‘We all flounder from time to time, Sparhawk,’ the abbot forgave him. ‘I know most of the details already. Last week I got word from Patriarch Dolmant about what was afoot. What did you find out in Borrata?’

‘We talked with a physician there, and he told us that Queen Ehlana has been poisoned.’

The abbot came to his feet swearing like a pirate. ‘You’re her Champion, Sparhawk! Why didn’t you go back to Cimmura and run your sword through Annias?’

‘I was tempted,’ Sparhawk admitted, ‘but I decided that it’s more important right now to see if we can find an antidote. There’ll be plenty of time later to deal with Annias, and I’d rather not be rushed when it gets down to that. Anyway, the physician in Borrata told us that he thinks the poison is of Rendorish origin, and he directed us to a couple of his colleagues here in Cippria.’

The abbot began to pace up and down, his face still dark with rage. When he began to speak, all traces of monkly humility were gone from his voice. ‘If I know Annias, he’s probably been trying to stop you every step of the way. Am I right?’

‘Fairly close, yes.’

‘And the streets of Cippria aren’t the safest place in the world – as you found out that night ten years ago. All right, then,’ he said decisively, ‘this is the way we’re going to do it. Annias knows that you’re looking for medical advice, right?’

‘If he doesn’t, then he’s been asleep.’

‘Exactly. If you go near a physician, you’ll probably need him for yourself, so I won’t let you do that.’

‘Won’t let, my Lord?’ Sephrenia asked mildly.

‘Sorry,’ the abbot mumbled. ‘Maybe I got a little carried away there. What I meant to say is that I advise against it in the strongest possible terms. What I’ll do instead is send some monks out to bring the physicians here. That way you’ll be able to talk with them without chancing the streets of Cippria. We’ll work out a way afterwards to slip you out of town.’

‘Would an Elenian physician actually agree to call on a patient at home?’ Sephrenia asked him.

‘He will if his own health is of any concern to him,’ the abbot replied darkly He suddenly looked a bit sheepish. ‘That didn’t sound very monkly, did it?’ he apologized.

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Sparhawk said blandly. ‘There are monks, and then there are monks.’

‘I’ll send some of the brothers into the city to fetch them right now What are the names of these physicians?’

Sparhawk fished the scrap of parchment the tipsy doctor in Borrata had given him out of an inside pocket and handed it to the abbot.