Book Read Free

2 - The Ruby Knight

Page 37

by The Ruby Knight [lit]


  happened in Lamorkand and here in Pelosia were any

  indication, something was bound to go wrong. Their

  quest had been dogged by near-disaster almost from the

  moment they had left the chapterhouse at Cimmura, and

  Sparhawk saw no reason to hope that this situation

  would be any different.

  Once again the sun rose in a rusty sky, a coppery disc

  hanging low over the brown-stained waters of the lake.

  Sparhawk rode wearily back through the grove of trees

  Page 179

  Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt

  from which they kept watch to where Sephrenia and the

  children were waiting. 'How far away is he now!' he

  asked flute.

  'He's about a mile out in the lake,' she replied. 'He's

  stopped again.'

  'Why does he keep stopping?' Sparhawk was growing

  increasingly irritated by these periodic halts in the Troll's

  progress across the lake.

  'Would you like to hear a guess?' Talen asked.

  'Go ahead.'

  "I stole a boat once because I had to get across the

  Cimmura River. The boat leaked. I had to stop every five

  'minutes or so to bail out the water. Ghwerig's been

  stopping about every half-hour. Maybe his boat doesn't

  leak as much as mine did.'

  Sparhawk stared at the boy for a moment, and then he

  suddenly burst out laughing. 'Thanks, Talen,' he said,

  feeling suddenly much better.

  No charge,' the boy replied impudently. 'You see,

  sparhawk, the easiest answer is usually the right one.'

  so, I've got a Troll out there in a leaky boat, and I've

  got to wait here on shore until he gets all the water out of it. '

  'That pretty well sums it up, yes.'

  Tynian rode in at a canter. 'Sparhawk,' he said quietly,

  "we've got some riders coming from the west.

  'How many?'

  'Too many to count with ease.'

  'Let's take a look.' The two rode back through the trees

  to where Kalten, Ulath and Bevier were sitting their

  horses looking off to the west. "I've been watching them,

  Sparhawk,' Ulath said. "I think they're Thalesians.'

  'What are Thalesians doing here in Pelosia?'

  'Remember what that innkeeper told you back in

  Venne?' Kalten said, ' - about a war going on down in

  Arcium? Didn't he say that the western kingdoms are

  mobilizing?'

  "I'd forgotten about that,' Sparhawk admitted. 'Well,

  it's none of our concern - at least not for the moment.'

  Kurik and Berit rode up. "I think we've seen him,

  Sparhawk,' Kurik reported. 'At least, Berit has.'

  Sparhawk looked quickly at the novice.

  "I climbed a tree, Sir Sparhawk,' Berit explained.

  'There's a small boat some distance off-shore. I couldn't

  make out too many details, but it looks as if it's just

  drifting, and there seems to be some splashing going on. '

  Sparhawk laughed wryly. "I guess Talen was right,' he

  said.

  "I don't quite follow, Sir Sparhawk.'

  'He said that Ghwerig Probably stole a leaky boat, and

  that he has to stop every so often to bail out the water.'

  'You mean we've been waiting all night while Ghwerig

  scoops the water out of his boat?' Kalten asked.

  "It looks that way,' Sparhawk said.

  'They're getting closer, Sparhawk,' Tynian said, pointing

  to the west.

  'And they're definitely Thalesians,' Ulath added.

  Sparhawk swore and went to the edge of the trees. The

  approaching men were formed up in a column and at the

  head of the column rode a large man in a mail-shirt and a

  purple cape. Sparhawk recognized him. It was King

  Wargun of Thalesia, and he appeared to be roaring

  drunk. Beside him rode a pale, slender man in a highly

  decorated but somewhat delicate suit of armour.

  'The one beside Wargun is King Soros of Pelosia,'

  Page 180

  Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt

  Tynian said quietly. "I don't think he poses much of a

  danger. He spends most of his time praying and fasting.'

