started.’ She threw her hands in the air. ‘This is impossible. you
don’t even understand the message you’re trying to give me.
Where are the Church Knights now?’
‘They’re coming across the steppes of Central Astel to invade
Cynesga. They’ll probably run into klael again when they get
there. I hope they don’t all get killed.’
‘Who’s in command?’
‘One of Romalic’s servants – an old man called Abriel – waS
in charge when they left Chyrellos, but he got killed in Zemoch,
so one of the high priests of the Church of the Elene God – a
Thalesian named Bergsten – is giving orders now.’
‘I should have guessed,’ she said. ‘I have a few things to take
care of first. Then I’ll go find Bergsten and get a true account of
what happened.’
“I was only trying to help.’ Setras sounded a little injured.
“you did just fine, cousin,’ Aphrael forgave him. ‘It’s not your
fault that you haven’t been keeping abreast of things here.’
I have important things on my mind, Aphrael,’ he said
defensively. ‘Come by my studio some time,’ he added brightly.
I made a sunset the other day that’s probably one of the best
pieces I’ve ever done. It’s so lovely that I’ve decided to keep it.’
‘Setras. you can’t just stop the sun that way!’
There’s nobody living there, Aphrael. They won’t notice.’
‘Oh, dear!’ She buried her face in her hands.
“you’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?’ His lower lip
trembled slightly, and his large, luminous eyes filled with sudden
tears. ‘And I try so hard to make you and the others proud
of me. ‘
‘No, Setras,’ she said. ‘I still love you.’
He brightened. ‘Everything’s all right then, isn’t it?’
‘you’re a dear, Setras.’ She kissed him. ‘Run along now. I
have to talk with these others.’
“you will come and look at my sunset, won’t you?’
‘Of course, cousin. Go along now.’ She lifted her drowsing
cat and blew into the furry creature’s ear. ‘Wake up, Mmrr,’ she
said.
The yellow eyes opened.
‘Go back to the place where we nest,’ the little Princess said,
speaking in cat. ‘I have to do something.’ She set Mmrr down
on the floor, and the cat arched her back, hooking her tail into
a sinuous question-mark, and yawned. Then she padded off
down the corridor.
Danae looked around, probing with eyes and mind to make sure
she was alone. There were human males knocking
around in the halls of this castle, and the appearance of a naked
Goddess always excited them. It was flattering, of course, but
it was also a little confusing for a being with a total lack of any
reproductive urges. No matter how hard she tried, Aphrael had
never been able to understand how the mating impulse of
human males could be so indiscriminate.
The Child Goddess briefly resumed her true person and then
divided, becoming both little girls.
“you’re starting to get older, Danae,’ Flute noted.
does it show? Already?’
it’s noticeable. You still have a way to go before you’re fully
mature, though. Are you really sure you want to go through
with this?’
‘It might help us all to understand them a little better. I don’t
think Setras even knows that it takes a male and a female to well,
you know.’ Danae blushed.
‘Setras isn’t overly bright. Can I borrow Mirtai?’ Flute asked.
‘What for?’
‘You don’t really need her here, and after what happened in
Dirgis, I’d like to have somebody I trust to stand guard over
Sephrenia.’
‘Good idea. Let’s go talk with Sarabian and the others. They’ll
be able to send messengers to people we don’t have any contacts
with.’
Flute nodded. ‘It would be so much more convenient if they
were alll ours.’
Danae laughed. ‘I think Setras was right. We are greedy, aren’t
We?’
‘We love them all, Danae. I don’t see any reason why they
can’t love us.’
The two little girls started off down the corridor hand in hand.
‘Danae,’ Flute said, ‘do you think Mirtai might be afraid of
heights?’
‘He does look a lot like that picture Talen drew, doesn’t he?’
Tynian murmured to Ulath.
‘Very close,’ Ulath agreed. ‘That boy has a tremendous talent.’
‘Yes. He draws well, too.’
Ulath laughed shortly. Then he looked at the men clustered
around Parok and drew Tynian a little further away from them.
‘Parok’s giving all the orders,’ he whispered, ‘but the Arjuni in the
flamboyant doublet speaks for King Rakya.’ ‘Sarabian’s going to be very
put out with the King of Arjuna.’
Ulath nodded. ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a new
king on the throne before long.’
