caaladors dialect. The man here in Edam who has all the Tamuls trembling in their boots is a ribbon clerk. Can you imagine that? and he collapsed in a chair, laughing uproariously.
How does it work? Sparhawk asked the next day, turning the ring over and looking at the underside.
Its the mounting of one of those rings people use when they want to poison other peoples food or drink, Khalad replied. I had the goldsmith take it off the original ring and mount it on ours so that the cover fits over the ruby. Theres a little hinge on this side of the mounting and a latch on the other. All you have to do is touch the latchright here. he pointed at a tiny lever half concealed under the massive-looking setting. The hinge has a little spring, so this gold cap pops open. he touched the lever, and the half-globe covering the ruby snapped up to reveal the stone. Are you sure that the ring will work if youre only touching Bhelliom with the band? With that cap in the way, touching the stone to anything might be a little tricky.
The band does the job, Sparhawk replied. This is very clever, Khalad.
Thank you. I made the goldsmith wash out all the poison before we installed it on your ring.
The old ring had been used?
Oh, yes. One of the heirs of the Edomish noblewoman whod previously owned it sold it to the goldsmith after she died. I guess she had a lot of enemies. She did at first, anyway. Khalad chuckled. The goldsmith was very disappointed with me. He really wanted to be alone with your ring for a while. That rubys worth quite a lot. I didnt think Bhelliom would respond to a piece of red glass, though, so I kept a close eye on him. Youd probably better find out if the ring will still open the box anyway, just to be on the safe side. If it doesnt, Ill go back to the goldsmiths shop and start cutting off his fingers. Id imagine that after he loses two or three, hell remember where he hid the real ruby. Its very hard to do finely detailed work when you dont have all ten fingers. I told him Id do that right at the outset, so we can probably trust his integrity.
Youre a ruthless sort of fellow.
I just wanted to avoid misunderstandings. After we make sure that the ring still opens the box, youd better take it to Flute and find out if the golds thick enough to shield the ruby. If it isnt, Ill take it back to the goldsmith and have him pile more gold on that cap. We can keep doing that until it does what we want it to do.
Youre very practical, Khalad.
Somebody in this group has to be.
What did you do with Kaltens florin?
I used it to pay the goldsmith. It covered part of the cost. You still owe me for the rest, though.
Im going to be in debt to everybody before we get home.
Thats all right, Sparhawk, Khalad grinned. We all know that youre good for it.
That does it! Sparhawk said angrily, after he had taken a quick look out the door of the common-room. It was two days later, and they had all just come downstairs for breakfast. Lets get ready to leave.
I cant bring the ship back in this storm, Sparhawk, Flute told him. The little girl still looked wan, but she was obviously recovering.
Well have to go overland, then. Were sitting here like ducks in a row just waiting for our friend out there to gather his forces. We have to move.
Its going to take months to reach Matherion if we go overland, Sparhawk, Khalad objected. Flutes not well enough to speed up the trip.
Im not that sick, Khalad, Flute objected. Im just a little tired, thats all.
Do you have to do it all by yourself? Sparhawk asked her.
I didnt quite follow that.
If one of your cousins happened along, could he help you? She frowned. Lets say that you were making the decisions, and he was just lending you the muscle.
Its a nice idea, Sparhawk, Sephrenia said, but we dont have one of Aphraels cousins along.
No, but weve got Bhelliom.
I knew it would happen, Bevier groaned. The accursed stones unhinged Sparhawks mind. He thinks hes a God.
No, Bevier, Sparhawk smiled. Im not a God, but I have access to something very close to one. When I put those rings on, Bhelliom has to do what I tell it to do. Thats not exactly like being a God, but its close enough. Lets have breakfast; and then the rest of you can gather our belongings and get them packed on the horses. Aphrael and I will hammer out the details of how were going to work this.
7
The wind was screaming through the streets of Jorsan, driving torrents of rain before it. Sparhawk and his friends wrapped themselves tightly in their cloaks, bowed their heads into the wind, and plodded grimly into the teeth of the hurricane. The city gates were unguarded, and the party rode on out into open country where the wind, unimpeded, savaged them all the more. Speech was impossible, so Sparhawk merely pointed toward the muddy road that led off toward Korvan, fifty leagues to the north.