myself, but I’ve probably forgotten by now. Anyway, they have a language,
which means that they’re semi-human, and that means that they have Gods,
doesn’t it?’ Morsel looked helplessly at Emban. ‘Don’t ask me, my friend,’
the fat Patriarch said. ‘That’s a long way out of my theological depth.’
‘For the time being, you’ll have to take my word for it,’ Sparhawk told
them. ‘There are Trolls, and they do have Gods – five of them – and they
aren’t very nice. That shadow Patriarch Emban just so casually dismissed
was them – or something very much like them – and that’s what we’re up
against. That’s what’s trying to bring down the empire and the Church both
our churches, probably. I’m sorry I have to put it to you so abruptly,
Archimandrite Morsel, but you have to know what you’re dealing with.
Otherwise, you’ll be totally defenceless. You don’t have to believe what I
just told you, but you’d better behave as if you did, because if you don’t,
your Church doesn’t have a chance of surviving.
The Atans arrived a few days later. A hush fell over the ‘city of Darsas as
the citizens scurried for cover. No man is so entirely’ guiltless in his
own soul that the sudden appearance of a few thousand police does not give
him a qualm or two. The Atans were superbly conditioned giants. The two
thousand warriors of both sexes ran in perfect unison as they entered the
city four abreast. They wore short leather kirtles, burnished steel
breastplates and black half-boots. Their bare limbs gleamed Solder in the
morning sun as they ran, and their faces were stern and unbending. Though
they were obviously soldiers, there was no uniformity in their weapons.
They carried a random collection of swords, short spears and axes, as well
as other implements for which Sparhawk had no names. They all had several
sheathed daggers strapped tightly to their arms and legs. They wore no
helmets, but had slender gold circlets about their heads instead. ‘Lord,’
Kalten breathed to Sparhawk as the two of them stood on the palace
battlements to watch the arrival of their escort, ‘i’d really hate to come
up against that lot on a battlefield. just looking at them makes my blood
run cold.’
‘I believe that’s the idea, Kalten,’ Sparhawk said. ‘Mirtai’s impressive
all by herself, but when you see a couple of thousand of them like this,
you begin to understand how the Tamuls were able to conquer a continent
without any particular difficulty. I’d imagine that whole armies simply
capitulated when they saw them coming.’ The Atans entered the square in
front of the palace and formed up before the residence of the Tamul
Ambassador. A huge man went to Ambassador Fontan’s door, his pace quite
clearly indicating that if the door were not opened for him, he would walk
right through it. ‘Why don’t we go down?’ Sparhawk suggested. ‘I
expect that Fontan will be bri’nging that fellow to call in a few moments.
Watch what you say, Kalten. Those people strike me as a singularly
humourless group. I’m sure they’d miss the point of almost any joke.’
‘Really,’ Kalten breathed his agreement. The party accompanying the Queen
of Elenia gathered in her Majesty’s private quarters and stood about rather
nervously awaiting the arrival of the Tamul Ambassador and his general.
Sparhawk watched Mirtai rather closely to see what her reaction might be
upon being re-united with her people after so many years. She wore clothing
he had not seen her wear before, clothing which closely resembled that worn
by her countrymen. In place of the steel breastplate, however, she wore a
tight-fitting, sleeveless black leather jerkin, and the band about her brow
was of silver rather than gold. Her face was serene, seeming to show
neither anticipation nor nervous apprehension. She merely waited. Then
Fontan and Oscagne arrived with the tallest man Sparhawk had ever seen.
They introduced him as Atan Engessa. The word ‘Atan’ appeared to be not
only the name of the people, but some kind of title as well. ‘ Engessa was
well over seven feet tall, and the room seemed to shrink as he entered. His
age, probably because of his race, was indeterminate. He was lean and
muscular, and his expression sternly unyielding. His face showed no
evidence that he had ever smiled. immediately upon his entrance into the
room, he went directly to Mirtai, as if none of the rest of them were even
in the room. He touched the fingertips of both hands to his steel-armoured
chest and inclined his .head to her. ‘Atana Mirtai,’ he greeted her
respectfully. ‘Atan Engessa,’ she replied, duplicating his gesture of
greeting. Then they smoke to each other at some length in the Tamul tongue.
