‘I’m not. Somehow she realized what was happening. She went to the chapel in her father’s house and prayed all night. Then, just as the sun was coming up, she drove a dagger into her heart. She’d sent one of her footmen here with a letter explaining everything that had happened. He arrived just before Martel’s army encircled the city. She’s free now, and her soul is safe.’

‘Why did you take poison then?’

‘I’m going to follow her, Sparhawk. Martel’s stolen my honour, but he can never steal my love.’ Perraine stiffened on his narrow cot, and he twisted in agony for a moment. ‘Yes,’ he gasped, ‘an excellent poison. I’d recommend it by name, but I don’t altogether trust our little mother here. Given half a chance, I think she could resurrect a stone.’ He smiled at their teacher. ‘Can you find it in your heart to forgive me, Sparhawk?’

‘There’s nothing to forgive, Perraine,’ Sparhawk said in a thick voice, taking his friend’s hand.

Perraine sighed. ‘I’m sure they’ll strike my name from the Pandion rolls, and I’ll be remembered with contempt.’

‘Not if I can help it, they won’t,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘I‘ll protect your honour, my friend.’ He gripped Perraine’s hand tightly in an unspoken pledge.

Sephrenia reached across the bed and took the dying man’s other hand.

‘It’s almost over,’ Perraine said in a faint whisper. ‘I wish –’ And then he fell silent.

Sephrenia’s wail of grief was almost like that of a hurt child. She pulled Perraine’s limp body to her.

‘There’s no time for that!’ Sparhawk told her sharply. ‘Will you be all right here for a while? I have to go and get Kurik.’

She stared at him in astonishment.

‘We have to dress Perraine in his armour,’ Sparhawk explained. ‘Then Kurik and I can take him to one of those streets just inside the wall. We’ll shoot a crossbow bolt into his chest and lay him in the street. They’ll find him later, and everyone will believe that one of Martel’s mercenaries shot him off the wall.’

‘But Sparhawk, why?’

‘Perraine was my friend, and I promised to protect his honour.’

‘But he tried to kill you, dear one.’

‘No, little mother, Martel tried to kill me. He forced Perraine to help him. The guilt’s all Martel’s, and one of these days before very long, I’m going to make him answer for it.’ He paused. ‘You might start thinking about that hypothesis of ours,’ he added. ‘This seems to poke quite a large hole in it.’ Then he remembered the Rendor with the poisoned knife. ‘Either that or there’s more than just one assassin out there to worry about,’ he added.