I wouldnt even try, Sephrenia. Im not going to cripple him for life just because Aphrael might miss him.
Is his arm really that bad?
Its bad enough. That crossbow bolt went right through his shoulder joint. If he starts moving it around, it wont set right, and thats his sword arm.
Aphrael could fix it, you know.
Not without exposing her identity she couldnt, and I wont let her do that.
Wont let?
Ask her if she wants to endanger her mothers sanity just for the sake of symmetry. Substitute someone else. If Aphraels willing to accept Khalad in place of Kurik, she should be able to pick someone else to fill in for Tynian. Why is it so important to her in the first place?
You wouldnt understand.
Why dont you try to explain it anyway? I might surprise you.
Youre in an odd humor tonight.
Ive just been scolded. That always makes me odd. Why does Aphrael think its so important to always have the same group of people around her?
It has to do with the feeling of it, Sparhawk. The presence of any given person is more than just the way he looks or the sound of his voice. It also involves the way he thinksand probably more important, the way he feels about Aphrael. She surrounds herself with that. When you bring in different people, you change the way it feels, and that throws her off balance. She looked at him. You didnt understand a word of that, did you?
Yes, as a matter of fact I did. How about Vanion? He loves her as much as Tynian does, and she loves him too. Hes been more or less with us in spirit since all this started anyway, and he is a knight, after all.
It has to do with the feeling of it, Sparhawk. The presence of any given person is more than just the way he looks or the sound of his voice. It also involves the way he thinksand probably more important, the way he feels about Aphrael. She surrounds herself with that. When you bring in different people, you change the way it feels, and that throws her off balance. She looked at him. You didnt understand a word of that, did you?
Yes, as a matter of fact I did. How about Vanion? He loves her as much as Tynian does, and she loves him too. Hes been more or less with us in spirit since all this started anyway, and he is a knight, after all.
Vanion? Dont be absurd, Sparhawk.
Hes not an invalid, you know. He was running foot-races back in Sarsos, and he was still as good as ever with his lance when we fought the Trolls.
Its out of the question. I wont even discuss it.
He crossed the room, took her wrists in his hands and kissed her palms.
I love you dearly, little mother, he told her, but Im going to override you this time. You cant wrap Vanion in lambs-wool for the rest of his life just because youre afraid he might scratch his finger. If you dont suggest him to Aphrael, I will.
She swore at him in Styric. Dont you understand, Sparhawk? I almost lost him. Her heart was in her luminous blue eyes. Ill die if anything happens to him.
Nothings going to happen to him. Are you going to ask Aphrael about it, or would you rather have me do it? She swore at him again. Where did you ever learn that kind of language? he asked mildly. If that takes care of our problem, Im a little overdue at the bedroom door.
I didnt quite follow that.
Its time for the kissing and making up. Theres supposed to be a certain rhythm to these things, and if I wait too long to soften Ehlanas displeasure, shell begin to think I dont love her any more.
Do you mean her performance here tonight was nothing more than an invitation to the bedroom?
That might be putting it a little bluntly, but there was some of that involved, yes. Sometimes I get busy and forget to pay as much attention to her as I should. Shell only let that go on for just so long before she makes a speech. The speech reminds me that Ive been neglecting her. We kiss and make up, and everythings all right again.
Wouldnt it be simpler if she just came right out and told you in the first place without these elaborate games?
Probably, but it wouldnt be nearly as much fun for her. Youll excuse me?
Why do you always avoid me, Berit-Knight? Empress Elysoun asked with a disconsolate little pout.
Your Highness misunderstands me, Berit replied, flushing slightly and keeping his eyes averted.
Am I ugly, Berit-Knight?
Of course not, your Highness.
Then why dont you ever look at me?
Its not considered polite among Elenes for a man to look at an undressed woman, your Highness.
Im not an Elene, Sir Knight. Im a Valesian, and Im not naked. I have plenty of clothes on. If youll come to my chambers, Ill show you the difference.
Sparhawk had been looking for Sir Berit to advise him of their upcoming journey, and he had just rounded a corner in the hallway leading to the chapel to find his young friend trapped once more by the Empress Elysoun. Since Emperor Sarabians entire family was inside the castle as a security measure, Berits escape routes had been seriously curtailed, and Elysoun had been taking advantage of the situation outrageously. The Emperors Valesian wife was a brown-skinned, sunny girl whose native costume left her unashamedly bare-breasted. No matter how many times Sarabian had explained to Berit that customary moral strictures did not apply to Valesians, the young Knight remained steadfastly respectfuland chaste. Elysoun had taken that as a challenge, and she had been pursuing the poor young man relentlessly. Sparhawk was just on the verge of speaking to his friend, but he smiled instead and stepped back round the corner to listen. He was the interim preceptor of the Pandion Order, after all, and it was his duty to look after the souls of his men.
