‘That’s a new horse too, isn’t it?’ Sparhawk looked at Martel’s bulky black mount.
‘Do you like him? I could get you one from the same stable, if you’d like.’
‘I’ll stick with Faran.’
‘Did you ever civilize that ugly brute?’
‘I sort of like him the way he is. What are your intentions here, Martel?’
‘Isn’t it obvious, old boy? I’m going to seize the Holy City. If I were speaking for public approval, I could put a better face on it and use the word “liberate”, I suppose, but since we’re such old friends, I suppose I can afford to be frank. To put it in plain terms, Sparhawk, I’m going to march into the Holy City, and, as the saying goes, bend it to my will.’
‘You mean you’re going to try, Martel.’
‘Who’s going to stop me?’
‘Your own good sense, I hope. You’re a bit deranged, but you’ve never been stupid.’
Martel gave him a mocking half-bow.
‘Where did you come up with all the troops on such short notice?’
‘Short notice?’ Martel laughed. ‘You don’t pay much attention to things, do you, Sparhawk? You spent too much time in Jiroch, I’m afraid. All that sun.’ He shuddered. ‘By the way, have you heard from the lovely Lillias lately?’ He threw that in quickly, obviously showing off his knowledge of Sparhawk’s activities for the past several years in the hope of discomfiting his former brother.
‘She was well – last I heard.’ Sparhawk gave no hint that he was at all surprised.
‘I may just take her when this is all over. She’s a significant sort of woman, I noticed. It might amuse me to dally with your former mistress.’
‘Get lots of rest, Martel. I don’t really think you’ve got enough stamina for Lillias. You still haven’t answered my question, though.’
‘Thought you could answer it for yourself, old boy, now that I’ve nudged your memory a bit. I gathered the Lamorks while I was up there fomenting discord between Baron Alstrom and Count Gerrich. The Cammorian mercenaries are always available. All I had to do was pass the word, and they came running. The Rendors weren’t that difficult, once I’d disposed of Arasham. Incidentally, he kept croaking the word “Ramshorn” while he was dying. Could that possibly have been that secret word you cooked up? Very pedestrian, Sparhawk. Most unimaginative. The new spiritual leader of Rendor is a much easier man to manage.’
‘I’ve met him,’ Sparhawk said shortly. ‘I wish you joy in his companionship.’
‘Oh, Ulesim’s not so bad – as long as you stay upwind of him. Anyway, I landed in Arcium, sacked and burned Coombe and marched on Larium. I must say that Wargun took his own sweet time getting there, though. When he arrived, I rode away and then led him around in circles down in Arcium. It was a way to amuse myself while I was awaiting word of the passing of the revered Cluvonus. Did you give him a nice funeral, by the way?’
‘Fairly standard.’
‘I’m sorry I missed it.’
‘There’s something else you should be sorry about, Martel. Annias isn’t going to be able to pay you. Ehlana’s recovered and cut him off from her treasury again.’
‘Yes, I’d heard about that – from Princess Arissa and her son. I freed them from that cloister as a favour to the Primate of Cimmura. There was a slight misunderstanding while I was releasing them, though, and all the nuns in that cloister died quite suddenly. Regrettable, perhaps, but you religious types really shouldn’t become involved in politics, you know. My soldiers also set fire to the cloister as we were riding away. I’ll convey your best wishes to Arissa when I rejoin my troops. She’s been staying in my pavilion since we left Demos. The horrors of her confinement quite unnerved her, and I’ve been sort of offering what comfort I could.’
‘That’s one more you owe me, Martel,’ Sparhawk grated.
‘One more what?’
‘Those nuns are another reason for me to kill you.’
‘Feel free to try at any time, old boy. How on earth did you manage to cure Ehlana, though? I was assured down in Rendor that there was no possible cure.’
‘Your informants were wrong. We found out what the cure was in Dabour. Actually that’s why Sephrenia and I were really there. You might call spoiling your plans there in Arasham’s tent a sort of a bonus.’
‘I was really put out with you about that, you know.’
‘How are you going to pay your troops?’
‘Sparhawk,’ Martel said wearily, ‘I’m about to capture the richest city in the world. Have you any idea of how much loot’s available inside the walls of Chyrellos? My troops joined me eagerly – for no pay at all – just for the chance to browse around in there.’
‘I hope they’re ready for a protracted siege, then.’
‘It’s not going to take me all that long to get inside, Sparhawk. Annias will open the gates for me.’
‘Annias doesn’t have enough votes in the Hierocracy to do that.’
‘I rather imagine that my presence here will alter the vote somewhat.’
‘Would you like to settle this right here and now? Just you and me?’ Sparhawk offered.
‘Why should I do that when I’ve already got the advantage, old boy?’
‘All right. Try to get into Chyrellos then, and maybe we can find one of those alleys you’re so fond of.’
‘I yearn for the day, dear brother,’ Martel smiled. ‘Well, Vanion, has your tame ape here wheedled enough answers out of me to suit you yet, or should I go on?’
‘Let’s go back,’ Vanion said abruptly to Sparhawk.
‘Always a pleasure talking with you, Lord Vanion,’ Martel called mockingly after them.
‘Do you really think Bhelliom might possibly bring him back from the grave?’ Vanion asked Sparhawk as they rode back towards the city. ‘I wouldn’t mind killing him a time or two myself.’
‘We can ask Sephrenia, I suppose.’
They gathered once again in the red-draped study of Sir Nashan, the portly Pandion who was in charge of the chapterhouse here. The chapterhouse, unlike those of the other orders, was just inside the walls of the ancient inner city, the original Chyrellos. Each of the Preceptors gave a report on one of the gates of the city. None of the reports was particularly encouraging. Abriel, as senior Preceptor, rose to his feet. ‘What do we think, gentlemen?’ he said. ‘Is there any possible way we can hold the entire city?’