‘The poor wolf!’ Kring exclaimed. Then he looked suspiciously at the Thalesian thief. ‘Are you making this up, Stragen?’ he demanded.

‘Me?’ Stragen’s ice blue eyes were as innocent as those of a child.

They rode out at dawn the next morning, and Kring came back to ride beside Sparhawk. ‘Stragen was only trying to fool me last night, wasn’t he, Sparhawk?’ he asked with a worried look.

‘Probably,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘Thalesians are a strange people, and they have a peculiar sense of humour.’

‘She could probably do it, though,’ Kring said in admiration. ‘ – chase down a wolf and eat him raw, I mean.’

‘I suppose she could if she wanted to,’ Sparhawk admitted. ‘I see that you’re still thinking of her.’

‘I think of very little else, Sparhawk. I’ve tried to push her from my mind, but it’s of no use.’ He sighed. ‘My people will never accept her, I’m afraid. It might be all right if my rank were not such as it is, but if I marry her, she’ll be Doma among the Peloi – the Domi’s mate, and chief among the women. The other women would gnaw their livers in jealousy and would speak against her to their husbands. Then the men would speak against her in our councils, and I’d have to kill many of the friends I’ve had since boyhood. Her presence among us would tear my people asunder.’ He sighed again. ‘Perhaps I can arrange to get myself killed during the impending war. That way I can avoid making the choice between love and duty.’ He straightened in his saddle. ‘Enough of such womanly talk,’ he said. ‘After my people and I have annihilated the main force of the Zemochs, we’ll harry the border country on both sides of the line. The Zemochs will have little time to concern themselves with you and your friends. Zemochs are easy to divert. We’ll destroy their shrines and temples. That drives them insane for some reason.’

‘You’ve thought this through rather carefully, haven’t you, Kring?’

‘It’s always good to know where you’re going, Sparhawk. When we march eastward, we’ll stay on the road that leads northeastwards towards the Zemoch town of Vileta. Listen carefully, my friend. You’re going to need directions if you want to find that pass I mentioned earlier.’ He then spoke at some length to tell Sparhawk which way to go, stressing landmarks and distances as he went along.

‘That’s about it, friend Sparhawk,’ he concluded. ‘I wish I could do more. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to have me bring a few thousand horsemen and come along with you?’