‘Not really. I raised you, after all. I’m used to your little quirks.’

‘You’re really very fortunate, you know. Very few men have the opportunity to rear their own wives. That may give you something to think about on your way to Zemoch.’ Her voice quavered then, and a sudden sob escaped her. ‘I swore I wouldn’t do this,’ she wailed. ‘I don’t want you to remember me as being all weepy.’

‘It’s all right, Ehlana. I sort of feel the same way myself.’

‘Why does the night have to run so fast? Could this Aphrael of yours stop the sun from coming up if we asked her to? Or maybe you could do it with the Bhelliom.’

‘I don’t think anything in the world has the power to do that, Ehlana.’

‘What good are they all then?’ She began to cry, and he took her into his arms and held her until the storm of her weeping had passed. Then he gently kissed her. One kiss became several, and the rest of the night passed without any further weeping.

Chapter 20

‘But why does it have to be in public?’ Sparhawk demanded, clanking around the room to settle his armour into place.

‘It’s expected, dear,’ Ehlana replied calmly. ‘You’re a member of the royal family now, and you’re obliged to appear in public on occasion. You get used to it after a while.’ Ehlana, wearing a fur-trimmed blue velvet robe, sat at her dressing table.

‘It’s no worse than a tournament, My Lord,’ Kurik told him. ‘That’s in public too. Now will you stop pacing around so I can get your sword-belt on straight?’ Kurik, Sephrenia and Mirtai had arrived at the bridal chamber with the sun, Kurik carrying Sparhawk’s armour, Sephrenia carrying flowers for the queen and Mirtai carrying breakfast. Emban came with them, and he carried the news that the formal farewell would take place on the steps of the Basilica.

‘We haven’t given the people or Wargun’s troops much in the way of detail, Sparhawk,’ the fat little Churchman cautioned, ‘so you probably shouldn’t get too specific if you start making speeches. We’ll give you a rousing send-off and hint at the fact that you’re going to save the world all by yourself. We’re used to lying, so we’ll even be able to sound convincing. It’s all very silly, of course, but we’d appreciate your cooperation. The morale of the citizens and particularly of Wargun’s troops is very important just now.’ His round face took on a slightly disappointed cast. ‘I suggested that we have you do something spectacular in the way of magic to top things off, but Sarathi put his foot down.’

‘Your tendency towards theatrics sometimes gets out of hand, Emban,’ Sephrenia told him. The small Styric woman was toying with Ehlana’s hair, experimenting with comb and brush.