The Ruby Knight

distance from the fire, and Sephrenia quietly explained.
    ‘And now Bevier’s got it too?’ Kalten asked her.
    ‘I’m afraid so. He’s already beginning to behave irrationally.’
    ‘Talen,’ Sparhawk said seriously, ‘when you gave him that pail of water, did you touch him?’
    ‘I don’t think so,’ the boy replied.
    ‘Are you feeling any urges to run around rescuing ladies in distress?’ Kurik asked him.
    ‘Me? Kurik, be serious.’
    ‘He’s all right,’ Sephrenia said with relief in her voice.
    ‘All right,’ Sparhawk said, ‘what do we do?’
    ‘We ride to Ghasek as quickly as we can,’ she replied. ‘I have to find out what’s causing the infection before I can cure it. We absolutely have to get into that castle – even if it involves force.’
    ‘We can handle that,’ Ulath said, ‘but what are we going to do about that minstrel? If he can infect others just by touching them, he’s likely to come back at the head of an army.’
    ‘There’s a simple way to deal with it,’ Kalten said, putting his hand on his sword-hilt.
    ‘No,’ Sephrenia said sharply. ‘I’ll put him to sleep instead. A few days’ rest might do him some good anyway.’ She looked sternly at Kalten. ‘Why is your first answer to any problem always a sword?’
    ‘Over-trained, I suppose,’ he shrugged.
    Sephrenia began to speak the incantation, weaving the spell with her fingers and quietly releasing it.
    ‘What about Bevier?’ Tynian asked. ‘Wouldn’t it be a good idea for him to go to sleep too?’
    She shook her head. ‘He has to be able to ride. We can’t leave him behind. Just don’t get close enough to him to let him touch you. I’ve got problems enough already.’
    They walked back to the fire.
    ‘The poor fellow’s gone to sleep,’ Bevier reported. ‘What are we going to do about this?’
    ‘Tomorrow morning, we’re going to ride on to Ghasek,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘Oh, one thing, Bevier,’ he added. ‘I know you’re outraged about this, but try to keep your emotions under control when we get there. Keep your hand away from your sword, and keep your tongue under control. Let’s feel this situation out before we take any action.’
    ‘That’s the course of prudence, I suppose,’ Bevier admitted grudgingly. ‘I’ll feign illness when we get there. I’m not sure I could restrain my anger if I have to look this monstrous count in the face too many times.’
    ‘Good idea,’ Sparhawk agreed. ‘Put a blanket over our friend here, and then get to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a hard day.’
    After Bevier had gone to his tent, Sparhawk spoke quietly with his fellow knights. ‘Don’t wake Bevier to stand watch tonight,’ he cautioned. ‘I don’t want him getting any ideas about riding out on his own in the middle of the night.’
    They all nodded and went to their blankets.
    It was still cloudy the following morning, a dense, grey overcast that filled the dismal wood with a kind of murky twilight. After they had finished breakfast, Kurik erected a sheet of canvas on poles over the sleeping minstrel. ‘Just in case it rains,’ he said.
    ‘Is he all right?’ Bevier asked.
    ‘Just exhausted,’ Sephrenia replied evasively. ‘Let him sleep.’
    They mounted and rode back out to the rutted track. Sparhawk led them at first at a trot to warm up the horses, and then, after about a half-hour he pushed Faran into a gallop. ‘Keep your eyes on the road,’ he shouted to the others. ‘Let’s not cripple any of the horses.’
    They rode hard through the murky wood, slowing briefly from time to time to rest their mounts. As the day progressed, they began to hear rumbles of thunder off to the west, and the impending storm increased their desire to reach the questionable safety of the house at Ghasek.
    As they drew closer to the count’s castle, they passed deserted villages that had fallen into ruin. The storm-clouds roiled overhead, and the distant thunder marched steadily towards them.
    Late in the afternoon, they rounded a curve and saw the large castle perched atop a crag on the far side of a desolate field where ruined houses stood huddled together as if fearful of the bleak structure glowering down at them. Sparhawk reined Faran in. ‘Let’s not just go charging up there,’ he said to the others. ‘We don’t want the people in the castle to misunderstand our intentions.’ He led them at a trot across the field. They passed the village and approached the base of the