The Ruby Knight

He’s too good a man to waste by putting him in a cassock.’
    ‘How about Naween?’ Talen, who stood beside them, suggested.
    ‘Who’s Naween?’ Ulath asked.
    ‘The best whore in Cimmura.’ Talen shrugged. ‘She’s enthusiastic about her work. Sparhawk’s met her.’
    ‘Really?’ Ulath said, looking at Sparhawk with one raised eyebrow.
    ‘It was on business,’ Sparhawk said shortly.
    ‘Of course – but yours or hers?’
    ‘Do you suppose we could drop this?’ Sparhawk cleared his throat and then looked around to make sure that none of King Wargun’s soldiers was within earshot. ‘We’ve got to get clear of this lot before Ghwerig gets too far ahead of us,’ he said.
    ‘Tonight,’ Tynian suggested. ‘Rumour has it that King Wargun drinks himself to sleep every night. We should be able to slip away without too much problem.’
    ‘We surely cannot disobey the direct command of the Patriarch of Emsat,’ Bevier said in a shocked tone.
    ‘Of course not, Bevier,’ Kalten said easily. ‘We’ll just slip out and find some country vicar or the abbot of a monastery and get him to order us to go back to what we were doing.’
    ‘That’s immoral!’ Bevier gasped.
    ‘I know,’ Kalten smirked. ‘Disgusting, isn’t it?’
    ‘But it is technically legitimate, Bevier,’ Tynian assured the young Cyrinic. ‘A bit devious, I’ll admit, but still legitimate. We’re oath-bound to follow the orders of consecrated members of the clergy. The order of a vicar or an abbot would supersede the order of Patriarch Bergsten, wouldn’t it?’ Tynian’s eyes were wide and innocent.
    Bevier looked at him helplessly, and then he began to laugh.
    ‘I think he’s going to be all right, Sparhawk,’ Ulath said, ‘but let’s keep your friend Naween in reserve – just in case.’
    ‘Who’s Naween?’ Bevier asked, puzzled.
    ‘An acquaintance of mine,’ Sparhawk replied distantly. ‘Someday I may introduce you.’
    ‘I’d be honoured,’ Bevier said sincerely.
    Talen went off some distance and collapsed in helpless laughter.
    They caught up with the mob of disconsolate-looking Pelosian conscripts late that afternoon. As Sparhawk had feared, the perimeter of their encampment was being patrolled by Wargun’s heavily armed thugs.
    ‘The soldiers set up a pavilion for them just before sunset, and they went inside. Sparhawk removed his armour and put on a mail-shirt instead. ‘The rest of you wait here,’ he said. ‘I want to take a look around before it gets dark.’ He put on his sword-belt and stepped out of the tent.
    There were two evil-looking Thalesians outside. ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ one of them demanded.
    Sparhawk gave him a flat, unfriendly stare and waited.
    ‘- My Lord,’ the fellow grudgingly added.
    ‘I want to check on my horse,’ Sparhawk said.
    ‘We have farriers to do that, Sir Knight.’
    ‘We’re not going to have an argument about this, are we, neighbour?’
    ‘Ah – no, I don’t think so, Sir Knight.’
    ‘Good. Where are the horses picketed?’
    ‘I’ll show you, Sir Sparhawk.’
    ‘There’s no need of that. Just tell me.’
    ‘I have to accompany you anyway, Sir Knight. The King’s orders.’
    ‘I see. Lead on then.’
    As they started out, Sparhawk heard a sudden boisterous voice. ‘Ho there, Sir Knight!’ He looked around.
    ‘I see they got you and your friends too.’ It was Kring, the Domi of the marauding band of Peloi.
    ‘Hello, my friend,’ Sparhawk greeted the shaven-headed tribesman. ‘Did you catch up with those Zemochs?’
    Kring laughed. ‘I’ve got a whole sack-full of ears,’ he said. ‘They tried to make a stand. Stupid people, the Zemochs. But then King Soros took up with this rag-tag army, and we had to follow along in order to collect the bounty.’ He rubbed at his shaved head. ‘That’s all right, though. We didn’t have anything pressing to do back home anyway, now that the mares have all foaled. Tell me, do you still have that young thief with you?’
    ‘Last time I looked, he was still around. Of course he might have stolen a few things and then bolted. He bolts very well when the occasion demands it.’
    ‘I’ll wager he does, Sir Knight, I’ll wager he does. How’s my friend Tynian? I saw you all when you rode in, and I was just on my way to visit him.’
    ‘He’s well.’
    ‘Good.’ The Domi looked seriously at Sparhawk then. ‘Perhaps you can give me some information about military etiquette,