“He is the Count of Sussexone of King Huon’s righthand men. He has raped half Europe! He is second only to Baron Meliadus in the evil he has wrought!”

“Come now,” Trott said, his voice soft and amused. “Let us not begin by insulting each other. We are on neutral ground here. The issues of war are another matter. Since they do not at the moment concern us, then I suggest we behave in a civilised mannerand not insult our young host here …”

Hawkmoon glowered. “How did you come to Dnark, Count Shenegar?”

“By ship, Duke of Koln. Our Baron Kalanwhom I understand you have met …” Trott chuckled as Hawkmoon automatically put his hand to the black jewel Kalan had earlier placed there … “he invented a new kind of engine to propel our ships at great speed over the sea. Based on the engine that gives power to our ornithopters, I gather, but more sophisticated. I was commissioned by our wise King Emperor to journey to Amarahk, there to make friendly advances to the powers dwelling here …”

“To discover their strengths and weaknesses before you attacked, you mean!” Hawkmoon shouted. “It is impossible to trust a servant of the Dark Empire!”

The boy spread his hands and a look of sorrow crossed his face. “Here in Dnark we seek only equilibrium. That, after all, is the goal and reason for existence of the Runestaff, which we are here to protect. Save your disputes, I beg you, for the battlefield and join together to eat the food we have prepared.”

“But I must warn you,” Huillam D’Averc said in a lighter tone than Hawkmoon had used, “that Shenegar Trott is not here to bring peace. Wherever he goes, he brings evil and disruption. Be preparedfor he is considered to be the most cunning lord in all Granbretan.”

The boy seemed embarrassed and merely gestured again to the table. “Please be seated.”

“And where is your fleet, Count Shenegar?” D’Averc

asked as he sat down on the bench and pulled a plate of fish towards him.

“Fleet?” Trott replied innocently. “I did not mention a fleetonly my ship, which is moored with its crew a few miles away from the city.”

“Then it must be a large ship indeed,” murmured Hawkmoon, biting at a hunk of bread, “for it is unlike a count of the Dark Empire to make a journey unprepared for conquest.”

“You forget that we are scientists and scholars, too, in Granbretan,” Trott said, as if mildly offended. “We seek knowledge and truth and reason. Why, our whole intention in uniting the warring states of Europe was to bring a rational peace to the world, so that knowledge could progress the faster.”