Well, of course it is, Flute replied with an airy little toss of her head. Isnt that where you said you wanted to go?
We made good time, Ulath observed blandly.
Sephrenia suddenly laughed. We wanted to test our friends stamina, she said. Now well find out just how much endurance he has. If he wants to keep chasing us, hes going to have to pick up his hurricane and run along behind us just as fast as he possibly can.
Oh, this is going to be fun. Flute exclaimed, clapping her hands together delightedly. Id never have believed we could jump so far.
Kalten squinted up toward the bright autumn sun. I make it just a little before noon. Why dont we ride on down into Korvan and have an early lunch? I worked up quite an appetite back there.
It might not be a bad idea, Sparhawk, Vanion agreed. The situations changed now, so we might want to think our plans through and see if we want to modify them.
Sparhawk nodded. He bumped Farans flanks with his heels, and they started down the hill toward Korvan. You seemed surprised, he murmured into Flutes ear.
Surprised? I was stunned.
What did it do?
You wouldnt really understand, father. Do you remember how the Troll-God Ghnomb moved you across northern Pelosia?
He sort of froze time, didnt he?
She nodded. Ive always done it a different way, but Im more sophisticated than Ghnomb is. Bhelliom does it in still another waymuch simpler, actually. Ghnomb and I are different, but were both part of this world, so the terrains very important to us. It gives us a sense of permanence and location. Bhelliom doesnt appear to need reference points. It seems to just think of another place, and its there.
Could you do it like that?
She pursed her lips. I dont think so. She sighed. Its a little humiliating to admit it, but Bhellioms far wiser than I am.
But not nearly as lovable.
Thank you, kind sir.
Sparhawk suddenly thought of something. Is Danae at Matherion?
Of course.
Hows your mother?
Thank you, kind sir.
Sparhawk suddenly thought of something. Is Danae at Matherion?
Of course.
Hows your mother?
Shes well. She and the thieves are very busy trying to get their hands on some documents that are hidden somewhere in the Ministry of the Interior.
Are things still under control there?
For the moment, yes. I know Ive teased you about it a few times, but its very hard to be in two places at the same time. Danaes sleeping a great deal, so Im missing a lot of whats going on there. Mothers a little worried. She thinks Danae might be sick.
Dont worry her too much.
I wont, father.
They rode into Korvan and found a respectable-looking inn. Ulath had a word or two with the innkeeper, and they were all escorted into a private dining room in the back where the golden sunlight streamed in through the windows to set the oaken tables and benches to glowing.
Can you keep anyone who might be curious from eavesdropping on us, little mother? Sparhawk asked.
How many times do you have to ask that question before you know the answer? she asked with a weary sigh.
Just making sure, thats all.
They removed their cloaks, stacked their weapons in a corner, and sat down at the table. A squinty-eyed, slatternly serving-girl came in and told them what the kitchen had prepared for the day. Sephrenia shook her head.
Tell her, Vanion.
The lady and Iand the little girlwill have lamb, he said firmly. We dont much care for pork.
The cook aint fixed no lamb, the girl whined.
Youd better tell him to get started, then.
He aint gonna like it.
He doesnt have to like it. Tell him that if we dont get lamb, well take our money to another inn. The owner of the place wouldnt like that very much, would he?
The girls face became set, and she stormed out. Thats the Vanion we came to know and love when we were boys, Kalten laughed. The fight that morning seemed to have improved his temper.
Vanion unfolded his map. Weve got a fairly substantial road going east, he said, running his finger along the line stretching across the map. It crosses Edam and then goes on through Cynesga. Well cross the border into Tamul proper at Sama. He looked at Flute. How long a jump can Bhelliom make at one time?
Would you like to pay a visit to the moon, Lord Vanion? She frowned. Theres a drawback, though. Bhelliom makes a very distinctive sound when it does something. It probably doesnt even know that its doing it, but it does sort of announce its location. We might be able to teach it how to conceal itself, but its going to take time.
And that raises another point as well, Sephrenia added. Sparhawks holding Bhellioms power, but he doesnt know how to use it yet.
Thanks, Sparhawk said dryly.
Im sorry, dear one, but you dont. Every time youve ever picked it up, either Aphrael or I have had to walk you through it step by step. Were definitely going to need some time. We have to teach Bhelliom how to be quiet, and we have to teach you how to use it without having someone hold your hand.
I love you too, Sephrenia.
She smiled fondly. Youre holding tremendous power in your hands, Sparhawk, but its not of much use if all you know how to do is wave it around like a battle-flag. I dont think we should rush back to Matherion immediately. That story you cooked up for Ehlana will explain our absence for at least two or three more weeks. Well want to avoid the traps and ambushes our enemies are going to lay for us along the way, of course. She paused. They might even be useful. Theyll give you something to practice on.
