‘Life is filled with injustice, Talen. Sparhawk and your father have plans for you, and they don’t propose to let you get yourself killed before they have a chance to put them in motion.’

‘Can I appeal to the Church for sanctuary, Your Grace?’ Talen asked Bergsten quickly.

‘No, I don’t think so,’ the armoured Patriarch replied.

‘You have no idea how disappointed I am in our holy mother, Your Grace,’ Talen sulked. ‘Just for that, I don’t think I’ll join the Church after all.’

‘Praise God,’ Bergsten murmured.

‘Amen,’ Abriel sighed.

‘May I be excused?’ Talen asked in a huffy tone.

‘No.’ It was Berit, who sat by the door with his arms crossed and one leg thrust out to block the doorway.

Talen sat back down, looking injured.

The remainder of the discussion dealt with the deployment of troops at the various fortresses and castles in central Lamorkand. Sparhawk and his friends were not going to be involved in that, so the bridegroom’s attention wandered. He did not actually think of anything very coherently, but sat instead staring wide-eyed at the floor.

The meeting broke up about noon, and they began to file out. There were many preparations to make, and they all had things to do.

‘Friend Sparhawk,’ Kring said as they left Nashan’s study, ‘might I have a word with you?’

‘Of course, Domi.’

‘It’s sort of personal.’

Sparhawk nodded and led the scarred chief of the Peloi to a small chapel nearby. They both perfunctorily genuflected to the altar and then sat on a polished bench near the front of the chapel. ‘What is it, Kring?’ Sparhawk asked.

‘I’m a plain man, friend Sparhawk,’ Kring began, ‘so I’ll speak to the point. I’m mightily taken with that tall, beautiful woman who guards the Queen of Elenia.’

‘I thought I detected something like that.’

‘Do you think I might have any chance with her at all?’ Kring’s heart was in his eyes.

‘I’m not really sure, my friend,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘I scarcely know Mirtai.’

‘Is that her name? I never really had the chance to find out. Mirtai – it’s got a nice sound to it, doesn’t it? Everything about her is perfect. I have to ask this. Is she married?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Good. It’s always awkward to pay court to a woman if you have to kill her husband first. It seems to get things off to a bad start for some reason.’

‘I think you should know that Mirtai’s not an Elene, Kring. She’s a Tamul, and her culture – and religion – are not the same as ours. Are your intentions honourable?’

‘Of course. I think too much of her to insult her.’

‘That’s the first step anyway. If you approached her on any other footing, she’d probably kill you.’

‘Kill?’ Kring blinked in astonishment.