‘What exactly did Parok say about Natayos? You couldn’t have
mistaken his meaning, could you?’
‘Not a chance, Tynian. Just before he got into the argument
with Duke Milanis, Parok said that Scarpa wanted to move his
army out of Natayos before they gave Sparhawk the last note.
I almost started cheering when he said that they were going to
tell Sparhawk to go to Natayos for the exchange.’
‘We’ll have to be careful, though. They could be holding Ehlana
someplace else. They may not take her to Natayos until the last
minute.’
‘We’ll find out for sure once Xanetia goes there,’ Ulath
shrugged.
The door to the book-lined room opened, and a liveried servant
hurried in. ‘An important message has arrived from
Natayos, Baron,’ he told Parok. ‘The messenger rode his horse
half to death.’
‘Horses are cheap. Send the fellow in.’
‘I could learn to dislike that man,’ Tynian murmured.
‘I already do,’ Ulath replied. He looked up speculatively.
‘We’re sort of invisible, aren’t we?’ he asked.
‘That’s what Ghnomb says.’
‘Can you imagine the expression Parok would get on his face
if he suddenly got ripped up the front with an invisible knife?’
‘Slowly,’ Tynian added. ‘Very, very slowly.’
The messenger from Natayos was a shabbily dressed Dacite,
and he was reeling with exhaustion as he staggered into the
room. ‘Baron,’ he gasped. ‘Thank God I found you.’
‘Speak up, man!’
‘Could I have a drink of water?’
‘Talk first. Then you can drink anything you want.’
‘Lord Scarpa ordered me to tell you that the man you’ve been
watching isn’t Sparhawk.’
‘I see that Scarpa’s finally gone completely mad.’
‘No, Baron. Zalasta confirmed it. Somebody they call klael
went and had a look at this man you’ve been giving the notes
to. They seemed to think you’d know who this Klael fellow is.
Anyway, he sent word that the man with the broken nose looks
like Sparhawk, but it’s not really him. This klael must have some
way to know for sure.’
Parok began to swear sulphurously.
That tears it,’ Tynian growled. ‘i’ll pass this on to Aphrael.
We’d better get Berit and Khalad to safety.’
‘Did Scarpa kill Sparhawk’s wife?’ Baron Parok asked the
messenger.
‘No, my Lord Baron. He was going to, but Zalasta stopped
him. I’m supposed to tell you not to do anything to let the
imposter know that we’re on to him. Zalasta needs some time to
move the prisoners to someplace that’s safe. He wants you
to continue as if nothing had happened. After he has those two
women clear, he’ll get word to you that it’s all right to kill the
man who’s posing as Sparhawk.’
‘Zalasta’s in full command then?’
‘Yes, Baron Parok. Lord Scarpa’s a bit – ah – distraught, I
suppose you might say.’
‘You might say crazy, too. That’d be more accurate.’ Parok
started to pace the floor. ‘I wondered how much it would take
to push Scarpa over the edge,’ he muttered. ‘It’s probably better
this way anyhow. Zalasta’s a Styric, but at least his head’s on
straight. Go back and tell him that I’ve received his message and
that I won’t do anything to upset his plans. Let him know that
I have no real fondness for Scarpa and that I’ll be completely
loyal to him. ‘
‘I will, my Lord Baron.’
Duke Milanis rose and crossed the room to close the window.
‘What in God’s name is that awful smell?’ he exclaimed.
Tynian turned and saw the hulking Troll standing just behind
them. ‘Bhlokw,’ he said, ‘it is not good that you come into the
dens of the man-things this way.’
‘I was sent by Khwaj, Tin-in,’ Bhlokw explained. ‘Khwaj
grows tired of waiting. He wants to burn the wicked ones
always.’
Then their dim half-moment suddenly filled with smoke, and
the enormous presence of the Fire-God was there. ‘Your hunt
takes too long, Ulath-from-Thalesia. Have you found any of the
wicked ones yet? If you have, point out which one it is. I will
make it burn forever.’
Tynian and Ulath exchanged a long look. Then Tynian grinned
wolfishly. ‘Let’s,’ he said.
‘Why don’t we?’ Ulath agreed. He looked at the flickering God
of Fire. ‘Our hunt has been successful, Khwaj,’ he declared. ‘We
have found one of the ones who stole Anakha’s mate. You can