The Diamond Throne

curiously ‘Tell me, Sephrenia, which heathen God do you worship?’
    ‘I’m not permitted to say,’ she answered gravely ‘I can tell you that it’s not a God, though. I serve a Goddess.’
    ‘A female deity? What an absurd idea.’
    ‘Only to a man, Dolmant. Women find it very natural.’
    ‘Is there anything else you think we ought to know, Vanion?’ Komier asked.
    ‘I think we’ve just about covered everything, Komier.’ Vanion looked at Sparhawk. ‘Anything you want to add?’ he asked.
    Sparhawk shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘What about the Styric who set the church soldiers on us?’ Kalten asked.
    Sparhawk grunted. ‘I’d almost forgotten that,’ he admitted. ‘It was at about the time that I heard Krager and Harparin talking. Kalten and I were wearingdisguises, but there was a Styric who saw through them. Not long after that, we were attacked by some of Annias’ people.’
    ‘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 – havebeen 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