The Ruby Knight

Ulath,’ Wargun said.
    ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’
    ‘About the only problem remaining is what we’re going to do about Lycheas,’ the Earl of Lenda said.
    ‘I’ve already decided that,’ Wargun said. ‘As soon as we get to Cimmura, I’m going to hang him.’
    ‘Splendid notion,’ Lenda said smoothly, ‘but I think we might want to consider that just a bit. You do know that Annias is the Prince Regent’s father, don’t you?’
    ‘So Sparhawk tells me, but I don’t really care who his father is, I’m going to hang him anyway.’
    ‘I’m not really sure just how fond Annias is of his son, but he did go to some fairly extreme measures to put him on the Elenian throne. It might just be that the militant orders can use him to some advantage when they get to Chyrellos. An offer to put him to the torture might just persuade Annias to move his troops out of Chyrellos so that the election can proceed without their interference.’
    ‘You’re taking all the fun out of this, Lenda,’ Wargun complained. He scowled. ‘You’re probably right, though. All right, when we get to Cimmura, we’ll throw him in the dungeon – along with all his toadies. Are you up to taking charge at the Palace?’
    ‘If Your Majesty wishes,’ Lenda sighed, ‘but wouldn’t Sparhawk or Vanion be a better choice?’
    ‘Maybe, but I’m going to need them when I get to Arcium. What do you think, Obler?’
    ‘I have absolute confidence in the Earl of Lenda,’ King Obler replied.
    ‘I’ll do my best, Your Majesties,’ Lenda said, ‘but keep in mind the fact that I’m getting very old.’
    ‘You’re not as old as I am, my friend,’ King Obler reminded him, ‘and nobody’s offered to let me evade my responsibilities.’
    ‘All right, that’s settled then,’ Wargun said. ‘Now, let’s get down to cases. We’ll march south to Cimmura, imprison Lycheas and bully the Elenian General Staff into joining with us with their army. We may as well pick up the Church soldiers as well. Then we join Soros and Bergsten on the Arcian border. We march south to Larium, encircle the Rendors and exterminate the lot of them.’
    ‘Isn’t that a bit extreme, Your Majesty?’ Lenda objected.
    ‘No, as a matter of fact, it’s not. I want it to be at least ten generations before the Eshandist Heresy raises its head again.’ He grinned crookedly at Sparhawk. ‘If you serve well and faithfully, my friend, I’ll even let you kill Martel.’
    ‘I’d appreciate that, Your Majesty,’ Sparhawk replied politely.
    ‘Oh, dear,’ Sephrenia sighed.
    ‘It needs to be done, little lady,’ Wargun told her. ‘Obler, is your army ready to move?’
    ‘They’re only awaiting orders, Wargun.’
    ‘Good. If you don’t have anything else planned, why don’t we start for Elenia tomorrow?’
    ‘We might as well.’ Old King Obler shrugged.
    Wargun stood up and stretched, yawning broadly. ‘Let’s all get some sleep then,’ he said. ‘We’ll be starting early tomorrow.’
    Later, Sparhawk and his friends gathered in Vanion’s room to tell the Preceptor in much greater detail what had happened in Lamorkand and Pelosia.
    When they had finished, he looked curiously at Flute. ‘Just exactly what’s your part in all this?’ he asked her.
    ‘I was sent to help,’ she replied with a shrug.
    ‘By Styricum?’
    ‘In a manner of speaking.’
    ‘And what was this task you have to perform here in Acie?’
    ‘I’ve already done it, Vanion. Sephrenia and I had to talk with a certain Styric here. We saw him in the street on our way to the palace and took care of it.’
    ‘What did you have to say to him that was more important than getting the Bhelliom?’
    ‘We had to prepare Styricum for what is about to happen.’
    ‘The invasion by the Rendors, you mean?’
    ‘Oh, that’s nothing, Vanion. This is much, much more serious.’
    Vanion looked at Sparhawk. ‘You’re going to Thalesia then?’
    Sparhawk nodded. ‘Even if I have to walk on water to get there.’
    ‘All right, I’ll do what I can to help you get out of the city. There’s one thing that concerns me, though. If you all leave, Wargun’s going to notice that you’re gone. Sparhawk and one or two others might be able to get away without alerting Wargun, but that’s about all.’
    Flute stepped into the middle of the room and looked them over. ‘Sparhawk,’ she said, pointing, ‘and Kurik. Sephrenia and me – and Talen.’
    ‘That’s absurd,’ Bevier exploded.