The Ruby Knight

Platime was busily haggling. ‘Sparhawk!’ The huge man roared his greeting.
    Sparhawk stared at him in some astonishment. ‘What are you doing in Acie, Platime?’
    ‘Several things, actually,’ Platime said. ‘Meland and I always trade stolen jewellery. He sells what I steal in Cimmura, and I take what he steals around here back to Cimmura and sell it there. People tend to recognize their own jewellery, and it’s not always safe to sell things in the same town where you stole them.’
    ‘This piece isn’t worth what you’re asking for it, Platime,’ Meland said flatly, holding up a jewel-studded bracelet.
    ‘All right, make me an offer,’ Platime suggested.
    ‘Another coincidence, Sparhawk?’ Kurik asked suspiciously.
    ‘We’ll see,’ Sparhawk said.
    ‘The Earl of Lenda’s here in Acie, Sparhawk,’ Platime said seriously. ‘He’s the closest thing to an honest man on the royal council, and he’s attending some kind of conference at the palace. Something’s afoot, and I want to know about it. I don’t like surprises.’
    ‘I can tell you what’s going on,’ Sparhawk told him.
    ‘You can?’ Platime looked a little surprised.
    ‘If the price is right,’ Sparhawk grinned.
    ‘Money?’
    ‘No, a little more than that, I think. I sat in on the conference you mentioned. You know about the war in Arcium, of course?’
    ‘Naturally.’
    ‘And what I tell you will go no further?’
    Platime motioned Meland away from the table, then looked closely at Sparhawk and grinned. ‘Only in the way of business, my friend.’
    This was not a particularly reassuring reply. ‘You’ve professed some degree of patriotism in the past,’ Sparhawk said carefully.
    ‘I have those feelings from time to time,’ Platime admitted grudgingly, ‘as long as they don’t interfere with honest profit.’
    ‘All right, I need your co-operation.’
    ‘What have you got in mind?’ Platime asked suspiciously.
    ‘My friends and I are seeking to restore Queen Ehlana to her throne.’
    ‘You have been for quite some time, Sparhawk, but can that pale little girl really manage a kingdom?’
    ‘I think she can, yes, and I’ll be right behind her.’
    ‘That gives her a certain edge. What are you going to do about Lycheas the bastard?’
    ‘King Wargun wants to hang him.’
    ‘I don’t normally approve of hangings, but in the case of Lycheas, I’d make an exception. Do you think I could reach an accommodation with Ehlana?’
    ‘I wouldn’t wager any money on it.’
    Platime grinned. ‘It was worth a try,’ he said. ‘Just tell my queen that I am her most faithful servant. She and I can work out the details later.’
    ‘You’re a bad man, Platime.’
    ‘I never pretended to be anything else. All right, Sparhawk, what do you need? I’ll go along with you – up to a point.’
    ‘I need information more than anything. You know Kalten?’
    ‘Your friend? Of course.’
    ‘He’s at the palace right now. Put on something that makes you look more or less respectable. Go there and ask for him. Make arrangements with him to pass on information. I gather that you have ways to pick up details about most of the things that are going on in the known world?’
    ‘Would you like to know what’s going on in the Tamul Empire right now?’
    ‘Not really. I’ve got enough trouble here in Eosia at the moment. We’ll deal with the Daresian continent when the time comes.’
    ‘You’re ambitious, my friend.’
    ‘Not really. For the moment, I just want our queen back on her throne.’
    ‘I’ll settle for that,’ Platime said. ‘Anything to get rid of Lycheas and Annias.’
    ‘We’re all working in the same direction then. Talk with Kalten. He can set up ways for you to get information to him, and he’ll pass it on to people who can use it.’
    ‘You’re turning me into a spy, Sparhawk,’ Platime said in a pained voice.
    ‘It’s at least as honourable a profession as thievery.’
    ‘I know. The only problem, though, is that I don’t know how well it pays. Where are you going from here?’
    ‘We have to go to Thalesia.’
    ‘Wargun’s own kingdom? After you just ran away from him? Sparhawk, you’re either braver or stupider than I thought you were.’
    ‘You know that we slipped out of the palace then?’
    ‘Talen told me.’ Platime thought a moment. ‘You’ll probably make port at Emsat, won’t you?’
    ‘That’s what our captain says.’
    ‘Talen, come here,’ Platime called.
    ‘What