but they keep pretty much to themselves.' He
leaned back in his chair. "I do think you Styrics could
avoid a lot of the trouble that breaks out from time to time
if you'd just mingle with your neighbours a little more.'
"It's not our way,' Sephrenia murmured. "I don't
believe Elenes and Styrics are supposed to mingle.'
'There could be something to what you say,' he
agreed.
'Are these Styrics doing anything in particular?
Sparhawk asked, keeping his voice neutral.
'Asking questions is about all. They seem to be very
curious about the Zemoch war for some reason.' He rose
to his feet. 'Enjoy your supper,' he said and went back to
the kitchen.
'We have a problem,' Sephrenia said gravely. 'Western
Styrics do not wander about the countryside. Our Gods
prefer to have us stay close to their altars.'
'Zemochs then?' Bevier surmised.
'Almost certainly.'
"when , I was in Lamorkand, there were reports of
Zemochs infiltrating the country east of Motera,' Kalten
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
remembered. 'They were doing the same thing wandering
about the country asking questions, mostly
having to do with folk-lore . '
"Azash seems to have a plan that closely resembles
OUrs,' Sephrenia said. 'He's trying to gather information
that will lead him to Bhelliom.'
"it's a race then,' Kalten said.
"I'm afraid so, and he's got Zemochs out there ahead of
US.'
'And church soldiers behind,' Ulath added. 'You've
gone and got us surrounded, Sparhawk. Could that
Seeker be controlling those wandering Zemochs the
same way it's controlling the soldiers?' the big Thalesian
asked Sephrenia. 'We could be riding into an ambush if it
is, you know.'
"I'm not entirely certain,' she replied. "I've heard a
great deal about Otha's Seekers, but I've never actually
seen one in action.'
"you didn't have time to be very specific this morning,'
Sparhawk said. 'Exactly how is that thing controlling
Annias's soldiers?'
"It's venomous,' she said. "Its bite paralyses the will of
its victims - or of those it wants to dominate.'
"I'll make a point of not letting it bite me then,' Kalten
said. 'You may not be able to stop it,' she told him. 'That
green glow is hypnotic. That makes it easier for it to get
close enough to inject the venom.'
'How fast can it fly?' Tynian asked.
"It doesn't fly at this stage of its development,' she
replied. "Its wings don't mature until it becomes an adult .
Besides, it has to be on the ground to follow the scent of
the one it's trying to catch. Normally, it travels on
horseback, and since the horse is controlled in the same
way people are, the Seeker simply rides the horse to
death and then finds another. It can cover a great deal of
ground that way.'
'What does it eat?' Kurik asked. 'Maybe we can set a
trap for it.'
"It feeds primarily on humans,' she told him.
'That would make baiting a trap a little difficult,' he
admitted.
They all went to bed directly after supper, but it
seemed to Sparhawk that his head had no sooner
touched the pillow than Kurik was shaking him awake.
"It's about midnight,' the squire said.
'All right,' Sparhawk said wearily, sitting up in bed.
"I'll wake the others,' Kurik said, 'and then Berit and I'll
go saddle the horses.'
After he had dressed, Sparhawk went downstairs to
have a word with the sleepy innkeeper. 'Tell me,
neighbour,' he said, 'is there by any chance a monastery
hereabouts?'
The innkeeper scratched his head. "I think there's one
near the village of Verine,' he replied. 'That's about five
leagues east of here.'
Thanks, neighbour,' Sparhawk said. He looked
around. 'You've got a nice, comfortable inn here,' he
said, 'and your wife keeps clean beds and sets a very fine
table. I'll mention your place to my friends.'
"why, that's very kind of you, Sir Knight.'
Sparhawk nodded to him and went outside to join the
others.
What's the plan?' Kalten asked.
The innkeeper thinks there's a monastery near a
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
village about five leagues away. We should reach it by
morning. I want to get word of all this to Dolmant in
Chirellos.'
I could take the message to him for you, Sir
Sparhawk,' Berit offered eagerly.
Sparhawk shook his head. 'The Seeker probably has
your Bcent by now, Berit. I don't want you getting
ambushed on the road to Chyrellos. Let's send some
anonymous monk instead. That monastery's on our way
anyhow, so we won't be losing any time. Let's mount
The moon was full and the night sky was clear as they
rode away from the inn. That way,' Kurik said, pointing.
"how do you know that?' Talen asked him.
The stars,' Kurik replied.
'Do you mean you can actually tell direction by the
stars?' Talen sounded impressed.
'Of course you can. Sailors have been doing that for
thousands of years.'
I didn't know that.'
"you should have stayed in school.'
I don't plan to be a sailor, Kurik. Stealing fish sounds a
little too much like work to me.'
