‘Why all the bustle?’ she asked.

‘We have company coming. We thought we’d ride out to greet them.’

‘Martel?’

‘No. I’m afraid it’s only Adus – and a few friends.’ He shifted the helmet he was holding under his left arm. ‘Since Martel isn’t leading them, and since Adus can barely speak Elenic, much less Styric, there isn’t anybody out there who could stir up enough magic to knock a fly off the wall. I’m afraid that means that you’ve made the trip for nothing. I want you to stay back here in the woods, well hidden and out of danger Sir Parasim will stay with you.’

The young knight’s face filled with disappointment.

‘No, Sparhawk,’ Sephrenia replied. ‘I need no guard, and this is Parasim’s first battle. We won’t deprive him of it.’

Parasim’s face shone with gratitude

Kurik came back through the woods from the place where he had been keeping watch. ‘The sun’s coming up,’ he reported, ‘and Adus is leading his men over the top of that hill.’

‘We’d better mount up, then,’ Sparhawk said.

The Pandions swung up into their saddles and moved cautiously through the wood until they reached the edge of the broad meadow that surrounded the count’s castle. Then they waited, watching the black-armoured mercenaries riding down the hill in the golden dawn sunlight.

Adus, who normally spoke in grunts and belches, rode up to the gate of Count Radun’s castle and read haltingly from a piece of paper which he held in front of him at arm’s length.

‘Can’t he extemporize?’ Kalten asked quietly. ‘He’s only asking for permission to enter the castle.’

‘Martel doesn’t take chances,’ Sparhawk replied, ‘and Adus usually has trouble remembering his own name’

Adus continued to read his request. He had some trouble with the word admission, since it had more than one syllable.

Then Count Radun appeared on the battlements to announce regretfully that the windlass which raised and lowered the drawbridge was broken, and to beg them to be patient until it was repaired.

Adus mulled that over. It took him quite a while. The mercenaries dismounted and lounged about on the grass at the foot of the castle wall.

‘This is going to be almost too easy,’ Kalten muttered.

‘Let’s just make sure that none of them get away,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘I don’t want anybody riding to Annias with word of what has really happened today.’

‘I still think Vanion’s trying to be too clever about this.’

‘Maybe that’s why he’s the preceptor and we’re only knights.’

A red banner appeared atop the count’s walls.

‘There’s the signal,’ Sparhawk said. ‘Radun’s forces are ready ‘ He put on his helmet, gathered his reins, and rose in his stirrups, firmly holding Faran in. Then he raised his voice. ‘Charge!’ he roared.

Chapter 9