  'We do have a problem, though, Sparhawk, ' Ulath said

  gravely. 'Ghwerig's going to be coming ashore very

  shortly, and he's got the royal crown of Thalesia with

  him. Wargun would give his very soul to get that crown

  back. I hate to say it, but we'd better lead him away from

  here before Ghwerig reaches the lake-shore.'

  Sparhawk began to swear in frustration. His suspicions

  of the previous night had turned out to be all too

  correct.

  'We'll be all right, Sparhawk,' Bevier assured him.

  "flute can follow Bhelliom's trail. We'll get King Wargun

  some distance away and then take our leave of him. We

  can come back later and chase down the Troll.'

  "It doesn't look as if we have much choice,' Sparhawk

  conceded. 'Let's go and get Sephrenia and the children

  and draw Wargun away from here.'

  They mounted quickly and rode back to where

  Sephrenia, Talen and Flute were waiting. 'We're going to

  have to leave,' Sparhawk said tersely. 'There are some

  Thalesians coming, and King Wargun's with them. Ulath

  says that if Wargun finds out what we're here for, he'll

  try to take the crown away from us as soon as we get our

  hands on it. Let's ride.'

  They left the trees on the margin of the lake at a gallop,

  heading north. As they had anticipated, the column of

  Thalesian troops moved in pursuit. 'We need a couple of

  miles at least,' Sparhawk shouted to the others. 'We've

  got to give Ghwerig a chance to get away.'

  They reached the road that bore in a north-easterly

  direction back towards the city of Venne and galloped

  along, rather ostentatiously not looking back at the

  pursuing Thalesians.

  'They're coming up fast,' Talen, who could look back

  over his shoulder without seeming to, called to

  Sparhawk.

  "I'd like to get them a little farther away from Ghwerig, '

  Sparhawk said regretfully, "but I suppose this is as far as

  we can go.'

  'Ghwerig's a Troll, Sparhawk,' Ulath said. 'He knows

  how to'hide.'

  'All right,' Sparhawk agreed. He made some show of

  looking back over his shoulder and then held up one

  hand in the signal for a halt. They reined in and turned

  their horses to face the oncoming Thalesians.

  The Thalesians also halted, and one of their number

  came forward at a walk. 'King Wargun of Thalesia would

  have words with you, Sir Knights,' he said respectfully.

  "He will join us presently.'

  'Very well,' Sparhawk said curtly.

  "Wargun's drunk,' Ulath muttered to his friend. 'Try to

  be diplomatic, Sparhawk.'

  King Wargun and King Soros rode up and reined in

  their horses. 'Ho-ho, Soros!' Wargun roared, swaying

  dangerously in his saddle. 'We seem to have snared us a

  covey of Church Knights.' He blinked and peered at the

  knights. "I know that one,' he said. 'Ulath, what are you

  doing here in Pelosia?'

  'Church business, Your Majesty,' U
lath replied

  blandly.

  'And that one with the broken nose is the Pandion

  Sparhawk,' Wargun added to King Soros. 'Why were

  you running so hard, Sparhawk?'

  Page 181

  Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt

  'Our mission is of a certain urgency, Your Majesty,'

  Sparhawk said.

  "and what mission is that?'

  'We're not at liberty to discuss it, Your Majesty.

  Standard Church practice, you understand.'

  'Politics then,' Wargun snorted. "I wish the Church

  would keep her nose out of politics.'

  'Will you ride along with us for a ways, Your Majesty?'

  Bevier inquired politely.

  'No, I think it's going to be the other way around, Sir

  Knight - and it's going to be more than just a ways.'

  Wargun looked at them all. 'Do you know what's been

  going on in Arcium?'

  'We've heard a few garbled rumours, Your Majesty,'

  Tynian said, "but nothing very substantial.'

  'All right,' Wargun said, 'I'll give you some substance

  The Rendors have invaded Arcium.'

  'That's impossible!' Sparhawk exclaimed.

  'Go and tell the people who used to live in Coombe

  about impossible. The Rendors sacked and burned the

  town. Now they're marching north towards the capital at

  Larium. King Dregos has invoked the mutual defence

  treaties. Soros here and I are gathering up every able-bodied

  man we can lay our hands on. We're going to ride

  south and stamp out the Rendorish infection once and

  for all.'