‘ What are they saying?’ Ehlana asked Oscagne, who Walked to where they all
stood. it’s a ritual of greeting, your Majesty,’ Oscagne replied. ‘There
are a great many formalities involved when Atans meet. The rituals help to
hold down the bloodshed, I believe. At the moment, Engessa’s questioning
Mirtai concerning her status as a child – the silver headband, you
understand. It’s an indication that she hasn’t yet gone through the Rite of
Passage.’ He paused and listened for a moment as Mirtai spoke. ‘She’s
explaining that she’s been separated from humans since childhood and hasn’t
had the opportunity to participate in the ritual as yet.’
‘Separated from humans?’ Ehlana objected. ‘What does she think we are?’
‘Atans believe that they are the only humans in the world. I’m not sure
exactly what they consider us to be.’ The ambassador blinked. ‘Has she’
really killed that many people?’ he asked with some surprise. ‘Ten?’
Sparhawk asked. ‘She said thirty-four.’
‘That’s impossible!’ Ehlana exclaimed. ‘She’s been A member of my court
for the past seven years. I’d have known if she’d killed anyone while she
was in my service.’
‘Not if she did it at night, you wouldn’t, my Queen,’ Sparhawk disagreed.
‘She locks us in our rooms every night. She says that it’s for our own
protection, but maybe it’s really so that she can go out looking for
entertainment. Maybe we should change the procedure when we get home. Let’s
start locking her up for the night instead of the other way around.’
‘She’ll just kick the door down, Sparhawk.’
‘That’s true, I suppose. We could always chain her to the wall at night, I
guess.’
‘Sparhawk.’ Ehlana exclaimed. ‘We can talk about it later. Here comes
Fontan and General Engessa.’
‘Atan Engessa, Sparhawk,’ Oscagne corrected.
‘Engessa wouldn’t even recognise the title of general. He’s a warrior – an
‘Atan’. That’s all the title he seems to need. If you call him ‘General’,
you’ll insult him, and that’s not a good idea.’ Engessa had a deep, quiet
voice, and he spoke the Elenic language haltingly and with an exotic
accent. He carefully repeated each of their names when Fontan introduced
them, obviously committing them to memory. He accepted Ehlana’s status
without question, although the concept of a queen must have been alien to
him. He recognised Sparhawk and the other knights as warriors, and
respected them as such. The status of Patriarch Emban, Talen, Stragen and
Baroness Melidere obviously baffled him. He greeted Kring, however, with
the customary Peloi salute. ‘Atana Mirtai advises me that you seek marriage
with her,’ he said. ‘That’s right,’ Kring replied a bit pugnaciously. ‘Have
you any objections?’
‘That depends. How many have you killed?’
‘More than I can conveniently count.’
‘That could mean two things. Either you have slain many, or you have a
poor head for figures.’
‘I can count past two hundred,’ Kring declared. ‘A respectable number. You
are Domi among your people?’
‘I am.’
‘Who cut your head?’ Engessa pointed at the scars on Kring’s scalp and
face. ‘A friend. We were discussing each others’ qualifications for
leadership.’
‘Why did you let him cut you?’
‘I was busy. I had my saber in his belly at the time, and I was probing
around for various things inside him.’
‘Your scars are honourable then. I respect them. Was he a good friend?’
Kring nodded. ‘The best. We were like brothers.’
‘You spared him the inconvenience of’ growing old.’
‘I did that, all right. He never got a day older.’
‘I take no exception to your suit of Atana Mirtai,’ Engessa told him. ‘She
is a child with no family. As the first adult Atan she has met, it is my
responsibility to serve as her father. Have you an Oma?’
‘Sparhawk serves as my Oma.’
‘I would be honoured, Atan. May I also call you friend?’
‘I also would be honoured, friend Kring. Hopefully, your Oma and I will be
able to arrange the day when you and Atana Mirtai will be branded.’
‘May God speed the day, friend Engessa.’
‘I feel as if I’ve just witnessed something from the dark ages,’ Kalten
whispered to Sparhawk. ‘What do you think would have happened if they’d