‘Forgive me, exalted disciple,’ Sparhawk said loudly enough for his words to carry to the tottering old man, ‘but I bear a message from the King of Deira for holy Arasham. His Majesty sends greetings to the true head of the Elene Church.’

Sephrenia made a slightly strangled noise.

‘Holy Arasham takes no note of kings,’ the disciple sneered arrogantly ‘Now stand aside.’

‘A moment there, Ikkad,’ Arasham mumbled in a surprisingly weak voice. ‘We would hear more of this message from our brother of Deira. It may well be that this is the communication mentioned by God when last He spoke with us.’

‘Most holy Arasham,’ Sparhawk said with a deep bow, ‘His Majesty, King Obler of Deira, greets you as his brother Our king is very old, and age always brings wisdom.’

Truly,’ Arasham agreed, stroking his own long, grey beard.

‘His Majesty has long contemplated the teachings of the Blessed Eshand,’ Sparhawk continued, ‘and he has also eagerly followed your own career here in Rendor. He has regarded the activities of the Church with increasing disfavour. He has found churchmen to be hypocritical and self-serving.’

‘My very words,’ Arasham said ecstatically. ‘I have said so myself a hundred times and more.’

‘His Majesty acknowledges that you are the source and well-spring of his thought, holy Arasham.’

‘Well,’ Arasham replied, preening himself slightly

‘His Majesty believes that the time has come for a purification of the Elene Church and he further believes that you are the one who has been chosen by God to purge the Church of her sins.’

‘Did you hear my sermon tonight?’ the old man asked eagerly ‘I preached to that self-same topic’

‘Truly,’ Sparhawk said. ‘I was amazed at how closely your words coincided with those of his Majesty when he charged me with his message to you. Know, however, holy Arasham, that his Majesty intends to provide more aid to you than the mere comfort of his greetings and his respectful affection. The details of his further intentions, though, must be for your ears alone.’ He looked around suspiciously at the crowd pressing in upon them. ‘In a gathering so large as this, there may be several who are not what they seem, and if what I have to tell you should reach Chyrellos, the Church would bend all her efforts to hinder his Majesty’s design.’

Arasham tried without much success to look shrewd. ‘Your prudence becomes you, young man,’ he agreed. ‘Let us go into my pavilion so that you may more fully disclose the mind of my dear brother Obler to me.’

Pushing aside the officious disciples, Sparhawk thrust his way through their ranks to offer the support of his arm and shoulder to the elderly zealot. ‘Holy one,’ he said in a fawning tone, ‘fear not to lean upon me, for as the blessed Eshand has commanded, it is the duty of the young and strong to serve the aged and wise’

‘How truly you speak, my son.’