They rode on through the moon-drenched night,
moving almost due east. By morning they had gone
perhaps five leagues, and Sparhawk rode to a hilltop to
look around. 'There's a village just ahead,' he told the
others when he returned. 'Let's hope it's the one we're
looking for.'
The village lay in a shallow valley. It was a small place,
perhaps a dozen stone houses with a church at one end of
its single cobbled street and a tavern at the other. A large,
walled building stood atop a hill just outside the town.
'Excuse me, neighbour,' Sparhawk asked a passer-by as
they clattered into town. "is this Verine?'
"It is.'
'And is that the monastery up on that hill there?'
"It is,' the man replied again, his voice a bit sullen.
"is there some problem?'
'The monks up there own all the land hereabouts,' the
fellow replied. 'Their rents are cruel.'
"isn't that always the way? All landlords are greedy.'
g[[A1111111111'The monks insist on tithes as well as the rent. That's
going a bit far, wouldn't you say?'
'You've got a point there.'
'Why do you call everybody "neighbour"?' Tynian
asked as they rode on.
'Habit, I suppose,' Sparhawk shrugged. "I got it from
my father, and I think it puts people at their ease.'
'Why not call them "friend"?'
'Because I never know that for sure. Let's go talk to the
Abbot of that monastery.'
The monastery was a severe-looking building surrounded
by a w
all made of yellow sandstone. The fields
around it were well-tended, and monks wearing conical
hats woven from local straw worked patiently under the
morning sun in long, straight rows of vegetables. The
gates of the monastery stood open, and Sparhawk and
the others rode into the central courtyard. A thin,
haggard-looking brother came out to meet them, his face
a little fearful.
'Good day, brother,' Sparhawk said to him. He opened
his cloak to reveal the heavy silver amulet hanging on a
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
chain about his neck which identified him as a Pandion
Knight. "if it's not too much trouble, we'd like to have a
word with your Abbot.'
'I'll bring him immediately, My Lord.' The brother
scurried back inside the building.
The Abot was a jolly little fat man with a well-shaven
tonaure and a bright red, sweaty face. His was a small,
remote monastery and had little contact with Chyrellos.
He was embarrassingly obsequious at the sudden, unexpected
appearance of Church Knights on his doorstep.
'My Lords,' he grovelled, 'how may I serve you?'
"it's a small thing, my Lord Abbot,' Sparhawk told him
gently. 'Are you acquainted with the Patriarch of
Demos?'
The Abot swallowed hard. 'Patriarch Dolmant?' he
said in an awed voice.
"Tall fellow,' Sparhawk agreed. 'Sort of lean and
underfed-looking. Anyway, we need to get a message to
him. Have you a young monk who's got some stamina
and a good horse who could carry a message to the
Patriarch for us? It's in the service of the Church.'
'Of course, Sir Knight.'
"I'd hoped you'd feel that way about it. Do you have a
quill pen and ink handy, My Lord Abbot? I'll compose
the message, and then we won't bother you any more.'
'One other thing, My Lord Abbot,' Kalten added. 'Might
we trouble you for a bit of food? We've been some time on
the road, and our supplies are getting low. Nothing too
exotic, mind - a few roast chickens, perhaps, a ham or two,
a side of bacon, a hindquarter of beef, maybe?'
'Of course, Sir Knight,' the Abbot agreed quickly.
Sparhawk composed the note to Dolmant while Kurik
and Kalten loaded the supplies on a packhorse.
'Did you have to do that?' Sparhawk asked Kalten as
they rode away. 'Charity is a cardinal virtue, Sparhawk,' Kalten replied
loftily. "I like to encourage it whenever I can.'
The countryside through which they galloped grew
increasingly desolate. The soil was thin and poor, fit only
for thorn-bushes and weeds. Here and there were pools
of stagnant water, and the few trees standing near them
were stunted and sick-looking. The weather had turned
cloudy, and they rode through the tag-end of a dreary
afternoon.
Kurik pulled his gelding in beside Sparhawk. 'Doesn't
look too promising, does it?' he noted.
'Dismal,' Sparhawk agreed.
"I think we're going to have to make camp somewhere
tonight. The horses are almost played out.'
"I'm not feeling too spry myself,' Sparhawk admitted.
His eyes felt gritty, and he had a dull headache.
'The only trouble is that I haven't seen any clean water
for the last league or so. Why don't I take Berit and see if
we can find a spring or stream?'
'Keep your eyes open,' Sparhawk cautioned.
Kurik turned in his saddle. 'Berit,' he called, "I need
you.' Sparhawk and the others rode on at a trot while the
squire and the novice ranged out in search of clean water.
'We could just ride on, you know,' Kalten said.
'Not unless you feel like walking before morning,'
Sparhawk replied. 'Kurik's right. The horses don't have
very much left in them.'
'That's true, I suppose.'
