‘It wasn’t difficult,’ she said. Her voice was soft and musical, and it was touched with just the faintest tinge of an exotic accent. ‘Doors inside of houses dry out, and they split quite easily if you kick them just right. Ehlana can use the pieces for firewood when winter comes.’ She spoke with quiet dignity.

‘Mirtai is very protective of me, Sparhawk,’ Ehlana said. ‘I feel completely secure when she’s around, and she’s teaching me to speak the language of the Tamuls.’

‘Elene is a coarse and ugly language,’ Mirtai observed.

‘I’ve noticed that,’ Sephrenia smiled.

‘I’m teaching Ehlana the Tamul tongue so that I will not be ashamed to have my owner clucking at me like a chicken.’

‘I’m not your owner any longer, Mirtai,’ Ehlana insisted. ‘I gave you your freedom right after I bought you.’

Sephrenia’s eyes were outraged. ‘Owner!’ she exclaimed.

‘It’s a custom of Mirtai’s people, little sister,’ Stragen explained. ‘She’s an Atan. They’re a warrior race, and it’s generally believed that they need guidance. The Tamuls feel that they aren’t emotionally equipped to handle freedom. It seems to cause too many casualties.’

‘Ehlana was ignorant to even make the suggestion,’ Mirtai said calmly.

‘Mirtai!’ Ehlana exclaimed.

‘Dozens of your people have insulted me since you became my owner, Ehlana,’ the Tamul woman said sternly. ‘They would all be dead now if I were free. That old one – Lenda – even let his shadow touch me once. I know that you’re fond of him, so I’d have regretted killing him.’ She sighed philosophically. ‘Freedom is very dangerous for one of my kind. I prefer not to be burdened with it.’

‘We can talk about it some other time, Mirtai,’ Ehlana said. ‘Now we have to pacify my champion.’ She looked Sparhawk full in the face. ‘You have no reason to be angry with Platime, Stragen or Mirtai, my beloved,’ she told him. ‘They did everything they could to keep me in Cimmura. Your quarrel is with me and with me alone. Why don’t we excuse them so that we can scream at each other privately?’

‘I’ll go along with them,’ Sephrenia said. ‘I’m sure you’ll both be able to speak more freely if you’re alone.’ She followed the two thieves and the bronze giantess from the room. She paused at the door. ‘One last thing, children,’ she added. ‘Scream all you want, but no hitting – and I don’t want either of you to come out of here until you’ve resolved this.’ She went out and closed the door behind her.

‘Well?’ Ehlana said.

‘You’re stubborn,’ Sparhawk said flatly.

‘It’s called being strong-willed, Sparhawk. That’s considered to be a virtue in kings and queens.’

‘What on earth possessed you to come to a city under siege?’

‘You forget something, Sparhawk,’ she said. ‘I’m not really a woman.’