‘You think there’s a connection?’ Komier asked.
Sparhawk nodded. ‘The Styric had been following me around for several days, and I’m fairly sure he was the one who pointed Kalten and me out to the soldiers. That would connect him to Annias.’
‘It’s pretty thin, Sparhawk. Annias has some fairly well-known prejudices where Styrics are concerned.’
‘Not so many that he wouldn’t seek out their help if he thought he needed it. On two occasions I’ve caught him using magic.’
‘A churchman?’ Dolmant’s expression was startled. ‘That’s strictly forbidden.’
‘So was plotting the murder of Count Radun, your Grace. I don’t think Annias pays too much attention to the rules. He’s not much of a magician, but the fact that he knows how it’s done indicates that he’s had instruction, and that means a Styric.’
Darellon interlaced his slender fingers on the table in front of him. ‘There are Styrics and then there are Styrics,’ he noted. ‘As Abriel pointed out, there’s been a great deal of Styric activity in the central kingdom of late – much of it coming out of Zemoch. If Annias sought out a Styric to instruct him in the secrets, he might possibly have contacted the wrong one.’
‘I think you’re overcomplicating things, Darellon,’ Dolmant said. ‘Not even Annias would have dealings with Otha.’
‘That’s presuming that he knows he’s dealing with Otha.’
‘My Lords,’ Sephrenia said very quietly, ‘consider what happened this morning.’ Her eyes were very intent. ‘Would any of you – or the kings you serve – have been deceived by the transparent accusations of the Primate Annias? They were crude, obvious, even childish. You Elenes are a subtle, sophisticated people. If your minds had been alert, you’d have laughed at Annias’ clumsy attempts to discredit the Pandions. But you didn’t. Neither did your kings. And Annias, who’s as subtle as a serpent, presented his case as if he believed it was a stroke of genius.’
‘Exactly what are you getting at, Sephrenia?’ Vanion asked.
‘I think we should give some consideration to Lord Darellon’s line of thought. The presentation this morning would have overwhelmed a Styric. We are a simple people, and our magicians do not have to work very hard to persuade us to their way of thinking. You Elenes are more sceptical, more logical. You are not so easily deceived – unless you’ve been tampered with.’
Dolmant leaned forward, his eyes betraying his eagerness for a contest at logic. ‘But Annias is also an Elene, with a mind trained in theological disputation. Why would he have been so clumsy?’
‘You’re assuming that Annias was speaking in his own voice this morning, Dolmant. A Styric sorcerer – or some creature subject to one – would present his case in terms that would be understood by a simple Styric and then rely upon magic to induce belief.’
‘Was someone using that kind of magic in that room this morning?’ Darellon asked, his face troubled.
‘Yes,’ she replied simply.
‘I think we’re getting a bit far afield,’ Komier said. ‘What we need to do right now is get Sparhawk on his way to Borrata. The quicker we find a cure for Queen Ehlana’s illness, the quicker we can eliminate the threat of Annias altogether. Once we cut off his supply of ready cash, he can consort with anybody – or anything – he wants to, for all I care.’
‘You’d better get ready to ride, Sparhawk,’ Vanion said. ‘I’ll write down the Queen’s symptoms for you.’
‘I don’t think that’s necessary, Vanion,’ Sephrenia told him. ‘I know her condition in much greater detail than you do.’
‘But you can’t write, Sephrenia,’ he reminded her.
‘I won’t have to, Vanion,’ she said sweetly. ‘I’ll tell the physicians in Borrata about the symptoms personally.’
‘You’re going with Sparhawk?’ Vanion looked surprised.
‘Of course. There are things afoot that seem to be focusing on him. He might need my help when he gets to Cammoria.’
‘I’ll go along, too,’ Kalten said. ‘If Sparhawk catches up with Martel in Cammoria, I want to be there to see what happens.’ He grinned at his friend. ‘I’ll let you have Martel,’ he offered, ‘if you’ll give me Adus.’
‘Sounds fair,’ Sparhawk agreed.
‘You’ll be passing through Chyrellos on your way to Borrata,’ Dolmant said. ‘I’ll ride along with you as far as that.’
‘We’ll be honoured to have you, your Grace.’ Sparhawk looked at Count Radun. ‘Might you want to join us as well, my Lord?’ he asked.
‘No. Thanks all the same, Sir Sparhawk,’ the count replied. ‘I’ll return to Arcium with my nephew and Lord Abriel.’
Komier was frowning slightly. ‘I don’t want to delay you, Sparhawk,’ he said, ‘but Darellon is right. Annias is sure to guess what our next step is likely to be. There are only so many centres of medical learning in Eosia; if this Martel fellow is already in Cammoria, and still taking orders from Annias, he’s almost certain to try to keep you from reaching Borrata. I think it might be best if you waited in Chyrellos until the knights from our other orders catch up with you. A show of force can sometimes avoid difficulties.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Vanion agreed. ‘The others can join him at the Pandion chapterhouse in Chyrellos and ride out together from there.’
Sparhawk rose to his feet. ‘That’s it, then,’ he said. He glanced at Sephrenia. ‘Are you going to leave Flute here?’
‘No. She goes with me.’
‘It’s going to be dangerous,’ he warned.
‘I can protect her if she needs protection. Besides, the decision is not mine to make.’
‘Don’t you love talking with her?’ Kalten said. ‘All the mental stimulation of trying to puzzle out the meaning of what she’s saying.’
Sparhawk ignored that.
Later in the courtyard where Sparhawk and the others were preparing to mount for the ride to Chyrellos, the novice, Berit, approached. ‘There’s a lame beggar boy at the gate, my Lord,’ he said to Sparhawk. ‘He says he has something urgent to tell you.’
‘Let him through the gates,’ Sparhawk said.
Berit looked a bit shocked.
‘I know the boy,’ Sparhawk said. ‘He works for me.’
‘As you wish, my Lord,’ Berit said, bowing. He turned back towards the gate.
‘Oh, by the way, Berit,’ Sparhawk said.
‘My Lord?’
‘Don’t walk too close to the boy. He’s a thief and he can steal everything you own before you go ten paces.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind, my Lord.’
A few minutes later, Berit came back escorting Talen.
‘I’ve got a problem, Sparhawk,’ the boy said.
‘Oh?’
‘Some of the primate’s men found out that I’ve been helping you. They’re looking for me all over Cimmura.’
‘I told you that you were going to get in trouble,’ Kurik growled at him. Then the squire looked at Sparhawk. ‘What do we do now?’ he asked. ‘I don’t want him locked up in the cathedral dungeon.’
