The Ruby Knight

think you’ll be able to find your way to that inn by yourself?’
    ‘Of course. I can find any place in any town.’
    ‘Good. Stay here then, and keep your eyes on that road coming up from the south. Let’s see if those Zemochs are still curious about us.’
    ‘No problem, Sparhawk.’ Talen dismounted and tied his horse at the side of the gate. Then he strolled back out and sat in the grass at the side of the road.
    Sparhawk and the others rode on into the city with the wagon clattering along behind them. The cobbled streets of Paler were crowded, but people gave way to the Knights of the Church, and they reached the inn within perhaps half an hour. Sparhawk dismounted and went inside.
    The innkeeper wore one of the tall, pointed hats common in Pelosia and had a slightly haughty expression.
    ‘You have rooms?’ Sparhawk asked him.
    ‘Of course. This is an inn.’
    Sparhawk waited, his expression cold.
    ‘What’s your trouble?’ the innkeeper asked.
    ‘I was just waiting for you to finish your sentence. I think you left something out.’
    The innkeeper flushed. ‘Sorry, My Lord,’ he mumbled.
    ‘Much better,’ Sparhawk congratulated him. ‘Now then, I have three injured friends. Does there happen to be a physician nearby?’
    ‘Down at the end of this street, My Lord. He has a sign out.’
    ‘Is he any good?’
    ‘I really couldn’t say. I haven’t been sick lately.’
    ‘We’ll chance him, I guess. I’ll bring my friends inside and go and get him.’
    ‘I don’t think he’ll come, My Lord. He has a very high opinion of himself. He thinks it’s beneath his dignity to leave his quarters. He makes the sick and injured come to him.’
    ‘I’ll persuade him,’ Sparhawk said bleakly.
    The innkeeper laughed a bit nervously at that. ‘How many in your party, My Lord?’
    ‘Ten of us. We’ll help the injured inside, and then I’ll go and have a chat with this self-important physician.’
    They aided Kalten, Tynian and Bevier into the inn and up the stairs to their rooms. Then Sparhawk came back down and walked resolutely towards the end of the street, his black cape billowing out behind him.
    The physician maintained his quarters on the second floor over a greengrocer’s shop, and entry was gained by way of an outside stairway. Sparhawk clanked up the stairs and entered without knocking. The physician was a weaselly little fellow dressed in a flowing blue robe. His eyes bulged slightly when he looked up from his book to see a grim-faced man in black armour enter uninvited. ‘I beg your pardon,’ he objected.
    Sparhawk ignored that. He had decided that the best course was to cut through any possible arguments. ‘You are the physician?’ he asked in a flat voice.
    ‘I am,’ the man replied.
    ‘You will come with me.’ It was not a request.
    ‘But -’
    ‘No buts. I have three injured friends who require your attention.’
    ‘Can’t you bring them here? I do not customarily leave my quarters.’
    ‘Customs change. Get what you’ll need and come along. They’re at the inn just up the street.’
    ‘This is outrageous, Sir Knight.’
    ‘We’re not going to argue about this, are we, neighbour?’ Sparhawk’s voice was deadly quiet.
    The physician flinched back. ‘Ah – no. I don’t believe so. I’ll make an exception in this case.’
    ‘I was hoping you’d feel that way.’
    The physician rose quickly. ‘I’ll get my instruments and some medicines. What sort of injuries are we talking about?’
    ‘One of them has some broken ribs. Another seems to be bleeding inside somewhere. The third suffers mostly from exhaustion.’
    ‘Exhaustion is easily cured. Just have your friend spend several days in bed.’
    ‘He doesn’t have time. Just give him something that’ll get him back on his feet.’
    ‘How did they receive these injuries?’
    ‘Church business,’ Sparhawk said shortly.
    ‘I’m always eager to serve the Church.’
    ‘You’ve got no idea of how happy that makes me.’
    Sparhawk led the reluctant physician back up the street to the inn and on up to the second floor. He drew Sephrenia aside as the healer began his examinations. ‘It’s a little late,’ he said to her. ‘Why don’t we hold off on visiting the tanner until morning? I don’t think we want him to be rushed. He might forget things we need to know.’
    ‘Truly,’ she agreed. ‘Besides, I want to be sure this physician knows what he’s doing. He looks a little unreliable to