‘He sees directly to the central point, doesn’t he?’ Sephrenia said to Sparhawk.

The scientific mind is noted for that.’ Sparhawk grinned. ‘Shall we go, then?’

‘Wait!’ Tanjin cried.

‘Was there something you wanted to tell us, Doctor?’ Sephrenia asked mildly

‘All right. All right. But you must swear to keep it a secret that I told you this.’

‘Of course. Our lips are sealed.’

Tanjin drew in a deep breath and scurried to the curtained doorway to make certain that no one was listening outside. Then he turned and motioned them into a far corner where he spoke in a hoarse whisper. ‘Darestim is so virulent that there’s no natural remedy or antidote,’ he began.

‘That’s what Voldi told us,’ Sparhawk said.

‘You’ll note that I said no natural remedy or antidote,’ Tanjin continued. ‘Some years ago in the course of my studies, I came across a very old and curious book. It predated Eshand’s time, and it had been written before his prohibitions came into effect. It seems that the primitive healers here in Rendor routinely utilized magic in treating their patients. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t- but they effected some astonishing cures. The practice had one common element. There are a number of objects in the world which have enormous power. The physicians of antiquity used that sort of thing to cure their patients.’

‘I see,’ Sephrenia said. ‘Styric healers sometimes resort to the same desperate measure’

‘The practice is quite common in the Tamul Empire on the Daresian continent,’ Tanjin went on, ‘but it’s fallen into disfavour here in Eosia. Eosian physicians prefer scientific techniques. They’re more reliable, for one thing, and Elenes have always been suspicious of magic But Darestim is so potent that none of the customary antidotes have any effect. Magical objects are the only possible cure’

‘And what did you use to cure the king’s brother and nephews?’ Sephrenia asked.

‘It was an uncut gem of a peculiar colour I think it originally came from Daresia, though I can’t really be sure. It’s my belief that the Tamul Gods infused it with their power.’

‘And where is that gem now?’ Sparhawk asked intently.

‘Gone, I’m afraid. I had to grind it to a powder and mix it with wine to cure the king’s relatives.’

‘You idiot!’ Sephrenia exploded. That is not the way to use such an object. You need only touch it to the patient’s body and call forth its power.’

‘I’m a trained physician, madame,’ he replied stiffly. ‘I cannot turn insects into fairies, nor levitate myself nor cast spells upon my enemies. I can only follow the normal practices of my profession, and that means that the patient must ingest the medication.’