‘Perhaps it goes a little farther than that. We know that Martel has had contacts with a Damork, and that means that Azash is involved somehow Azash has always dealt with Styrics, so he’s had very little experience with the subtleties of the Elene mind. The Gods of Styricum are very direct, and they seldom prepare for contingencies – probably because of the Styric lack of sophistication. Now, the whole purpose of the plot in Arcium and the one in Rendor has been to keep the Church Knights out of Chyrellos during the election. Annias behaved the way a Styric would have in the palace at Cimmura, and Martel behaved the same way in Arasham’s tent.’

‘You’re a little inconsistent, Sephrenia,’ he objected. ‘First you try to tell me that Styrics are unsophisticated, then you come up with an explanation so complicated that I can’t even follow it. Why don’t you just say what you mean?’

‘Azash has always dominated the minds of his followers, ’ she replied, ‘and for the most part, they’ve been Styrics. If Annias and Martel both start behaving like Styrics, it raises some very interesting possibilities, wouldn’t you say?’

‘I’m sorry, Sephrenia, but I can’t accept that. Whatever other faults he may have, Martel’s still an Elene; and Annias is a churchman. Neither one of them would give his soul to Azash.’

‘Not consciously, perhaps, but Azash has ways to subvert the minds of people he finds useful.’

‘Where does all this lead?’

‘I’m not entirely sure, but it seems that Azash has some reason to want Annias to be the new Archprelate It’s something we might want to keep in mind. If Azash is controlling Annias and Martel, they’re both going to be thinking like Styrics, and Styrics don’t react very fast when they’re surprised. It’s a racial trait. Surprise could be our best weapon.’

‘Was that why you were so angry with me – because I surprised you?’

‘Of course. I thought you knew that.’

‘Next time, I’ll try to warn you.’

‘I’d appreciate that.’

Two days later their ship entered the estuary of the River Ucera and sailed up towards the Elenian port city of Vardenais. As they approached the wharves, however, Sparhawk saw trouble. Men in red tunics were patrolling the waterfront.

‘Now what?’ Kurik asked as the two of them crouched behind a low deckhouse to keep out of sight.

Sparhawk frowned. ‘I suppose we could sail across the bay and go inland on the Arcian side.’

‘If they’re watching the seaports, they’re bound to be patrolling the border as well. Use your head, Sparhawk.’

‘Maybe we could slip across at night.’

‘Isn’t what we’re doing a little too important to hang it all on a “maybe”?’ Kurik asked pointedly.