The Ruby Knight

on watch. ‘There seem to be a lot of wolves out there,’ the big Genidian said quietly. ‘It might not be a bad idea to put your back to a tree.’
    ‘I’ve never heard of a wolf attacking a man,’ Sparhawk replied, also speaking softly to avoid waking the others.
    ‘They usually don’t – unless they’re rabid.’
    ‘That’s a cheerful thought.’
    ‘I’m glad you liked it. I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.’
    Sparhawk left the circle of firelight and stopped about fifty yards back in the forest to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He heard the howling of wolves back off in the woods. He thought he had found the source of many of the stories that had been circulating about Ghasek. This gloomy forest alone would be sufficient to stir up fears in superstitious people. Add to that the flocks of ravens – always a bird of ill omen – and the chill howling of packs of wolves, and it was easy to see how the stories had started. Sparhawk carefully circled the camp, his eyes and ears alert.
    Forty leagues. Given the worsening condition of the road, it would be unlikely that they could cover more than ten leagues a day. Sparhawk chafed at their slow pace, but there was nothing he could do about it. They had to go to Ghasek. The thought came to him that the count might very well not have found anyone who knew the whereabouts of King Sarak’s grave, and that this tedious and time-consuming trek might all be for nothing. He quickly pushed that thought out of his mind.
    Idly, still watching the surrounding woods, he began to wonder what his life would be like if they were successful in curing Ehlana. He had known her only as a child, but she was no longer a little girl. He had received a few hints about her adult personality, but nothing definite enough to make him feel that he really knew her. She would be a good queen, of that he was certain, but exactly what kind of a woman was she?
    He saw a movement out in the shadows and stopped, his hand going to his sword as he searched the darkness. Then he saw a pair of blazing green eyes that reflected back the light of their fire. It was a wolf. The animal stared at the flames for a long time, then turned to slink silently back into the forest.
    Sparhawk realized that he had been holding his breath, and he let it out explosively. No one is ever really prepared for a meeting with a wolf, and even though he knew it was irrational, he nonetheless felt the instinctive chill.
    The moon rose, casting its pale light over the dark forest. Sparhawk looked up and saw the clouds coming in. Gradually, they obscured the moon and inexorably continued to build up. ‘Oh, fine,’ he muttered. ‘That’s all we need – more rain.’ He shook his head and walked on, his eyes probing the darkness around him.
    Somewhat later, Tynian relieved him, and he went back to his tent.
    ‘Sparhawk.’ It was Talen, and his shaking of Sparhawk’s shoulder was light as he woke the big Pandion.
    ‘Yes.’ Sparhawk sat up, recognizing the note of urgency in the boy’s voice.
    ‘There’s something out there.’
    ‘I know. Wolves.’
    ‘This wasn’t a wolf – unless they’ve learned to walk on their hind legs.’
    ‘What did you see?’
    ‘It was back in the shadows under those trees. I couldn’t see it very well, but it seemed to have a kind of robe over it, and the robe didn’t fit very well.’
    ‘The Seeker?’
    ‘How would I know? I only caught a glimpse of it. It came to the edge of the woods and then dropped back into the shadows. I probably wouldn’t even have seen it except for the glow coming off its face.’
    ‘Green?’
    Talen nodded.
    Sparhawk started to swear.
    ‘When you run out of words, let me know,’ Talen offered. ‘I’m a pretty good swearer.’
    ‘Did you warn Tynian?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘What were you doing out of bed?’
    Talen sighed. ‘Grow up, Sparhawk,’ he said in a tone far older than his years. ‘No thief ever sleeps more than two hours at a time without going out to look around.’
    ‘I didn’t know that.’
    ‘You should have. It’s a nervous life, but it’s a lot of fun.’
    Sparhawk cupped his hand about the back of the young fellow’s neck. ‘I’m going to make a normal boy out of you yet,’ he said.
    ‘Why bother? I outgrew all that a long time ago. It might have been nice to run and play – if things had been different – but they weren’t, and this is much more fun. Go back to sleep, Sparhawk. Tynian and