Olven shook his head. ‘King Obler is too old to travel very fast, and it’s likely to take a week to sober King Wargun up before he can make the voyage from Emsat.’

‘Let’s not gamble on that,’ Sparhawk said. ‘We’ll cut across country to Demos and then ride directly to Cimmura. Is Vanion still at Chyrellos?’

‘No. He came through Demos on his way to Cimmura. The Patriarch Dolmant was with him.’

‘Dolmant?’ Kalten said. ‘That’s a surprise. Who’s running the Church?’

‘Sir Kalten,’ Count Radun said stiffly. ‘The guidance of the Church is in the hands of the Archprelate.’

‘Sorry, my Lord,’ Kalten apologized. ‘I know how much Arcians revere the Church, but let’s be honest. Archprelate Cluvonus is eighty-five years old and he sleeps a great deal. Dolmant doesn’t make an issue of it, but most of the decisions that come out of Chyrellos are his.’

‘Let’s ride,’ Sparhawk said.

It took them four days of hard travelling to reach Demos, where Sir Olven left them to return to the Pandion motherhouse, and it was three more days before they arrived at the gates of the chapterhouse in Cimmura.

‘Do you know where we can find Lord Vanion?’ Sparhawk asked the novice who came out into the courtyard to take their horses.

‘He’s in his study in the south tower, my Lord – with the Patriarch Dolmant.’

Sparhawk nodded and led the way inside and up the narrow stairs.

‘Thank God you arrived in time,’ Vanion greeted them.

‘Has Berit delivered the count’s ring yet?’ Sparhawk asked him.

Vanion nodded. ‘Two days ago. I had men inside the cathedral watching.’ He frowned slightly ‘Was it altogether wise to entrust that kind of mission to a novice, Sparhawk?’

‘Berit’s a solid young man,’ Sparhawk explained, ‘and he isn’t widely known here in Cimmura. Most of the full-fledged knights are’

‘I see. It was your command, Sparhawk. The decision was yours. How did things go in Arcium?’

‘Adus led the mercenaries,’ Kalten replied. ‘We didn’t see a sign of Martel. Otherwise, things went more or less as planned. Adus got away, though.’

Sparhawk drew in a deep breath. ‘We lost Parasim,’ he said sadly ‘I’m sorry, Vanion. I tried to keep him out of the fight.’

Vanion’s eyes clouded with sudden grief

‘I know,’ Sparhawk said, touching the older man’s shoulder ‘I loved him, too.’ He saw the quick look that passed between Vanion and Sephrenia. She nodded slightly as if to advise the preceptor that Sparhawk knew that Parasim had been one of the twelve. Then Sparhawk straightened and introduced Count Radun and Vanion to each other

‘I owe you my life, Lord Vanion,’ Radun said as they shook hands. ‘Please tell me how I can repay you.’

‘Your presence here in Cimmura is ample repayment, my Lord.’

‘Have the other kings joined my nephew as yet?’ the count asked.