Wasn’t that Martel’s idea – one that he came up with on his own?’
“I don’t know that we’d be safe to assume that. Martel was controlling Perraine, but something else may have been controlling Martel – without his even knowing it. ‘
‘I see that this is going to be another of the kind of discussions that give me headaches.’
“Just take precautions, dear one,’ she told him. ‘Don’t relax your Guard. Let’s see if we can catch up with Ehlana She’ll be upset if you’re not attentive.’
They were all somewhat subdued when they gathered together that evening. This time, however, they did not gather in the Pandion chapterhouse but rather in a large over-decorated chamber attached to the Archprelate’s ~personal apartments. The room was normally the site of the meetings of the highest councils of the Church, and they had assembled there at Sarathi’s personal request.
Tynian, Sparhawk noticed, was conspicuously absent. The walls of the room were panelled, and it was adorned with blue drapes and carpeting. A very large religious ‘ fresco decorated the ceiling. Talen looked up and sniffed disdainfully. “I could do a better job than that with my left hand,’ he declared.
There’s a thought,’ Kurik said. “I think I’ll ask Dolmant if he’d like to have the ceiling of the nave here in the BaSillica decorated.’
‘Kurik,’ Talen said with some shock, ‘that ceiling’s bigger than a cow pasture. It’d take forty years to paint enough pictures to cover it.’
‘You’re young,’ Kurik shrugged, ‘and steady work might keep you out of trouble.’
The door opened, and Dolmant entered. They all rose from their seats and genuflected.
‘Please,’ Dolmant said wearily, “spare me. People have been doing that ever since the overclever Queen of Elenia jammed me into a seat I didn’t really want.’
“Why, Sarathi,’ she protested, ‘what a thing to say.
“We have things to discuss, my friends,’ Dolmant said, ‘and decisions to make.’ He took his seat at the head of the large conference table in the centre of the room. ‘Please sit down, and let’s get to work.’
‘When would you like us to schedule your coronation, Sarathi?’ Patriarch Emban asked.
‘That can wait. Let’s push Otha off our doorstep first.
I don’t think I’d care to have him attend. How do we proceed?’
King Wargun looked around. ‘I’ll throw out some ideas and see how the rest respond,’ he said. ‘The way I see it we’ve got two options. We can march east until we run into the Zemochs and then fight them in open fields, or we can move out until we find suitable terrain and stop and wait for them. The first option would keep Otha farther away from Chyrellos, and the second would give us time to erect field fortifications. Both approaches have their advantages, and they both have their drawbacks as well.’
He looked around again. “What do you think?’ he asked.
“I think we need to know what kind of a force we’re facing,’ King Dregos said.
‘There are a lot of people in Zemoch,’ old King Obler said.
‘That’s God’s own truth,’ Wargun scowled. ‘They breed like rabbits.’
‘We can expect to be outnumbered then,’ Obler continued.
‘If I remember my military strategy correctly, that would almost compel us to take up defensive positions.
We’ll have to erode Otha’s forces before we can go on the offensive.’
‘Another siege,’ Komier Frowned. “I hate sieges.’
.We don’t always get what we want, Komier,’ Abriel told him. ‘There’s a third option, however, King Wargun.
There are many fortified keeps and castles in Lamorkand.
We can move out, occupy those strongholds in force and hold them. Otha won’t be able to by-pass them, because if he does, the troops inside will be able to come out and decimate his reserves and destroy his supply trains.’
‘Lord Abriel,’ Wargun said, ‘that strategy will spread us out all over central Lamorkand.’
‘I’ll admit that it has drawbacks,’ Abriel conceded, ‘but the last time Otha invaded, we met ‘him head-on at Lake Randera. We virtually depopulated the continent in the process, and it took centuries for Eosia to recover. I’m not sure we want to repeat that.’
‘We won, didn’t we?’ Wargun said bluntly.
‘Do we really want to win that way again?’
‘There may be another alternative,’ Sparhawk said quietly.
‘I’d certainly be glad to hear it,’ Preceptor Darellon said. ‘I’m not too happy with�any of the options I’ve heard so far.’
‘Sephrenia,’ Sparhawk said, ‘just how powerful is the Bhelliom, really?’
‘I’ve told you that it’s the most powerful object in the world, dear one.’
‘now there’s a thought,’ Wargun said. ‘Sparhawk could order Bhelliom to obliterate whole chunks of Otha’s army.
