‘I’m not sure that I understand.’

‘Berit here is going to take the ring to Cimmura and drop it in the collection plate during service in the cathedral there. The Primate Annias will take that to mean that his scheme has succeeded and that you and your family have all been murdered. He will then rush to Chyrellos to lay charges against the Pandions before the Hierocracy.’

Count Radun grinned broadly. ‘But then you and I will step forward and refute those charges, right?’

Sparhawk grinned back. ‘Exactly,’ he said.

‘That might cause the primate a certain amount of embarrassment,’ the count said as he tugged the ring off his finger.

‘That was sort of what we had in mind, my Lord.’

‘The ring is well lost, then,’ Radun said, handing his signet to Berit.

‘All right,’ Sparhawk said to the young novice. ‘Don’t kill any horses on your way to Cimmura. Give us time to get to Chyrellos before Annias does.’ He squinted thoughtfully ‘Morning service, I think.’

‘My Lord?’

‘Drop the count’s ring in the collection plate during morning service. Let’s give Annias a whole day to gloat before he starts out for Chyrellos. Wear ordinary clothes when you go into the cathedral and pray a bit – just to make it look convincing. Don’t go near the chapterhouse or the inn on Rose Street.’ He looked at the young novice, feeling a renewed pang at the loss of Sir Parasim. ‘I can’t assure you that your life won’t be in danger, Berit,’ he said soberly, ‘so I can’t order you to do this.’

‘There’s no need to order me to do it, my Lord Sparhawk,’ Berit replied.

‘Good man,’ Sparhawk said. ‘Now go and get your horse. You’ve got a long ride ahead of you.’

It was nearly noon when Sparhawk and Count Radun emerged from the castle. ‘How long do you think it’s going to take for Primate Annias to reach Chyrellos?’ the count asked.

‘Two weeks at least. Berit has to get to Cimmura before Annias can even start for Chyrellos.’

Kurik came riding up to them. ‘Everything’s ready,’ he told Sparhawk.

Sparhawk nodded. ‘You’d better go and get Sephrenia,’ he said.

‘Is that really a good idea, Sparhawk? Things might get a little chancy when we get to Chyrellos.’

‘Do you want to be the one to tell her that she has to stay behind?’

Kurik winced. ‘I see what you mean,’ he said.

‘Where’s Kalten?’

‘Over there at the edge of the woods. He’s building a bonfire for some reason.’

‘Maybe he’s cold.’

The winter sun was very bright in the cold blue sky as Sparhawk and his party set out. ‘Surely, madame,’ Count Radun objected to Sephrenia, ‘the child would have been quite safe within the walls of my castle.’