The Ruby Knight

are forced to resort to magic to restore the Queen of Elenia to health, and there’s only one thing in the world with that much power. We’re on our way to the great battlefield at Lake Randera to seek out the jewel which once surmounted the royal crown of Thalesia.’
    ‘Bhelliom?’ Ortzel was shocked. ‘Surely you would not bring that accursed thing to light again?’
    ‘We have no choice, Your Grace. Only Bhelliom can restore my queen.’
    ‘But Bhelliom is tainted. All the wickedness of the Troll-Gods infects it.’
    ‘The Troll-Gods aren’t all that bad, Your Grace,’ Ulath said. ‘They’re capricious, I’ll grant you, but they’re not truly evil.’
    ‘The Elene God forbids consorting with them.’
    ‘The Elene God is wise, Your Grace,’ Sephrenia told him. ‘He has also forbidden contact with the Gods of Styricum. He made an exception to his prohibition, however, when the time came to form the militant orders. The Younger Gods of Styricum agreed to assist Him in His design. One wonders if He might not also be able to enlist the aid of the Troll-Gods. He is, I understand, most persuasive.’
    ‘Blasphemy!’ Ortzel gasped.
    ‘No, Your Grace, not really. I am Styric and therefore not subject to Elene theology.’
    ‘Hadn’t we better get going?’ Ulath suggested. ‘It’s a long ride to Chyrellos, and we need to get His Grace out of this castle before the fighting starts.’
    ‘Well put, my laconic friend,’ Tynian approved.
    ‘I shall make ready at once,’ Ortzel said, going to the door. ‘We will be able to depart within the hour.’ And he went out.
    ‘How long do you think it’s likely to be before the count’s forces reach here, My Lord?’ Tynian asked the baron.
    ‘No more than a day, Sir Tynian. I have friends who are impeding his march northward from his keep, but he has a sizeable army, and I’m certain he will soon break his way through.’
    ‘Talen,’ Sparhawk said sharply, ‘put it back.’
    The boy made a wry face and laid a small dagger with a jewelled hilt back on the table from which he had taken it. ‘I didn’t think you were watching,’ he said.
    ‘Don’t ever make that mistake,’ Sparhawk said. ‘I always watch you.’
    The baron looked puzzled.
    ‘The boy has not yet learned to grasp some of the finer points of property ownership, My Lord,’ Kalten said lightly. ‘We’ve been trying to teach him, but he’s a slow learner.’
    Talen sighed and took up his sketch pad and pencil. Then he sat at a table on the far side of the room and began to draw. He was, Sparhawk remembered, very talented.
    ‘I am most grateful to you all, gentlemen,’ the baron was saying. ‘The safety of my brother has been my only concern. Now I shall be able to concentrate on the business at hand.’ He looked at Sparhawk. ‘Do you think you might possibly encounter this Martel person during the course of your quest?’
    ‘I most certainly hope so,’ Sparhawk said fervently.
    ‘And is it your intention to kill him?’
    ‘That’s been Sparhawk’s intention for the last dozen years or so,’ Kalten said. ‘Martel sleeps very lightly when Sparhawk’s in the same kingdom with him.’
    ‘May God aid your arm then, Sir Sparhawk,’ the baron said. ‘My son will rest more peacefully once his betrayer joins him in the House of the Dead.’
    The door burst open, and Sir Enmann hurried into the room. ‘My Lord!’ he said to Alstrom in urgent tones, ‘come quickly!’
    Alstrom came to his feet. ‘What is it, Sir Enmann?’
    ‘Count Gerrich has deceived us. He has a fleet of ships on the river, and even now his forces are landing on both sides of this promontory.’
    ‘Sound the alarm!’ the baron commanded, ‘and raise the drawbridge!’
    ‘At once, My Lord.’ Enmann hurried from the room.
    Alstrom sighed bleakly. ‘I’m afraid it’s too late, Sir Sparhawk,’ he said. ‘Both your quest and the task I set you are doomed now. We are under siege, and we will all be trapped within these walls for a number of years, I fear.’

Chapter 5

    The booming crash of boulders slamming against the walls of Alstrom’s castle came with monotonous regularity as the siege engines of Count Gerrich moved into place and began pounding the fortress.
    Sparhawk and the others had remained in the cheerless, weapon-cluttered room at Alstrom’s request, and they sat awaiting his return.
    ‘I’ve never been under siege before,’ Talen said, looking up from his drawings. ‘How