  "I wish we could accompany Your Majesty, ' Sparhawk

  said, 'but we have another commitment. Perhaps, once

  our task is finished, we may be able to join you.'

  'You already have, Sparhawk,' Wargun said bluntly.

  'We have another urgent commitment, Your Majesty,

  Sparhawk repeated.

  'The Church is eternal, Sparhawk, and she's very

  patient. Your other commitment will have to wait.'

  That did it. Sparhawk, whose temper was never really

  greatly under control, looked the monarch of Thalesia

  full in the face. Unlike the anger of other men, whose

  rage was dissipated in shouting and oaths, Sparhawk's

  anger took on an ominous icy calmness. 'We are Church

  Knights, Your Majesty,' he said in a flat, unemotional

  voice. 'We are not subject to earthly kings. Our responsibility

  is to God and to our mother, the Church. We will

  obey her commands, not yours.'

  "I have a thousand picked men at my back,' Wargun

  blustered.

  'And how many are you prepared to lose?' Sparhawk

  asked in his deadly quiet voice. He drew himself up in his

  saddle and slowly lowered his visor. 'Let's save some

  time, Wargun of Thalesia,' he said formally, removing

  his right gauntlet. "I find your attitude unseemly, even

  irreligious, and it offends me.' With a negligent toss, he

  threw his gauntlet into the dust of the road in front of the

  Thalesian king.

  'That's his idea of diplomacy?' Ulath murmured to

  Kalten in some dismay.

  'That's about as close as he can usually get,' Kalten

  said, loosening his sword in its sheath. "you may as well

  go ahead and draw your axe, Ulath. This promises to be

  an interesting morning. Sephrenia, take the children to

  the rear.'

  'Are you mad, Kalten?' Ulath exploded. "you want me

  to draw my axe on my own king?'

  'Of course not,' Kalten grinned, 'only on his funeral

  cortege. If Wargun goes up against Sparhawk, he'll be

  Page 182

  Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt

  drinking heavenly mead after the first pass.'

  'Then I'll have to fight Sparhawk,' Ulath said regretfully.

  'That's up to you, my friend,' Kalten said with equal

  regret, "but I don't advise it. Even if you get past

  Sparhawk, you'll still have to face me, and I cheat a lot.'

  "I wil not permit this!' a booming voice roared. The

  man who shouldered his horse through the surrounding

  Thalesians was huge, bigger even than Ulath. He wore a

  mail-shirt and an ogre-horned 'helmet and carried a

  massive axe. A wide black ribbon about his neck

  identified him as a churchman. 'Pick up your gauntlet,

  Sir Sparhawk, and withdraw your challenge. This is the

  command of our mother, the Church!'

  'Who's that?' Kalten asked Ulath.

  'Bergsten, the Patriarch of Emsat,' Ulath replied.

  'A Patriarch? Dressed like that?'

  'Bergsten's not your average churchman.'

  'Your Grace,' King Wargun faltered. "I - '

  'Put up your sword, WarGun,' Bergsten thundered, 'or

  would you face me in single combat?'

  "I wouldn't,' Wargun said almost conversationally to

  Sparhawk. 'Would you?'

  Sparhawk looked appraisingly at the Patriarch of

  Emsat. 'Not if I could help it,' he admitted. 'How did he

  get that big?'

  'He was an only child,' Wargun said. 'He didn't have

  to fight with nine brothers and sisters for his supper

  every night. What's your feeling about a truce at this

  point, Sparhawk?'

  "It sounds like the course of prudence to me, Your

  Majesty. We really have something important to do,

  though.'

  'We'll talk about it later - when Bergsten's at prayers.'

