The Ruby Knight

surprised.’
    ‘I suppose you’ll want me to get rid of the wagon then?’ Talen said to Sparhawk.
    ‘No. Let’s take it along just to be on the safe side. If any one of these three takes a turn for the worse, we can always put him back in it.’
    ‘I’m going to check the supplies, Sparhawk,’ Kurik said. ‘It could be quite some time before we come to another town with a market-place. I’ll need some money.’
    Even that could not dampen Sparhawk’s elation.
    They spent the rest of the day quietly and retired early that evening.
    Sparhawk lay in his bed staring up into the darkness. It was going to be all right; he was sure of that now. Ghasek was a long distance away, but if Berd had been right about the thoroughness of the count’s research, he would have the answer they needed. Then all that would remain for them to do would be to go to the place where Sarak was buried and recover his crown. Then they hopefully would return to Cimurra with Bhelliom and -
    There was a light tap on his door. He rose and opened it.
    It was Sephrenia. Her face was ashen grey, and there were tears streaming down her cheeks. ‘Please, come with me, Sparhawk,’ she said. ‘I cannot face them alone any more.’
    ‘Face whom?’
    ‘Just come with me. I’m hoping that I’m wrong, but I’m afraid I’m not.’ She led him down the hall and opened the room she shared with Flute, and once again Sparhawk smelled the familiar graveyard reek. Flute sat on the bed, her little face grave, but her eyes unafraid. She was looking at a shadowy figure in black armour. Then the figure turned, and Sparhawk saw the scarred face. ‘Olven,’ he said in a stricken voice.
    The ghost of Sir Olven did not reply but simply extended its hands with its sword lying across them.
    Sephrenia was weeping openly as she stepped forward to receive the sword.
    The ghost looked at Sparhawk and raised one hand in a kind of half-salute.
    And then it vanished.

Chapter 12

    Their mood was very bleak the following morning as they saddled their horses in the pre-dawn darkness.
    ‘Was he a good friend?’ Ulath asked, heaving Kalten’s saddle up onto the back of the blond Pandion’s horse.
    ‘One of the best,’ Sparhawk answered. ‘He never said very much, but you always knew you could depend on him. I’m going to miss him.’
    ‘What are we going to do about those Zemochs following us?’ Kalten asked.
    ‘I don’t think there’s much we can do,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘We’re a little under-strength until you and Tynian and Bevier recover. As long as all they’re doing is trailing along behind us, they’re not much of a problem.’
    ‘I think I’ve told you before that I don’t like having enemies behind me,’ Ulath said.
    ‘I’d rather have them behind me where I can keep an eye on them instead of hiding in ambush somewhere ahead,’ Sparhawk said.
    Kalten winced as he pulled his saddle cinch tight. ‘That’s going to get aggravating,’ he noted, laying one hand gently against his side.
    ‘You’ll heal,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘You always do.’
    ‘The only problem is that it takes longer to heal every time. We’re not getting any younger, Sparhawk. Is Bevier going to be all right to ride?’
    ‘As long as we don’t push him,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘Tynian’s better, but we’ll take it slowly for the first day or so. I’m going to put Sephrenia in the wagon. Every time she gets another of those swords, she gets a little weaker. She’s carrying more than she’s willing to let us know about.’
    Kurik led the rest of the horses out into the yard. He was wearing his customary black leather vest. ‘I suppose I should give Bevier his armour back,’ he said hopefully.
    ‘Keep it for the time being,’ Sparhawk disagreed. ‘I don’t want him to start feeling brave just yet. He’s a little headstrong. Let’s not encourage him until we’re sure he’s all right.’
    ‘This is very uncomfortable, Sparhawk,’ Kurik said.
    ‘I explained the reasons to you the other day.’
    ‘I’m not talking about reasons. Bevier and I are close to the same size, but there are differences. I’ve got raw places all over me.’
    ‘It’s probably only for a couple more days.’
    ‘I’ll be a cripple by then.’
    Berit assisted Sephrenia out through the door of the inn. He helped her up into the wagon and then lifted Flute up beside her. The small Styric woman was wan-looking, and she cradled Olven’s sword gently, almost as one would