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
Then Kurik and Berit came pounding down a nearby
hill at a gallop. 'Get ready.' Kurik shouted, shaking loose
his chain-mace. 'We've got company.'
'Sephrenia!" Sparhawk barked. 'Take Flute and get back
behind those rocks. Talen, get the packhorses.' He drew
his sword and moved to the front even as the others
armed themselves.
There were fifteen or so of them, and they drove their
horses over the hilltop at a run. It was an oddly assorted
group, church soldiers in their red tunics, Styrics in
home-spun smocks and a few peasants. Their faces were
all blank, and their eyes dull. They charged on mindlessly,
even though the heavily armed Church Knights
were rushing to meet them.
Sparhawk and the others spread out, preparing to
meet the charge. 'For God and the Church!' Bevier
shouted, brandishing his lochaber axe. Then he spurred
his horse forward, crashing into the middle of the
oncoming attackers. Sparhawk was taken off guard by
the young Cyrinic's rash move, but he quickly recovered
and charged in to his companion's aid. Bevier, however,
appeared to need little in the way of help. He warded off
the clumsy-looking sword strokes of the mindlessly
charging ambushers with his shield, and his longhandled
lochaber whistled through the air to sink deep
into the bodies of his enemies. Though the wounds he
inflicted were hideous, the men he struck down made no
died in an eerie silence. Sparhawk rode behind Bevier,
cutting down any of the numb-faced men who tried to
attack the Cyrinic from behind. His sword sheared a
church soldier almost in half, but the man in the red tunic
did not even flinch. He raised his sword to strike at
Beviers back, but Sparhawk split his head open with a
vast overhand stroke. The soldier toppled out of his
saddle and lay twitching on the bloodstained grass.
Kalten and Tynian had flanked the attackers on either
side and were chopping their way into the melee, while
ulath, Kurik and Berit intercepted the few survivors who
managed to make their way through the concerted
counter-attack.
The' ground was soon littered with bodies in red tunics
and bloody white Styric smocks. Riderless horses
plunged away from the fight, squealing in panic. In
normal circumstances, Sparhawk knew the attackers
bringing up the rear would falter and then flee when they
saw what had befallen their comrades. These expressionless
men, however, continued their attack, and it was
necessary to kill them to the last man.
'Sparhawk!' SePhrenia shouted. 'UP there!' She was
pointing towards the hilltop beyond which the attack
had come. It was the tall, skeletal figure in the black
hooded robe which Sparhawk had seen twice before. It
sat its horse atop the hill with that faint green glow
emanating from its concealed face.
'That thing's starting to bore me,' Kalten said. 'The
best way to get rid of
a bug is to step on it.' He raised his
shield and thumped his heels on his horse's flanks. He
started to gallop up the hill, his blade held menacingly
aloft.
'Kalten! no!' SePhrenia's shout was shrill with fright.
But Kalten paid no attention to her warning. Sparhawk
swore and started after his friend.
Suddenly Kalten was hurled from his saddle by some
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
unseen force as the figure atop the hill gestured contemptuously.
With revulsion Sparhawk saw that what
emerged from the sleeve of the black robe was not a
hand, but something more closely resembling the front
claw of a scorpion. And then, even as he swung down from Faran's back
to run to Kalten's aid, Sparhawk gaped in astonishment.
Somehow Flute had escaped from Sephrenia's watchful
eye and had advanced to the foot of the hill. She stamped
one grass-stained little foot imperiously and lifted her
rude pipes to her lips. Her melody was stern, even
slightly discordant, and for some peculiar reason it
seemed to be accompanied by a vast, unseen choir of
human voices. The hooded figure on the hilltop reeled
back in its saddle as if it had been struck a massive blow.
Flute's song rose, and that unseen choir swelled its song
,in a mighty crescendo. The sound was so overpowering
that Sparhawk was forced to cover his ears. The song had
reached the level of physical pain.
The figure shrieked, a dreadfully inhuman sound, and
it flapped its claws to the sides of its hooded head. Then
it wheeled its horse and fled down the far side of the hill .
There was no time to pursue the monstrosity. Kalten
lay gasping on the ground, his face pale and his hands
clutching at his stomach.
'Are you all right?' Sparhawk demanded, kneeling
beside his friend.
'Leave me alone,' Kalten wheezed.
'Don't be stupid. Are you hurt?'
'No. I'm lying here for fun.' The blond man drew in a
shuddering breath. 'What did it hit me with? I've never
been hit that hard before.'
"you'd better let me have a look at you.'
"I'm all right, Sparhawk. It just knocked the breath out
of me, 'that's all.'
"you idiot. You know what that thing is. What were
you thinking of?' Sparhawk was suddenly, irrationally
angry.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time.' Kalten grinned
weakly. 'Maybe I should have thought my way through
it a little more.'