‘I won’t have to, Vanion, she said sweetly. ‘I’ll tell the physicians in Borrata about the symptoms personally.’

‘You’re going with Sparhawk?’ Vanion looked surprised.

‘Of course. There are things afoot that seem to be focusing on him. He might need my help when he gets to Cammoria.’

‘I’ll go along, too,’ Kalten said. ‘If Sparhawk catches up with Martel in Cammoria, I want to be there to see what happens.’ He grinned at his friend. ‘I’ll let you have Martel,’ he offered, ‘if you’ll give me Adus.’

‘Sounds fair,’ Sparhawk agreed.

‘You’ll be passing through Chyrellos on your way to Borrata,’ Dolmant said. ‘I’ll ride along with you as far as that.’

‘We’ll be honoured to have you, your Grace.’ Sparhawk looked at Count Radun. ‘Might you want to join us as well, my Lord?’ he asked.

‘No. Thanks all the same, Sir Sparhawk,’ the count replied. ‘’ll return to Arcium with my nephew and Lord Abriel.’

Komier was frowning slightly. ‘I don’t want to delay you, Sparhawk,’ he said, ‘but Darellon is right. Annias is sure to guess what our next step is likely to be. There are only so many centres of medical learning in Eosia; if this Martel fellow is already in Cammoria, and still taking orders from Annias, he’s almost certain to try to keep you from reaching Borrata. I think it might be best if you waited in Chyrellos until the knights from our other orders catch up with you. A show of force can sometimes avoid difficulties.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ Vanion agreed. ‘The others can join him at the Pandion chapterhouse in Chyrellos and ride out together from there.’

Sparhawk rose to his feet. ‘That’s it, then,’ he said. He glanced at Sephrenia. ‘Are you going to leave Flute here?’

‘No. She goes with me.’

‘It’s going to be dangerous,’ he warned.

‘I can protect her if she needs protection. Besides, the decision is not mine to make.’

‘Don’t you love talking with her?’ Kalten said. ‘All the mental stimulation of trying to puzzle out the meaning of what she’s saying.’

Sparhawk ignored that.

Later in the courtyard where Sparhawk and the others were preparing to mount for the ride to Chyrellos, the novice, Berit, approached. ‘There’s a lame beggar boy at the gate, my Lord,’ he said to Sparhawk. ‘He says he has something urgent to tell you.’

‘Let him through the gates,’ Sparhawk said.

Berit looked a bit shocked.

‘I know the boy,’ Sparhawk said. ‘He works for me.’

‘As you wish, my Lord,’ Berit said, bowing. He turned back towards the gate.

‘Oh, by the way, Berit,’ Sparhawk said.

‘My Lord?’

‘Don’t walk too close to the boy. He’s a thief and he can steal everything you own before you go ten paces.’

‘I’ll keep that in mind, my Lord.’

A few minutes later, Berit came back escorting Talen.