Incidentally, Sparhawk, you are going to return Behlliom to the royal house of Thalesia when you’re finished with it, aren’t you?’
‘We might discuss that, Your MaJesty,’ Sparhawk said.
‘It wouldn’t really do you all that much good, though. It won’t do anything at all without the rings, and I don’t feel much like surrendering mine yet. You can ask my queen how she feels about hers, if you wish.’
‘My ring stays where it is,’ Ehlana said flatly.
Sparhawk had been mulling over his earlier conversation with Sephrenia. He was growing increasingly certain that the impending confrontation was not going to be settled by vast armies clashing in central Lamorkand in the way that the one five hundred years earlier had been. He had no way to justify his certainty, since he had not reached it by logic but rather by some intuitive leap that was more Styric in nature than Elene. He somehow knew that it would be a mistake for him to immerse himself in an army. Not only would that delay him in something he must do , but it would also be dangerous. If the subversion of Sir Perraine had not been an independent act on Martel’s part, then he would be exposing himself and his friends to thousands of potential enemies, all completely unidentifiable and all armed to the teeth. Once again he absolutely had to get clear of an Elene army. His idea grew more out of that necEssity than out of any real conviction that it would work. “Is there enough power in Bhelliom to destroy Azash’ he asked Sephrenia. He already knew the answer, of course, but he wanted her to confirm it for the others.
‘What are you saying, Sparhawk?’ she asked in a tone of profound shock. “You’re talking about destroying a God.
The whole world trembles at such a suggestion.’
‘I’m not raising the question to start a theological debate,’ he said. ‘Would Bhelliom be able to do it?’
“I don’t know. No one’s ever had the temerity to even suggest it before.’.Where is Azash most vulnerable?’ he asked.
‘Only in His confinement. The Younger Gods of Styricum chained Him within that clay idol Otha found centuries ago. That’s one of the reasons He’s been seeking Bhelliom so desperately. Only the Sapphire Rose can free HIm.”
‘And if the idol were to be destroyed?’
‘Azash would be destroyed with it.’
‘And what would happen if I went to the city of Zemoch discovered that I couldn’t destroy Azash with Bhelliom and smashed the jewel instead?’
‘The city would be obliterated,’ she said in a troubled tone, ‘- along with any mountain ranges in the vicinity.’
“I can’t really lose then, can I? Either way, Azash ~ceases to exist. And, if what Krager told us is true Otha’s at Zemoch as well, along with Martel, Annias and various others. I could get them all. Once Azash and Otha are gone, the Zemoch invasion would disintegrate, wouldn’t it?’
“You’re talking about throwing your life away, Sparhawk, Vanion said.
‘Better one life than millions.’
“I absolutely forbid it!’ ~Ehlana shouted.
‘Forgive me, My Queen,’ Sparhawk told her, ‘but you ordered me to deal with Annias and the others. You can’t really rescind that command – at least not to me, you can’t.’
There was a polite rap on the door, and Tynian entered with the Domi,Kring. “Sorry to be late,‘the Deiran Knight :apologized. ‘The Domi and I have been busy with some maps. For some reason, the Zemochs have sent forces north from their main encampment on the Lamork border.
“There’s an infestation of them in eastern Pelosia. ‘
Kring’s eyes brightened when he saw King Soros. ‘Ah, ‘there you are, My King,’ he said. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you. I’ve got all sorts of Zemoch ears I’d like to show you. ‘
King Soros whispered something. He still appeared to have a sore throat for some reason.
‘It’s starting to fit together,’ Sparhawk told the council.
‘Krager told us that Martel was taking Annias to the city of Zemoch to seek refuge with Otha.’ He leaned back in his chair. “I think the final solution to the problem we’ve been having for the last five centuries lies in the city of Zemoch and not on the plains of Lamorkand. Azash is our enemy, not Martel or Annias or Otha and his Zemochs, and we’ve got the means to destroy Azash once and for all in our hands now. Wouldn’t we be foolish not to use it? I could wear the petals off Bhelliom destroying Zemoch infantry units with it, and we’d all grow old and grey on some Ruin battlefield to the north of Lake Cammoria. Wouldn’t it be better to go right to the heart of the problem – to Azash Himself? Let’s have done with this so that it doesn’t keep cropping up every half-eon or so.’