Jump around, Ulath grunted.
Will you stop that, Ulath? she snapped at him.
Sorry, Sephrenia. Its a habit of mine. After I think my way through something, I just blurt out the conclusion. The intermediate steps arent usually very interesting. Our friends out there have been raising random disturbances to keep the Atans running back and forth across the continentwerewolves here, vampires there, Shining Ones off in that direction, and antique armies in this. Theres no real purpose to all that except to confuse the imperial authorities. We could steal a page right out of their book, you know. They can hear and feel Bhelliom, particularly when its doing something noisy. I gather that theres no real limit to how far it can jump at one time, so lets just say that Sparhawk wants to see what the weathers like in Darsas. He has Bhelliom pick him up by the scruff of the neck and drop him down in the square outside King Alberens palace. He stays there for about a half-hourlong enough for the other side to smell him outthen he hops across the continent to Beresa in southern Arjuna and stays long enough to make his presence known there. Then he goes to Sarsos, then to Jura in southern Daconia, then back to Cimmura to say hello to Platime, all in the space of one afternoon. Hed get all sorts of practice using Bhelliom, and by the time the sun went down, they wouldnt know where he was or where he was going to go next. To make it even more fun, our mysterious friend out there wouldnt know which of these little jumps was the significant one, so hed almost have to follow along.
Carrying that hurricane on his back every step of the way, Kalten added. Ulath, youre brilliant.
Yes, the blond-braided Thalesian agreed with becoming modesty, I know.
I like it, Vanion approved. What do you think, Sephrenia?
It would give Sparhawk and Bhelliom the chance to get to know each other, she agreed, and thats basically what we need here. The better they know each other, the better theyll be able to work together. Im sorry, Sir Ulath. Blurt out conclusions anytime you feel like it.
All right then, Vanion said in his most business-like fashion, when Sparhawks off on one of his little excursions, the rest of us will be sort of invisiblewell, not really invisible, but if Bhellioms not with us, our friend wont be able to hear us or feel us, will he?
Probably not, Flute agreed. Even if he could, Sparhawk will be making so much noise that he wont really pay much attention to you.
Good. Lets say that we set out from here. Sparhawk hops up to Darsas and rattles all the windows there. Then he hops back, picks us up and puts down in... He frowned at his map. in Cyton on the Cynesgan border. He stabbed his finger down on the chart. Then he hops around to several other places, leaving Bhelliom and the rings out in the open so that our friend knows where he is each time. Then he rejoins us at Cyton and boxes up Bhelliom again. By that time our friend will be so confused he wont know where we are.
Pay close attention, Sparhawk, Kalten grinned. Thats the way a preceptors supposed to think.
Sparhawk grunted. Then he thought of something. I want to talk with you for a moment when we leave, he told his blond friend quietly.
Am I in trouble?
Not yet, but youre working on it.
The slatternly serving-girl brought in their meal, glowering at Vanion as she did, and Sparhawk and his friends began to eat. They did not linger after lunch, but rose immediately and trooped out.
Whats your problem? Kalten asked as he and Sparhawk trailed along behind the others.
Quit trying to get yourself killed.
What are you talking about?
Dont be coy, Kalten. I saw what you were doing this morning. Dont you realize how transparent you are to people who know you?
Youre unwholesomely clever, Sparhawk, the blond Pandion accused.
Its a character defect of mine. Ive got enough to worry about already. Dont add this to it.
Its such a perfect solution.
For a non-existent problem, you jackass. Alcans had her eyes on you ever since we left Chyrellos. Shes not going to throw all that effort away. Its you shes after, Kalten, not Berit. If you dont stop this nonsense, Ill take you back to Demos and have you confined in the mother-house.
How do you propose to do that?
Ive got this blue friend here, remember? Sparhawk patted the bulge in the front of his tunic. I can pick you up by the hair, deposit you in Demos and be back before Vanion even gets into his saddle.
Thats not fair.
Now youre starting to sound like Talen. Im not trying to be fair. Im trying to keep you from killing yourself. I want your oath.
No.
Demos is nice this time of year. Youll enjoy it. You can spend your days in prayer.
Kalten swore at him.
Youve got some of the words right, Kalten. Now just put them together into a proper oath. Believe me, my friend, youre not going to go one step farther with us until you give me your oath to stop all this nonsense.
I swear, Kalten muttered.
Not good enough. Lets make it nice and formal. I want it to make an impression on you. Youve got this tendency to overlook things if they arent all spelled out.