‘Relax, Sparhawk,’ Sephrenia ordered him crisply ‘You’re making it harder for her’

‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘Habit, I guess.’ With some effort he pulled a kind of calm about himself.

A number of workmen were repairing the road that led up to the gates of the fortress.

‘Spies,’ Kurik grunted.

‘How do you know that?’ Sparhawk asked.

‘Look at the way they’re laying the cobblestones, Sparhawk. They haven’t got the faintest idea of what they’re doing.’

‘It does look a bit slipshod, doesn’t it?’ Sparhawk agreed, looking critically at the section of newly laid stone as they rode past the unseeing road gang.

‘Annias must be getting old,’ Kurik said. ‘He never used to be this obvious.’

‘He’s got a lot on his mind, I guess.’

They clattered up the road to the drawbridge and then on across it and into the courtyard, passing the indifferent quartet of armoured knights on guard at the gate.

A young novice was drawing water from the well in the centre of the courtyard, laboriously winding the creaking windlass mounted at the wellmouth. With a final little flourish, Flute took her pipes from her lips.

The novice choked out a startled oath and reached for his sword. The windlass squealed as the bucket plummeted down again.

‘Easy, brother,’ Sparhawk told him, dismounting.

‘How did you get past the gate?’ the novice exclaimed.

‘You wouldn’t believe it,’ Kurik told him, swinging down from his gelding’s back.

‘Forgive me, Sir Sparhawk,’ the novice stammered. ‘You startled me’

‘It’s all right,’ Sparhawk assured him. ‘Has Kalten got back yet?’

‘Yes, my Lord. He and the knights from the other orders arrived some time back.’

‘Good. Do you know where I might find them?’

‘I believe they’re with Lord Vanion in his study’

‘Thank you. Would you see to our horses?’

‘Of course, Sir Sparhawk.’

They entered the chapterhouse and went down the central corridor towards the south end of the building. Then they climbed the narrow flight of stairs to the tower

‘Sir Sparhawk,’ one of the young knights on guard at the top said respectfully, ‘I’ll advise Lord Vanion that you’ve arrived.’

‘Thank you, brother,’ Sparhawk said.

The knight tapped on the door, then opened it. ‘Sir Sparhawk is here, my Lord,’ he reported to Vanion.

‘It’s about time,’ Sparhawk heard Kalten’s voice inside the room.

‘Please go in, Sir Sparhawk,’ the young knight said, stepping aside and bowing.

Vanion sat at the table. Kalten, Bevier, Ulath and Tynian had risen from their seats and come forward to greet Sparhawk and the others. Berit and Talen sat on a bench in the corner.

‘When did you get in?’ Sparhawk asked as Kalten roughly clasped his hand.

‘Early last week,’ the blond man replied. ‘What kept you?’