Do you always have to be an Elene? Elysoum was asking the knight.
I am an Elene, your highness.
But you Elenes are so boring, she said. Why dont you be Valesian for just one afternoon? Its much more fun, and it wont take very long, you knowunless you want it to. She paused. Are you really a virgin? she asked curiously. Berit turned bright red.
Elysoun laughed delightedly. What an absurd idea, she exclaimed. Arent you even a little curious about what youve been missing? Ill be happy to take that tiresome virginity off your hands, Berit-Knightand it wont even hurt very much.
Sparhawk took pity on the poor fellow and intervened at that point. Ah, there you are, Berit, he said, stepping round the corner and speaking in Tamul for the Empresss benefit. Ive been looking all over for you. Somethings come up that needs our attention. He bowed to the Empress. Your Imperial highness, he murmured, Im afraid Ill have to commandeer your friend here for a while. Matters of state, you know. The look Elysoun gave him had daggers in it.
I was sure your highness would understand, he said, bowing again. Come along, Berit. The matters serious, and were late. He led his friend off down the opalescent corridor as Empress Elisoum glared after them.
Thanks, Sparhawk, Berit said with relief.
Why dont you just stay away from her?
I cant. She follows me everywhere. She even trapped me in the bath-house oncein the middle of the night. She said she wanted to bathe with me.
Berit, Sparhawk smiled, as your preceptor and spiritual guide, Im supposed to applaud your devotion to the ideals of our order. As your friend, though; I have to tell you that running away from her only makes matters worse. We have to stay here in Matherion, and if we stay long enough, she will get you. Shes very single-minded about it.
Yes, Ive noticed that.
Shes really quite pretty, you know, Sparhawk suggested tentatively. Whats your difficulty with the notion of being friendly?
Sparhawk!
The big Pandion sighed.
I was afraid you might look at it that way. Look, Berit, Elysoun comes from a different culture with different customs. She doesnt see this sort of thing as sin. Sarabians made it quite clear that he wants some of us to accommodate her, and shes chosen you as the lucky man. Its a political necessity, so youre just going to have to set these delicate feelings aside. Look upon it as your knightly duty, if it makes you feel any better. I can even have Emban grant you an indulgence if you think its necessary.
Berit gasped.
Youre starting to embarrass us, Sparhawk said. Elysouns been making Sarabians life miserable about the whole thing. He wont step in and order you to do as she asks, no matter how much she nags him, but he quite obviously expects me to speak with you about it.
I cant believe youre saying this, Sparhawk.
Just go ahead and do it, Berit. Everybody expects you to. You dont have to enjoy it if you dont want to, but do it. Do it as often as you have to, but make her stop screaming at the Emperor. Its your duty, my friend, and after you and Elysoun have romped around the bedroom a few times, shell start looking for new playmates.
But what if she doesnt?
I wouldnt worry too much. Patriarch Embans got a whole saddle-bag full of indulgences if it should turn out that you really need them.
The failed uprising had given Emperor Sarabian the perfect excuse to escape from his government. Feigning cowardice, he had flatly declared that he felt safe only within the walls of Ehlanas castle, and then only if the moat remained full and the drawbridge raised. His ministers, being accustomed to arranging his every move, found that terribly inconvenient. Sarabian had not been motivated entirely by a desire to breathe the air of relative freedom, however. Interior Minister Kolata had been revealed as a traitor during the coup-attempt, but Sarabian and his Elene friends had decided that the time was not yet right to publicly reveal his treachery. So long as the Emperor remained inside Ehlanas castle, Kolatas presence there as well was fully explained. He was in charge of the police, after all, and the protection of the Emperor was his paramount duty. The Interior Minister, closely supervised by Ehlanas cohorts, directed the police forces of the Empire from inside the walls. His meetings with his underlings were always just a trifle strained, since Stragen customarily sat beside him with one hand idly resting on the hilt of a dagger.
It was early one morning when Ambassador Norkan, the Tamul emissary to the court of King Androl and Queen Betuana of Atan, was escorted into the gleaming imitation throne-room in the castle. Norkan wore his usual golden mantle and a puzzled expression. Though he tried to conceal the fact, he quite obviously disapproved of the fact that his Emperor was dressed in western-style doublet and hose of a rich plum color.
Have you gone and stolen my Emperor too, Queen Ehlana? he asked with a perfunctory bow. Norkan was a brilliant man, but he had an unfortunate tendency to speak his mind quite openly.