The Ruby Knight

Kalten said seriously. ‘The business about Bhelliom’s re-emergence ringing through the whole world?’
    ‘Vaguely,’ Sparhawk replied.
    ‘Then the minute we dig it up, Azash is going to know about it, and the road back to Cimmura could be lined on both sides with Zemochs. It could be a very nervous trip.’
    Ulath was riding directly behind them. ‘Not really,’ he disagreed. ‘Sparhawk’s already got the rings. I can teach him a few words in the language of the Trolls. Once he’s got Bhelliom in his hands, there’s almost nothing he won’t be able to do. He’ll be able to bowl over whole regiments of Zemochs.’
    ‘Is it really that powerful?’
    ‘Kalten, you have no idea. If even half the stories are true, Bhelliom can do almost anything. Sparhawk could probably stop the sun with it, if he wanted to.’
    Sparhawk looked back over his shoulder at Ulath. ‘Do you have to know Troll language to use Bhelliom?’ he asked.
    ‘I’m not really sure,’ Ulath replied, ‘but they say that it’s infused with the power of the Troll-Gods. They might not respond to words spoken in Elene or Styric. The next time I talk with a Troll-God, I’ll ask Him.’
    They camped in the forest again that night, and after supper Sparhawk walked away from the fire to do some thinking. Bevier quietly joined him. ‘Will we stop in Venne when we reach it?’ the Cyrinic asked.
    ‘More than likely,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘I doubt that we’d be able to get much farther tomorrow.’
    ‘Good. I’ll need to find a church.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘I’ve been contaminated by evil. I need to pray for a while.’
    ‘It wasn’t really your fault, Bevier. It could have happened to any one of us.’
    ‘But it was me, Sparhawk,’ Bevier sighed. ‘The witch probably sought me out because she knew that I’d be susceptible.’
    ‘Nonsense, Bevier. You’re the most devout man I’ve ever met.’
    ‘No,’ Bevier disagreed sadly. ‘I know my own weaknesses. I am powerfully attracted to members of the fair sex.’
    ‘You’re young, my friend. What you feel is only natural. It subsides in time – or so I’m told.’
    ‘Do you still feel those urges? I’d hoped that by the time I reached your age, they would no longer trouble me.’
    ‘It doesn’t work exactly that way, Bevier. I’ve known some very old men whose heads could still be turned by a pretty face. It’s part of being human, I suppose. If God didn’t want us to feel that way, He wouldn’t permit it. Patriarch Dolmant explained it to me once when I was having a problem with it. I’m not sure I entirely believed him, but it made me feel a little less guilty.’
    Bevier chuckled. ‘You, Sparhawk? This is a side of you I hadn’t seen. I thought you were totally consumed with your sense of duty.’
    ‘Not entirely, Bevier. I still have a little time for other thoughts as well. I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to meet Lillias.’
    ‘Lillias?’
    ‘A Rendorish woman. I lived with her while I was in exile.’
    ‘ Sparhawk! ’ Bevier gasped.
    ‘It was part of a necessary disguise.’
    ‘But surely you didn’t -’ Bevier left it hanging. Sparhawk was sure that the young man was blushing furiously, but the darkness concealed it.
    ‘Oh, yes,’ he assured his friend. ‘Lillias would have left me otherwise. She’s a woman of strong appetites. I needed her to help conceal my real identity, so I more or less had to try to keep her happy.’
    ‘I’m shocked at you, Sparhawk, truly shocked.’
    ‘The Pandions are a more pragmatic order than the Cyrinics, Bevier. We do what has to be done in order to get the job finished. Don’t worry, my friend. Your soul hasn’t been damaged – at least not very much.’
    ‘I still need to spend some time in a church.’
    ‘Why? God is everywhere, isn’t he?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Talk with Him here, then.’
    ‘It wouldn’t be quite the same.’
    ‘Whatever makes you feel right, I suppose.’
    They set out again at first light. The road now tended downward, for they were coming down out of the low range of forested hills. On occasion, when rounding a curve or cresting a hill, they could see Lake Venne sparkling in the spring sun off in the distance, and by mid-afternoon they reached the fork in the road. The main road was much better than had been the one leading down from Ghasek, and they reached the north gate of Venne just before the sunset filled the western sky with its fire.
    Once again they rode