The Ruby Knight

Wargun’s getting impatient.’ Sparhawk squinted at Vanion’s armour. ‘Brace yourself,’ he said. ‘You’re lopsided.’ Then he banged both of his fists down on Vanion’s shoulder plates. ‘There,’ he said. ‘That’s better.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Vanion said drily, his knees buckling slightly.
    ‘The honour of the order, My Lord. I don’t want you to look as if you were dressed in cheap tin plates.’
    Vanion decided not to answer that.
    The Earl of Lenda was in the room when Sparhawk and Vanion entered.
    ‘There you are, Vanion,’ King Wargun said. ‘Now we can get started. What’s happening down in Arcium?’
    ‘The situation hasn’t changed all that much, Your Majesty. The Rendors are still besieging Larium, but the Genidians, Cyrinics and Alciones are inside the walls along with most of the Arcian army.’
    ‘Is the city in any real danger?’
    ‘Hardly. It’s built like a mountain. You know the Arcian fondness for stone-work. It could probably hold out for twenty years.’ Vanion looked over at Sparhawk. ‘I saw an old friend of yours down there,’ he said. ‘Martel appears to be in command of the Rendorish army.’
    ‘I’d more or less guessed that. I thought I’d nailed his feet to the floor down in Rendor, but apparently he managed to talk his way around Arasham.’
    ‘He really didn’t have to,’ King Obler said. ‘Arasham died a month ago – under highly suspicious circumstances.’
    ‘It sounds as if Martel’s had his hand in the poison jar again,’ Kalten said.
    ‘Who’s the new spiritual leader in Rendor then?’ Sparhawk asked.
    ‘A man named Ulesim,’ King Obler replied. ‘I gather he was one of Arasham’s disciples.’
    Sparhawk laughed. ‘Arasham didn’t even know he existed. I’ve met Ulesim. The man’s an idiot. He won’t last six months.’
    ‘Anyway,’ Vanion continued, ‘I have the Pandion order out in the countryside dealing with Rendorish foraging parties. Martel’s going to start getting hungry before long. That’s about all, Your Majesty,’ he concluded.
    ‘Nice and to the point. Thanks, Vanion. Lenda, what’s going on in Cimmura?’
    ‘Things are about the same, Your Majesty – except that Annias has gone to Chyrellos.’
    ‘And he’s probably perched on the foot of the Archprelate’s bed like a vulture,’ Wargun surmised.
    ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised, Your Majesty,’ Lenda agreed. ‘He left Lycheas in charge. I have a number of people in the palace who work for me, and one of them managed to hear Annias giving Lycheas his final instructions. He ordered Lycheas to withhold the Elenian army from the campaign in Rendor. As soon as Cluvonus dies, the army – and the Church soldiers in Cimmura – are supposed to march on Chyrellos. Annias wants to flood the holy city with his own men to help intimidate the uncommitted members of the Hierocracy.’
    ‘The Elenian army’s mobilized then?’
    ‘Fully, Your Majesty. They have an encampment about ten leagues south of Cimmura.’
    ‘We’ll probably have to fight them, Your Majesty,’ Kalten said. ‘Annias dismissed most of the old generals and replaced them with men loyal to him.’
    Wargun started to swear.
    ‘It may not be quite as serious as it sounds, Your Majesty,’ the Earl of Lenda said. ‘I’ve made an extended study of the law. In times of religious crisis, the militant orders are empowered to take command of all forces in Western Eosia. Wouldn’t you say that an invasion by the Eshandist Heresy qualifies as a religious crisis?’
    ‘By God, you’re right, Lenda. Is that Elenian law?’
    ‘No, Your Majesty. Church law.’
    Wargun suddenly howled with laughter. ‘Oh, that’s too rare!’ he roared, pounding on the arm of his chair with one beefy fist. ‘Annias is trying to become the head of the church, and we use church law to spike his wheel. Lenda, you’re a genius.’
    ‘I have my moments, Your Majesty,’ Lenda replied modestly. ‘I’d imagine that Preceptor Vanion here can persuade the General Staff to join your forces – particularly in view of the fact that Church law empowers him to resort to extreme measures should any officer refuse to accept his authority in such situations.’
    ‘I’d imagine that a few beheadings might prove instructional to the General Staff,’ Ulath said. ‘If we shorten four or five generals, the rest will probably fall in line.’
    ‘Quickly,’ Tynian added with a grin.
    ‘Keep your axe good and sharp then,