‘So can a messenger. Have you ever seen what the Pandions do to people who have information they want?’

‘We would assume that you’d take steps to keep yourself from being questioned.’

Krager laughed derisively. ‘Not a chance, Harparin,’ he said in a slightly slurred voice. ‘My life isn’t all that much, but it’s all I’ve got.’

‘You’re a coward.’

‘And you’re – whatever it is that you are. Let me see that note.’

Sparhawk heard paper rustling. ‘All right,’ Krager’s mush-sounding voice said. ‘This is the primate’s seal, I’ll agree.’

‘Have you been drinking?’

‘Naturally What else is there to do in Cimmura? Unless you have other entertainments – like some I could name.’

‘I don’t like you very much, Krager.’

‘I’m not fond of you either, Harparin, but we can both live with that, can’t we? Just give me the message and go away. That perfume you’re wearing is beginning to turn my stomach.’

There was a stiff silence, and then the Baron spoke very precisely, as if to a child or a simpleton. ‘This is what the Primate Annias wants you to say to Martel: Tell him to gather up as many men as he’ll need and to dress them all in black armour. They are to carry the banners of the Pandion Knights – any seamstress can counterfeit them for you, and Martel knows what they look like. They are then to ride with great show to the castle of Count Radun, uncle of King Dregos of Arcium. Do you know the place?’

‘It’s on the road between Darra and Sarrinium, isn’t it?’

‘Precisely. Count Radun is a pious man and he’ll admit the Church Knights without question. Once Martel is inside the walls, his men are to kill the inhabitants. There shouldn’t be much resistance, because Radun doesn’t maintain a large garrison. He has a wife and a number of unmarried daughters. Annias wants them all repeatedly raped.’

Krager laughed. ‘Adus would do that anyway.’

‘Good, but tell him not to be self-conscious about it. Radun has several churchmen in his castle. We want them to witness it all. After Adus and the others finish with the women, cut their throats. Radun is to be tortured and then beheaded. Take his head with you when you leave, but leave enough personal jewellery and clothing on the body so that it can be identified. Butcher everybody else in the castle, except for the churchmen. After they’ve witnessed everything, let them go.’

‘Why?’

‘To report the outrage to King Dregos at Larium.’ The idea then is that Dregos will declare war on the Pandions?’

‘Not quite, no – although that’s possible, too. As soon as the business is finished, dispatch a man on a fast horse to me here in Cimmura to tell me that it’s been done.’