‘It will be this time, Your Majesty. Soldiers on a march spend more time sitting around waiting than they do walking. Let’s put that time to good use.’

‘You’ll also want to keep your soldiers out of Chyrellos,’ Patriarch Ortzel added. ‘Most of the citizens have fled, so the city’s deserted. If your men become distracted with looking through unoccupied houses, they’ll be a little difficult to round up when the time comes to march.’

‘Dolmant,’ Emban said, ‘you’re holding the chair in the Hierocracy. I think we should go into session first thing tomorrow morning. Let’s keep our brothers away from the outer city today – for their own safety, of course, since there still might be a few of Martel’s mercenaries hiding in the ruins. Primarily, though, we don’t want them to get a chance to examine the damage to their houses too closely before we go into formal session. We’ve seriously alienated a fair number of Patriarchs, and even with Annias discredited, we don’t want some spur-of-the-moment coalition confusing the issues here. I think we should hold some sort of service in the nave before we go into session. Probably something solemn and having to do with thanksgiving. Ortzel, would you officiate? You’re going to be our candidate, so let’s give everybody the chance to get used to looking at you. And, Ortzel, try to smile now and then. Honestly, your face won’t break.’

‘Am I so very, very stern, Emban?’ Ortzel replied with a faint half-smile.