  'This is the command of the Church!' the Patriarch of

  Emsat roared. 'The Church Knights will join us in this

  holy mission. The Eshandist heresy is an offence against

  God. It will die on the rocky plains of Arcium. As God

  gives us strength, my children, let us proceed with this

  great work that we are about.' He wheeled his horse to

  face south. 'Don't forget your gauntlet, Sir Sparhawk,' he

  said over his shoulder. 'You might need it when we get to

  Arcium.'

  'Yes, Your Grace,' Sparhawk replied through clenched

  teeth.

  *Chapter21

  Promptly at noon, King Soros of Pelosia called a

  halt and instructed his servants to erect his pavilion, and he and

  his private chaplain retired inside for noon prayers.

  'Choir-boy,' King Wargun muttered under his breath.

  "bergsten!' he bellowed.

  'Right here, Your Majesty,' the militaristic Patri'arch

  said mildly from behind his king.

  'Have you recovered from your spate of bad temper

  yet?'

  "I wasn't really bad tempered, Your Majesty. I was

  merely trying to save lives - yours included.'

  'What's that supposed to mean?'

  Had you been foolish enough to accept Sir Sparhawk's

  challenge, you'd be dining in Heaven tonight - or

  supping in Hell, depending on Divine Judgement.'

  That's direct enough.'

  "Sir Sparhawk's reputation precedes him, Your

  Page 183

  Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt

  Majesty, and you would be no match for him. Now, what

  was it you had on your mind?'

  'How far is Lamorkand from here?'

  The south end of the lake, My Lord - about two days.'

  "and the closest Lamork city?'

  That w
ould be Agnak, Your Majesty. It's just across

  the border and a bit to the east.'

  All right. We'll go there then. I want to get Soros out of

  his own country and away from all these religious

  ceremonies. If he stops to pray one more time, I'm going to

  strangle him. We'll pick up the bulk of the army later

  today. They're already marching south. I'm going to

  send Soros on down to mobilize the Lamork barons. You

  go with him, and if he tries to pray more than once a day,

  you have my permission to brain him.'

  'That could have some interesting political ramifications,

  Your Majesty,' Bergsten noted.

  'Lie about it,' WarGun growled. 'Say it was an

  accident.'

  'How can you brain somebody by accident?'

  'Think something up. Now, listen to me, Bergsten. I

  need those Lamorks. Don't let Soros get side-tracked on

  some religious pilgrimage. Keep him moving. Quote

  sacred texts to him if you have to. Pick up every Lamork

  you can lay your hands on and then swing into Elenia. I'll

  meet you on the Arcian border. I've got to go to Acie in

  Deira. Oblers called a council of war.' He looked around.

  'Sparhawk,' he said disgustedly, 'go someplace and

  pray. A Church Knight should be above eavesdropping.'

  'Yes, Your Majesty,' Sparhawk replied.

  That's a very ugly horse you've got there, you know?'

  WarGun said, looking critically at Faran.

  "we're a matched set, Your Majesty.'

  "I'd be careful, King Wargun,' Kalten advised over his

  shoulder as he and Sparhawk started back to where their

  friends had dismounted. 'He bites.'

  'Which one? SParhawk or the horse?'

  'Take your pick, Your Majesty.'

  The two swung down from their horses and joined their

  friends. "what's Ghwerig doing?' Sparhawk asked flute.

  'He's still hiding,' the little girl replied. 'At least I think

  he is. Bhelliom's not moving. He's probably going to wait

  until dark before he starts out again.'

  Sparhawk grunted.

  Kalten looked at Ulath. "what's the story behind

  Bergsten?' he asked. "I've never seen a churchman

  in armour before.'

  'He used to be a Genidian Knight,' Ulath replied. 'He'd

  be Preceptor by now if he hadn't entered the priesthood.'

  Kalten nodded. 'He did seem to be carrying that axe as

  if he knew how to use it. Isn't it a bit unusual for a

  member of one of the militant orders to take the cloth?'

  'Not that unusual, Kalten,' Bevier disagreed from

  nearby. 'A fair number of the high churchmen in Arcium

  used to be Cyrinics. Someday I myself may leave our

 

‹ Prev