The Diamond Throne

put me on my knees – not to mention the awful smell.’
    ‘Better the weight and the smell than an arrow between the shoulder blades.’
    ‘Totally out of the question.’
    ‘We’ll see. Put the sword away and let’s move on. You need rest, and I want to get you inside the chapterhouse where it’s safe before someone else takes a shot at you.’

Chapter 14
    The following day, about midmorning, Sir Bevier arrived at the gates of the Pandion chapterhouse in Chyrellos. Sir Bevier was a Cyrinic Knight from Arcium. His formal armour was burnished to a silvery sheen, and his surcoat was white. His helmet had no visor, but rather bore heavy cheekpieces and a formidable nose guard. He dismounted in the courtyard, hung his shield and his Lochaber axe on his saddlebow, and removed his helmet. Bevier was young and somewhat slender. His complexion was olive and his hair curly and blue-black.
    With some show of ceremony, Nashan descended the steps of the chapterhouse with Sparhawk and Kalten to greet him. ‘Our house is honoured, Sir Bevier,’ he said.
    Bevier inclined his head stiffly. ‘My Lord,’ he responded, ‘I am commanded by the preceptor of my order to convey to you his greetings.’
    ‘Thank you, Sir Bevier,’ Nashan said, somewhat taken aback by the young knight’s stiff formality.
    ‘Sir Sparhawk,’ Bevier said then, again inclining his head.
    ‘Do we know each other, Bevier?’
    ‘Our preceptor described you to me, my Lord Sparhawk – you and your companion, Sir Kalten. Have the others arrived yet?’
    Sparhawk shook his head. ‘No. You’re the first.’
    ‘Come inside, Sir Bevier,’ Nashan said then. ‘We’ll assign you a cell so that you can get out of your armour, and I’ll speak to the kitchen about a hot meal.’
    ‘An it please you, my Lord, might I first visit your chapel? I have been some days on the road and I feel sorely the need for prayer in a consecrated place.’
    ‘Of course,’ Nashan said to him.
    ‘We’ll see to your horse,’ Sparhawk told the young man.
    ‘Thank you, Lord Sparhawk.’ Bevier bent his head again and followed Nashan up the steps.
    ‘Oh, he’s going to be a jolly travelling companion,’ Kalten said ironically.
    ‘He’ll loosen up once he gets to know us,’ Sparhawk said.
    ‘I hope you’re right. I’d heard that the Cyrinics are a shade formal, but I think our young friend there might be carrying it to extremes.’ Curiously, he unhooked the Lochaber from the saddlebow. ‘Can you imagine using this thing on somebody?’ He shuddered. The Lochaber axe had a heavy, two-foot blade surmounted at its forward end with a razor-sharp, hawklike bill. Its heavy handle was about four feet long. ‘You could shuck a man out of his armour like an oyster out of its shell with this.’
    ‘I think that’s the idea. It is sort of intimidating, isn’t it? Put it away, Kalten. Don’t play with another man’s toys.’
    After Sir Bevier had completed his prayers and changed out of his armour, he joined them in Nashan’s ornate study.
    ‘Did they give you something to eat?’ Nashan asked.
    ‘It isn’t necessary, my Lord,’ Bevier replied. ‘If I may be permitted, I’ll join you and your knights in refectory for the noon meal.’
    ‘Of course,’ Nashan replied. ‘You’re more than welcome to join us, Bevier.’
    Sparhawk then introduced Bevier to Sephrenia. The young man bowed deeply to her. ‘I have heard much of you, Lady,’ he said. ‘Our instructors in the Styric secrets hold you in great esteem.’
    ‘You’re kind to say so, Sir Knight. My skills are the result of age and practice, however, and do not result from any particular virtue.’
    ‘Age, Lady? Surely not. You can scarce be much older than I, and I will not see my thirtieth year for some months yet. The bloom of youth has not yet left your cheeks, and your eyes quite overwhelm me.’
    Sephrenia smiled warmly at him, then looked critically at Kalten and Sparhawk. ‘I hope you two are paying attention,’ she said. ‘A little polish wouldn’t hurt either of you.’
    ‘I was never much good at formality, little mother,’ Kalten confessed.
    ‘I’ve noticed,’ she said. ‘Flute,’ she said a bit wearily then, ‘please put the book down. I’ve asked you again and again not to touch them.’
    Several days later, Sir Tynian and Sir Ulath arrived, riding together. Tynian was a good-humoured Alcione Knight from Deira, the kingdom lying to the north of Elenia. His broad, round