‘You’re being absurd. You might as well order the tide to stop.’

‘I haven’t tried that yet, Sparhawk, and until I do, we won’t really know that it wouldn’t work, will we?’

‘I give up,’ he laughed.

‘Oh good. I just adore winning. Was there something important you wanted to tell me, or did you just stop by to ogle me?’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Being ogled? Of course not. Ogle to your heart’s content, beloved. Would you like to see more?’

‘Ehlana!’

Her laughter was a silvery cascade.

‘All right, let’s get down to more serious matters.’

‘I was being serious, Sparhawk – very serious.’

‘The Pandion Knights, myself included, are going to have to leave Cimmura before long, I’m afraid. The revered Cluvonus is failing fast, and as soon as he dies, Annias is going to make a try for the Archprelate’s throne. He’s flooded the streets of Chyrellos with troops loyal to him, and unless the militant orders are there to stop him, he’ll gain that throne.’

Her face took on that flinty expression again. ‘Why don’t you take that gigantic Thalesian, Sir Ulath, run on down to Chyrellos and chop Annias’s head off? Then come right back. Don’t give me time to get lonely.’

‘Interesting notion, Ehlana. I’m glad you didn’t suggest it in front of Ulath, though. He’d be on his way to the stables to saddle the horses by now. The point I was trying to make is that when we leave, you’re going to be left defenceless here. Would you consider coming along with us?’

She thought about it. ‘I’d love to, Sparhawk,’ she said, ‘but I don’t really see how I can just now. I’ve been incapacitated for quite some time, and I’ve got to stay here in Cimmura to repair the damage Annias caused while I was asleep. I have responsibilities, love.’

‘We were fairly sure you’d feel that way about it, so we’ve come up with an alternative plan to ensure your safety.’

‘You’re going to use magic and seal me up in the palace?’ Her eyes were impish as she teased him.

‘We hadn’t considered that,’ he conceded. ‘It probably wouldn’t work, though. As soon as Annias found out what we’d done, he’d probably send soldiers here to try to retake the city. His underlings would be able to run the kingdom from outside the palace walls, and you wouldn’t be able to do much to stop them. What we are going to do is put together a kind of an army to protect you – and the city – until your own army has time to come back from Arcium.’

‘The term “a kind of an army” sounds a little tentative, Sparhawk. Where are you going to get that many men?’

‘Off the streets, and from the farms and villages.’